Illinois

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Local guides in Illinois

• Chicago

Key dates

• Early voting: Thu, Oct 1 to Mon, Nov 2Chicago (official, chicagoelections.gov): Downtown Voting Supersite, 137 S. State St., and the Chicago Board of Elections office, 69 W. Washington St., 6th floor, opened Thursday, Oct. 1. Hours Oct. 1 to 25: Mon to Fri 9 AM to 6 PM, Sat 9 AM to 5 PM, Sun 10 AM to 4 PM. Hours Oct. 26 to Nov. 2: Mon to Fri 9 AM to 7 PM, Sat 9 AM to 5 PM, Sun 10 AM to 4 PM. All 50 ward sites open Monday, Oct. 19 through Monday, Nov. 2: Mon to Fri 9 AM to 6 PM, Sat 9 AM to 5 PM, Sun 10 AM to 4 PM. Any Chicago voter can use any site. Three campus sites (Chicago State, NEIU, UChicago Reynolds Club) run Oct. 28 to 30, 10 AM to 5 PM. On Election Day the Supersite and all 50 ward sites are open 6 AM to 7 PM as vote centers for any Chicago voter; the 69 W. Washington office is not open for voting on Election Day. Suburban Cook: early voting began Oct. 7 at some sites and most sites open Oct. 19; hours vary by site and week; see cookcountyclerkil.gov. Collar counties: most opened Sept. 24 at the clerk's office, with more sites Oct. 19; DuPage's 24 permanent sites run weekdays 8 AM to 7 PM and weekends 9 AM to 5 PM.
• Last day to register by mail: Tue, Oct 6Regular registration (by mail, at a DMV, or with a deputy registrar) closed Tuesday, October 6, 2026, the 28th day before the election. This date has passed. You can still register in person during the grace period (next row). State Board of Elections 2026 calendar: 'October 6, 2026: Close of Voter Registration. Last day for regular registration or transfer of registration within the offices of the election authority' (10 ILCS 5/4-6, 5-5, 6-29).
• Last day to register online: Sun, Oct 18Online registration at ova.elections.il.gov closes Sunday, October 18, 2026 at 11:59 PM, the 16th day before the election. State Board 2026 calendar: 'October 18, 2026: Close of Online Voter Registration for the General Election. Last day for voters to register to vote through the State Board of Elections website' (10 ILCS 5/1A-16.5). After that, it's in person only.
• Last day to ask for a mail ballot: Thu, Oct 29Applications by mail or online must be received by Thursday, October 29, 2026 (5:00 PM in Chicago). You can still apply in person at your election authority's office through Monday, November 2. State Board 2026 calendar: 'Last day for the election authority to receive, by mail, an application for a vote by mail ballot and mail that ballot to the voter. In-person applications are still accepted until November 2, 2026.' Chicago: chicagoelections.gov, 'Apply for a Vote By Mail ballot'. Suburban Cook: cookcountyclerkil.gov. If you apply this late, plan to return the ballot by hand; there isn't time for two mail trips.
• Last day to register in person: Tue, Nov 3Grace period registration runs Wednesday, October 7 through Election Day, Tuesday, November 3, 2026. You register and vote at the same visit. In Chicago: at the Downtown Supersite (137 S. State St.), the Board office (69 W. Washington, 6th floor), or any of the 50 ward early voting sites from Oct. 19 through Nov. 2, and on Election Day at your precinct polling place or any of the 51 vote centers. Chicago Board of Elections: 'Same Day Registration is available at all Early Voting/Vote Center sites, including 51 sites on Election Day. You will need two forms of ID, one with your current address.' Statutory basis: 10 ILCS 5/4-50, 5-50, 6-100.
• Mail ballot deadline: Tue, Nov 37:00 PM CT if returned by hand or drop box; if mailed, postmarked by Nov. 3 and received by Tuesday, Nov. 17
  • secure drop box: Chicago has them at all 50 ward sites on the Board's drop box list (https://chicagoelections.gov/voting/drop-boxes); suburban Cook and the collar counties have them at early voting sites and clerk offices.
  • hand it in at any early voting site in your election jurisdiction through Nov. 2. On Election Day in Chicago, use the drop box at any of the 50 ward sites, 6 AM to 7 PM, or return it in person at the Board office, 69 W. Washington, Suite 600, by 7:00 PM. Do not bring it to a precinct polling place: the Chicago Board says 'Precinct election judges cannot accept Vote By Mail ballots. Vote By Mail ballots returned at precinct polling places will not be processed.' Outside Chicago, ask your county clerk where ballots can be returned on Election Day.
  • mail (USPS): counts if postmarked by Election Day and received by Nov. 17 (10 ILCS 5/19-8; DeKalb County Clerk's official date sheet: 'Tuesday, November 17: Deadline for validating and counting provisional ballots and timely postmarked mail ballots received after Election Day'). But see the gotchas on postmarks.
  • have someone you trust deliver it (the person carrying it signs the affidavit on the envelope)
• Election Day: Tue, Nov 3You can vote from 6 AM to 7 PM. If you are in line at 7:00 PM, stay in line. You get to vote. Chicago voters can vote at their home precinct OR at any of 51 vote centers (the Downtown Supersite at 137 S. State and all 50 ward sites), per the Chicago Board: 'Voters can choose whatever voting site is most convenient for them, including on Election Day.' Outside Chicago, go to your assigned precinct unless your county says otherwise.

Where to vote

• Find early voting locations
• Find your Election Day polling place
• Find a ballot drop box
• Track your mail ballot
• Check your registration
• See official sample ballots

What to bring

ID needed only for some first-time voters.

• Most voters: no ID needed. You sign in and election judges compare your signature to the one on file. Chicago Board: 'While identification is not required, it is helpful to bring it in case there is a question about the voter's registration, address, signature.'
• First-time voters who registered by mail without providing an Illinois driver's license, state ID number, or Social Security digits must show one ID: a current photo ID, or a current utility bill, bank statement, paycheck, government check, or other government document with your name and address (federal HAVA rule).
• Grace period (same-day) registration: two forms of ID, at least one showing your current address. Examples: Illinois driver's license or state ID, passport, student ID, utility bill, bank statement, lease or mortgage, paycheck, government mail.
• If you requested a mail ballot and show up in person, bring the mail ballot and surrender it (see gotchas).

No ID? If you're required to show ID and don't have it, you vote a provisional ballot and have 7 days after the election (through Tuesday, November 10) to bring ID or proof to the election authority so it counts. Provisional ballots are validated by Nov. 17. Suburban Cook County voters: the Cook County Clerk's provisional page also says ID must arrive 'by 7 p.m. the Thursday after Election Day' (November 5), so send it by then to be safe.