It’s never too early to help democracy! By signing up to be a poll worker, you can ensure that all voters—including voters with disabilities, voters who need language assistance, and voters who want to cast their ballot in person—have a positive experience at the polls. Sign up today!
Some elections in this list are local and do not apply for all Illinois voters. Please click the “View all” button below to view all election dates in your state.
Vote-by-mail (absentee voting) is available in Illinois and no excuse is required. The last day to request an absentee ballot by mail is 5 days before the election. You can return your absentee ballot request form through the mail, a secure drop box, or in person.
Voted ballots must be postmarked by Election Day and received within two weeks in order to be counted. Absentee ballots begin being counted on Election Day. Contact your local elections office for more information.
WHO IS ELIGIBLE TO VOTE ABSENTEE?
In Illinois, all registered voters are permitted to vote absentee.
HOW DO I REQUEST AN ABSENTEE BALLOT?
There are multiple ways to apply for an absentee ballot in Illinois:
1) Permanent Vote-by-mail List:
If you are a registered voter in Illinois, you may apply to be added to a permanent vote-by-mail list. Submit the completed form to your local elections office. Voters will still have the option to vote-by-mail for a single election. The permanent vote-by-mail application will be available online closer to the next election here.
2) Request a One-Time Ballot-by-Mail
To receive a vote-by-mail ballot for a single election, complete the absentee ballot request form, and submit it to your local elections office through the mail, a secure drop box, or in person. Contact your county clerk if you have more questions.
3) Accessible Absentee Ballot
Voters with print disabilities may receive their vote by mail ballots through electronic transmission, which allows a voter with a print disability to mark and verify their vote by mail ballot using their own assistive technologies. Voters with print disabilities can complete the Accessible Vote by Mail Application (either Permanent or Single Election) and submit it to their local election office. Download the form here.
WHAT IS THE DEADLINE TO REQUEST AN ABSENTEE BALLOT?
You can request an absentee ballot:
Upon receipt, complete the application. Make certain to include your name, home address, address where you want the ballot to be mailed, and please remember to sign the application.
After completing the application, either mail it or hand-deliver it to your election authority. If you return the application in person or complete the application in the election authority's office, you may immediately vote with your absentee ballot in the election authority's office. If you mail the application and it is properly completed, the election authority will mail your absentee ballot to you.
DO I HAVE TO REQUEST AN EARLY MAIL BALLOT EACH YEAR?
Illinois voters have the option to apply to be added to a permanent vote-by-mail list.
WHAT IS THE DEADLINE FOR SUBMITTING AN ABSENTEE BALLOT?
Voted absentee ballots must be postmarked by Election Day and received within two weeks in order to be counted.
WHEN ARE ABSENTEE BALLOTS MAILED OUT TO VOTERS WHO HAVE REQUESTED THEM?
Election officials will start mailing out ballots about 40 days before the election to those who have requested them.
HOW DO I COMPLETE MY ABSENTEE BALLOT?
After receiving your ballot, vote the ballot in secret. Insert the ballot into the envelope provided, seal it, complete and sign the certification on the back, and personally return it or mail it.
You have the option to authorize, in writing, that a spouse, parent, child, brother, sister, or licensed motor carrier, should deliver the completed absentee ballot to the election authority in sufficient time to be delivered to the polling place on Election Day.
HOW CAN I RETURN MY ABSENTEE BALLOT?
You can return your ballot by mail, in person, or a secure ballot drop box, if available. Please contact your local election authority for additional information.
CAN I TRACK MY MAILED ABSENTEE BALLOT?
Some counties have a ballot tracking signup. Please contact your local elections office to find out if it’s offered.
WHAT IF I REQUESTED AN ABSENTEE BALLOT BUT WANT TO VOTE IN PERSON?
To vote in person if you received an absentee ballot, you must bring your mailed ballot to the election site and turn it in to the election judge. If you do not have the mailed ballot with you, you can vote a provisional ballot.
HOW DO I REQUEST AN ABSENTEE BALLOT AS AN OVERSEAS OR US MILITARY VOTER?
Overseas citizens and U.S. military personnel can find information on how to register to vote and request an absentee ballot at the Overseas Vote Foundation.
Request your BallotThe deadline to cure (correct) your absentee/mail ballot is 14 days after the election .You will receive a notice with the reason or reasons your ballot was rejected and shall state that the voter may appear before the election authority to show cause as to why your ballot should not be rejected.
If you voted by provisional ballot, you may submit additional information to your local election officials. Any additional information to show that you are a registered voter or eligible to vote, must be received no later than the close of business the Thursday following Election Day. You can track the status of your provisional ballot using your state’s online tool.
For information on federal campaign contributions, please visit Open Secrets. For state-specific information, click here.
Information on local, state and federal candidates and ballot measures may be available here.
Vote-by-mail drop boxes will be installed in some locations. Check your State Board of Elections website to see if there is a drop box in your jurisdiction.
Early Voting Starts: 40 days before Election Day
Early Voting Ends: The day before Election Day
Locations and hours for early voting are determined by each election authority.
For more information about early voting locations, check our your state's resource.
The next election date can be found here https://www.vote411.org/illinois.
The polls are open from 6:00 am to 7:00 pm.
WHO CAN REGISTER TO VOTE IN ILLINOIS?
To register to vote in Illinois, you must:
WHO CAN VOTE IN ILLINOIS?
You can vote in Illinois if you:
CAN I VOTE IF I HAVE A FELONY CONVICTION?
In Illinois, you only lose your right to vote if you are currently incarcerated for a misdemeanor or felony conviction. If you lost your voting rights because of a conviction, you could register to vote immediately after release. Your voting rights are not restricted by pretrial detention, misdemeanors, probation, or parole.
CAN I REGISTER AND VOTE IF I DON’T HAVE A TRADITIONAL ADDRESS?
Yes. Illinois allows individuals without a permanent or fixed home address to register and vote. On the voter registration form, you can draw a map to indicate where you stay. Include details like cross streets, landmarks, or nearby names.
If you don’t receive mail at your residence location, you must also provide a separate mailing address. This can be a P.O. box, shelter, advocacy group, outreach center, or someone who will accept mail for you.
AM I REQUIRED TO SHOW ID TO REGISTER TO VOTE IN ILLINOIS?
It depends on how you register:
WHAT TYPES OF ID CAN I USE TO REGISTER TO VOTE IN ILLINOIS?
Accepted forms of ID include:
Students may also register with a school-issued ID card plus a lease agreement or postmarked mail showing their current address.
Official results are never available on Election Day. Election officials are working around the clock to count an unprecedented number of ballots, and it’s essential that they take the time to make sure every vote is counted.
Official election results will be uploaded on the Illinois Board of Elections website as they become available.
Official Results
You are a Military or Overseas voter if you are in uniformed services, living overseas OR a spouse or dependent of a uniformed services voter. To get registered and vote, you can utilize Overseas Vote Foundation.
If you have additional questions about elections and voting overseas you can use our state specific elections official directory or contact the Overseas Vote Foundation.
You can ensure we have safe, fair, and efficient elections. Become a poll worker today!
To be a poll worker in Illinois:
To sign up, contact your local board of elections.
You can find your polling place by utilizing your state resource.
If you have further questions on your polling place location, please contact your county clerk.
Illinois is a “partially open” primary state. This allows voters to cross party lines, however, they must first publicly declare their ballot choice. Ballot selection may also be regarded as a form of registration with the selected party.
If you have any questions about your state’s primary election, please contact your local election officials.
You may vote a provisional ballot if you meet specific conditions. Provisional ballots are counted 14 days after an election. To find out if your vote was counted, please use your state's provisional ballot tool.
An election judge will issue you a provisional ballot at your polling place if:
By law, you must vote in your assigned precinct for all votes on your provisional ballot to count.
The Help America Vote Act requires that election authorities have voting equipment for voters with disabilities to vote privately and independently, and Illinois is no exception. Additionally, there are options for a seated voting booth, voting assistance from a friend, relative, or two election judges (one from each party), voting by mail, and curbside voting.
Language assistance is also available where required under amendments to the Federal Voting Act of 1992.
For more information on the provisions available for disabled voters, please contact your local election authority.
For more information, you can utilize the American Association of People With Disabilities (AAPD) resource.
What do I need to register to vote in Illinois?
Here is what you need to know to register in Illinois:
There are three methods of voter registration in Illinois: register in-person, register online, or mail a printable application to the Illinois Secretary of State.
Can I register to vote using my college address in Illinois?
Yes, if you consider your campus address your residence, you can register to vote there. If you move to a different dorm or off campus, be sure to update your voter registration with your new address so you vote in the correct district.
What’s the deadline to register to vote in Illinois?
The deadline to register to vote in Illinois depends on how you register. Online registration closes 16 days before Election Day, and registration by mail must be postmarked 28 days before. Be sure to check the exact date each year. You can also register in person up to and including on Election Day.
If you register by mail, you’ll need to vote in person the first time unless you’re disabled, in the military, or provided proper ID when registering.
What form of ID do I need to vote in Illinois?
An Illinois voter is not required to show identification. However, if you are voting for the first time, you may be asked to show a form of identification when you go to the polls. This can include a driver’s license, passport, student ID from a state-supported college, or other accepted forms.
I’m originally from another state, can I still vote in my home state while studying in Illinois?
Yes, you can vote in your home state using an absentee ballot, but you'll need to follow your home state's rules and deadlines. You can find the rules for your state on VOTE411 or by contacting your state’s election office.
Does registering to vote affect my financial aid, parents’ taxes, and/or tuition in Illinois?
Registering to vote in your college community will not affect your Federal Financial Aid, status as a dependent on your parents’ taxes, or tuition status.
Every employee is entitled, after giving notice, to two hours paid time off work, provided that the employee's working hours begin less than 2 hours after the opening of the polls and end less than 2 hours before the closing of the polls.
To verify your voter registration status
click here!If you are a registered voter in Illinois, you may apply to be added to a permanent vote-by-mail list. If your application for permanent vote-by-mail status is accepted you will:
A notice of this new option will be sent to all qualified voters before the next general election along with the application to opt-in. Voters will still have the option to vote-by-mail for a single election. The permanent vote-by-mail application will be available online closer to the next election here.
DO I NEED TO SHOW ID WHEN I VOTE IN ILLINOIS?
In most cases, no, identification is not required to vote at the polls in Illinois as long as your registration is accurate and up to date. Instead, your signature is verified against the one on file from when you registered. If they do not match, you may be asked to show ID.
However, if:
WHAT TYPES OF ID CAN I USE IF ASKED TO SHOW ONE?
Acceptable forms of ID include:
All IDs must show your name and address.
WHAT IF I DON’T HAVE AN ACCEPTABLE ID WHEN I GO TO VOTE?
If you are asked to show ID (for example, because you registered by mail without providing ID) and cannot provide it, you will be asked to vote using a Provisional Ballot. Your eligibility will be verified later by the election authority.
Voters can call or text 844-338-8743 at any time to reach VoteRiders Voter ID Helpline
Online registration deadline: 16 days before Election Day
Register by mail deadline: Postmarked 28 days before Election Day
In-person registration deadline: Available up to and including Election Day
Please note that if you register by mail, you must vote in person at your polling place or by in-person absentee voting the first time you cast a ballot. This requirement applies unless you are disabled, in the military, or have provided sufficient identification during your registration.
Not registered? Use our online registration tool to complete your application!
The voting systems used in Illinois are optical scan and DRE.
To find out what voting machine is used in your county, please visit your state's resource.
Optical Scan: With this system, you will receive a card or sheet of paper, which you take over to a private table or booth. The card has the names of the various candidates and ballot measures printed on it. With a pen or pencil you fill in a little box or circle or the space between two arrows. When you are finished filling out all the cards, you may bring the cards over to a ballot box, where poll workers will show you how to put the cards in the box. Or in some places, you may feed the completed cards or papers into a computer device that checks your card or paper right there at the polling place to make sure you have voted the way you want to and counts the votes.
Direct Recording Electronic (DRE): This is the newest kind of system in use in the U.S. All the information about who and what you are voting for is on an electronic screen like a TV or computer screen.
There are many variations of DREs because lots of companies are inventing new ones, and many cities, counties and states are trying them out. Usually, after you have signed in, the poll workers will give you a card that you slide into a device to start your voting session.
Some of these devices will show all of the candidates and ballot choices on one big screen. Often, with these big screen devices you push a button next to the name of the candidate you want to vote for (or yes or no on a ballot measure). On other DREs, the screen is set up to show pages. On each screen or page, there will probably be one thing to vote on. For example, on one screen or page, you might vote for president. Then you might move to the next page to vote for senator. Often these small-screen devices have a touch screen, where you touch the screen next to the name of the person you want to vote for. Other devices have a key pad. Some have a keyboard, so you can write in the name of someone you want to vote for.
You let the system know you are finished voting by pushing a button, touching the screen or entering something on a keypad.
You can learn more about voting systems by checking out the Elections Assistance Commission's (EAC) resource or through Verified Voting.
State Board of Elections
2329 S. MacArthur Blvd
Springfield 62704
LWV volunteers work year-round to register new voters, host community forums and debates, and provide voters with election information they need.
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