How to vote in Illinois
On this page
- Voter registration deadline (online): 16 days before Election Day
- Voter registration deadline (by mail): Postmarked by 28 days before Election Day
- Voter registration deadline (in person): Election Day
- Ballot request deadline (online): 5 days before Election Day
- Ballot request deadline (by mail): Received by 5 days before Election Day
- Ballot request deadline (in person): 1 day before Election Day
- Ballot return deadline (by mail): Postmarked by Election Day
- Ballot return deadline (in person): Received by Election Day
Illinois voter registration guide
- Register to vote (online): 16 days before Election Day
- Register to vote (by mail): Postmarked by 28 days before Election Day
- Register to vote (in person): Election Day
- If you can't remember if you're registered to vote, or you want to make sure your information is correct, you can check your Illinois registration using the Illinois voter registration lookup site.
- If you're not registered to vote, or you need to update your voter registration information, follow the instructions below.
To register in Illinois you must:
- be a citizen of the United States
- be a resident of Illinois and of your election precinct for at least 30 days before Election Day
- be 18 years old by Election Day (if you are 17, you may vote in a primary if you will turn 18 by the General Election)
- not be currently incarcerated for a felony
- not claim the right to vote anywhere else.
You can register to vote online if you have an Illinois driver license, driver permit, or nondriver ID card.
- Visit the Illinois online voter registration site.
- Fill out all the required fields.
- You will be registered to vote as soon as you finish the workflow.
- You should receive your voter registration card in the mail within 2-3 weeks. If not, you might want to follow up with your local election office.
- The deadline to register to vote online is 16 days before Election Day.
- Download and fill out the National Voter Registration Form.
- Box 6 - ID Number: Enter your Illinois driver’s license number. If you do not have a driver’s license, enter the last 4 digits of your social security number. If you don't have either number, please write “NONE” in this space.
- Box 7 - Choice of Party: Party registration or preference is not required for voter registration. However, when you apply for a primary ballot, you must indicate your party preference for that election.
- Box 8 - Race or Ethnic Group: Leave blank.
- Print, date, and sign the form. If you do not have a printer, you can print the form out at any local library. If you do not have a stamp, you can buy one from any grocery store: just ask the cashier to sell you one.
- Mail your voter registration form to the mailing address below. For faster delivery, send the form directly to your local election office.
- Your voter registration form must be postmarked by 28 days before Election Day.
- Contact your local election office to find where to register to vote in person.
Bring your driver's license or state ID card with you. If you don't have one, bring one photo ID issued by any state or the Federal Government, and bring one document that shows your name and current address. Acceptable documents include a recent utility bill, bank statement, paycheck, residential lease, vehicle registration card, Social Security or Medicaid card, insurance card, credit or debit card, or any other government document that shows your name and address.
- Summary: Illinois has same day registration. You can register and vote during the early voting period and on Election Day.
- Where to go:
Go to your designated voting location. Click here to find where to vote.
- What to bring:
Bring your driver's license or state ID card with you. If you don't have one, bring one photo ID issued by any state or the Federal Government, and bring one document that shows your name and current address. Acceptable documents include a recent utility bill, bank statement, paycheck, residential lease, vehicle registration card, Social Security or Medicaid card, insurance card, credit or debit card, or any other government document that shows your name and address.
- Need help? Contact your local election office if you have questions.
Voting rights are immediately restored when you are released from prison. You can register to vote on probation or parole.
- You cannot vote while incarcerated.
- You can vote while on parole.
- You can vote while on probation.
- You can vote upon completion of your sentence.
- No financial obligations.
- Please visit Restore Your Vote for additional information.
Illinois absentee and mail ballot guide
Absentee ballots and mail ballots are the same thing, and the process for getting one is straight forward.
- Request your ballot by the deadline
- Receive your in ballot in the mail
- Return your ballot by the deadline
- Earliest day to apply: 90 days before Election Day
- Request deadline (online): 5 days before Election Day
- Request deadline (by mail): Received by 5 days before Election Day
- Request deadline (in person): 1 day before Election Day
- Deadline to return your ballot (by mail): Postmarked by Election Day
- Deadline to return your ballot (in person): Received by Election Day
Any registered Illinois voter may request an absentee ballot and vote by mail.
Some cities or counties in Illinois allow you to request your ballot online. Request your ballot with our tool to determine if yours does. If an online request portal is not available for your area, our tool will email you a ballot request form that you can print, sign, and mail.
- Download the Illinois absentee ballot application.
- Fill out all of the required fields.
- Print the application.
- Sign and date your application. This is very important.
- Mail or hand-deliver your completed application directly to your local election office as soon as possible, but no later than the deadline.
- If it’s close to the deadline, call your local election office and see if they will let you submit your application via email or fax.
- Your application must be received by 5 days before Election Day.
- Visit your local election office.
- Ask the clerk to give you an absentee ballot application.
- Fill out all of the required fields.
- Sign and date your application.
- The deadline to apply in person is 1 day before Election Day.
- Carefully read and follow the instructions, and fill out all required fields.
- Sign and date the outside envelope.
- Mail or hand-deliver your ballot to your local election office. You can also hand-deliver your ballot to a drop box if one is available nearby. You can use our Find Out Where To Vote tool to find an official drop box.
- If you mail your ballot, it must be postmarked by Election Day.
- If you hand-deliver your ballot, it must be received by Election Day.
- If you miss the deadline – or forget to sign the outside envelope – your vote will not be counted.
- ID required when requesting a mail-in ballot:
Online application: You can apply online if you have an Illinois driver's license number or Illinois state ID number. Paper application: The signature on your application will be compared to the signature on your voter registration card to ensure they match.
- ID required when returning a mail-in ballot:
Your signature on the return envelope will be compared to the signature on your voter registration card to ensure they match. If you forget to sign the return envelope, your ballot might be rejected.
Illinois does not have a statewide ballot tracker. Contact your local election office.
Ballot curing is the process of resolving any problems with your absentee or mail ballot to ensure that your vote is counted. After tracking your ballot, contact your local election office to fix any issues that have been noted.
- Your ballot will be rejected if you forget to sign it or if the signature does not match the one that the state has on file for you.
- You have 14 days to fix the issues with your ballot in order for it to be counted.
Some states have special procedures that allow you to obtain an emergency ballot if a medical or other emergency occurs after the standard absentee ballot application window.
Emergency Ballot Rules
You can apply for an emergency absentee ballot if you are hospitalized within 14 days of Election Day. You can designate another voter to pick up your emergency ballot and bring it to you.
Dates & Deadlines
- Emergency ballot request ends Election Day
- Emergency ballot return deadline is 7PM Election Day
Contact your local election office
Illinois early voting guide
- Early voting starts: 40 days before Election Day
- Early voting ends: 1 day before Election Day
Most Illinois voters do not need to show ID. First time Illinois voters, or voters who did not show sufficient ID when registering to vote should plan on showing ID at the polls. You can show a non-expired photo ID issued by the State of Illinois or the Federal Government or any current ID showing your name and address. If you don't have a photo ID, you can show a current utility bill, bank statement, paycheck, proof of insurance, or official government document that shows your name and current address.
Illinois voter ID guide
Most Illinois voters do not need to show ID. First time Illinois voters, or voters who did not show sufficient ID when registering to vote should plan on showing ID at the polls. You can show a non-expired photo ID issued by the State of Illinois or the Federal Government or any current ID showing your name and address. If you don't have a photo ID, you can show a current utility bill, bank statement, paycheck, proof of insurance, or official government document that shows your name and current address.
Online application: You can apply online if you have an Illinois driver's license number or Illinois state ID number. Paper application: The signature on your application will be compared to the signature on your voter registration card to ensure they match.
Your signature on the return envelope will be compared to the signature on your voter registration card to ensure they match. If you forget to sign the return envelope, your ballot might be rejected.
You can register to vote online if you have an Illinois driver license, driver permit, or nondriver ID card.
Bring your driver's license or state ID card with you. If you don't have one, bring one photo ID issued by any state or the Federal Government, and bring one document that shows your name and current address. Acceptable documents include a recent utility bill, bank statement, paycheck, residential lease, vehicle registration card, Social Security or Medicaid card, insurance card, credit or debit card, or any other government document that shows your name and address.
Local election office
Contact your local election office if you have questions.
Statewide election office
This is the statewide agency that is ultimately responsible for Illinois elections. You can contact them with questions, but your local election office will probably respond faster.
State Board of Elections 2329 S. MacArthur Boulevard Springfield, IL 62704