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How to vote in Illinois
Registration deadlines, ID, mail and early voting in Illinois, in plain English, with the official links. The Illinois State Board of Elections is the final word on every rule.
| Register online | Yes: 16 days before Election Day |
|---|---|
| Register by mail | Postmarked before regular registration closes, 28 days before Election Day |
| Register in person | Regular registration closes 28 days before Election Day; grace-period registration continues in person at designated sites through Election Day |
| Same-day registration | Yes: grace-period registration lets you register and vote in person at designated sites, including some Election Day polling places, with two forms of ID |
| Voter ID | Most registered voters do not need ID, but two forms of ID are required to register in person (including same-day) or if you registered by mail without a driver's license or Social Security number. |
| Voting by mail | No-excuse vote by mail with an optional permanent list; ballots must be postmarked by Election Day and received within 14 days after it. |
| Early voting | No-excuse in-person early voting begins 40 days before Election Day at sites set by each local election authority. |
| Statewide elections in 2027 | No statewide election; local Consolidated Primary on February 23, 2027 (only where required) and Consolidated Election on April 6, 2027. |
Checked against the Illinois election office's website on November 8, 2026. Deadlines are for general elections; primaries, runoffs and local elections can differ. Military and overseas voters have their own rules at FVAP.gov.
Official sources
- https://www.elections.il.gov/
- https://www.elections.il.gov/Main/FAQ.aspx
- https://www.elections.il.gov/Main/Publications.aspx
- https://www.elections.il.gov/Main/CalendarEventsAll.aspx
- https://www.elections.il.gov/ElectionOperations/ElectionInformation.aspx?ElectionID=iz%2fi3mFiwEw%3d
- https://www.elections.il.gov/ElectionOperations/VotingByMailAgreement.aspx
- https://www.elections.il.gov/NewDocDisplay.aspx?%2fM0cs48zOKVZyk9eAbpEoxjoGz9b5YaGE%2bEuf7JVd2Tlx2Mybp2RbacEJVh848tnFOLoTd3G4cRsCxSj%2bcrL1MmhG9QsYgJ9XEPk5RBnskXetvBKqlqFjTKgx7qP9eeYvjYVE4PHXwpZnTFFeskkj9bQfLeonJZF
- https://www.elections.il.gov/NewDocDisplay.aspx?%2fM0cs48zOKVZyk9eAbpEoxjoGz9b5YaGE%2bEuf7JVd2Tlx2Mybp2RbacEJVh848tnFOLoTd3G4cRsCxSj%2bcrL1MmhG9QsYgJ9OAgI8oxP06UUz3N9a%2babH2TsAY3ULa94pWnj7HwRoALh1dif5CSlCA%3d%3d
- https://www.elections.il.gov/NewDocDisplay.aspx?%2fM0cs48zOKVZyk9eAbpEoxjoGz9b5YaGE%2bEuf7JVd2Tlx2Mybp2RbacEJVh848tnFOLoTd3G4cRsCxSj%2bcrL1MmhG9QsYgJ993sRKyHy6NSrOeqhGSgJZjOQiDLWY39IoNmqSBb0J5o%3d
- https://www.elections.il.gov/NewDocDisplay.aspx?%2fM0cs48zOKVZyk9eAbpEoxjoGz9b5YaGE%2bEuf7JVd2Tlx2Mybp2RbacEJVh848tnFOLoTd3G4cRsCxSj%2bcrL1MmhG9QsYgJ9e5wE4tKLgaaopDaaWmFheIeWqmvhmfkWslmarqW5C0xuwyDgFhSttQ%3d%3d
- https://www.elections.il.gov/NewDocDisplay.aspx?%2fM0cs48zOKVZyk9eAbpEoxjoGz9b5YaGE%2bEuf7JVd2Tlx2Mybp2RbacEJVh848tnFOLoTd3G4cRsCxSj%2bcrL1MmhG9QsYgJ9yqzzZebnJfk2%2fmf4NU%2b3SIRiZYahDScauSa%2fgZLRWnGHOZ7Srh1A5GYB6gdvGgIm
- https://www.elections.il.gov/NewDocDisplay.aspx?%2fM0cs48zOKVZyk9eAbpEoxjoGz9b5YaGlSMHdiy2iXFAjyfyuQAf7RuSHGhmj4krBXKBjMHMC1kXG9lGcteFHxJG77yV2o99NE75AqeL5DThKkCHpaEu2oLSuh20w3EwQdWH71Ci9K32uwKewIazRSajZGQBVzmfzwlOzw4whnSWC4%2fbXhBNlQ%3d%3d
- https://www.elections.il.gov/NewDocDisplay.aspx?%2fM0cs48zOKVZyk9eAbpEoxjoGz9b5YaGE%2bEuf7JVd2Tlx2Mybp2RbacEJVh848tnFOLoTd3G4cRsCxSj%2bcrL1MmhG9QsYgJ9OQfN8tD1KknEiukjH2qXFfpoyg4mUG1ulZsR5CaIdX6eMhpauyZ%2fo3LdIbzoH%2buhfMrVo%2b1782oFZhvfreM7eqtSTjTeJ1odUsMxIyFYyDM%3d
- https://ova.elections.il.gov/
- https://ova.elections.il.gov/RegistrationLookup.aspx
- https://votersguide.elections.il.gov/
Next
- Find who represents you in Congress and in the Illinois legislature.
- Voter registration and civic groups in Illinois.
- Every state's rules.