Election administration in Illinois

Illinois 2025 elections

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Local ballot measures • School boards • All local elections by county • How to run for office |

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Election Information
Voter registration
Early voting
Absentee/mail-in voting
All-mail voting
Voter ID laws
State poll opening and closing times
Time off work for voting

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Ballotpedia's Election Administration Legislation Tracker
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State of Election Administration Legislation Reports

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Select a state from the menu below to learn more about its election administration.

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Election administration encompasses a state's voting policies, procedures, and enforcement. These include voter identification requirements, early and absentee/mail-in voting provisions, voter list maintenance methods, and more. Each state's voting policies dictate who can vote and under what conditions.

THE BASICS

* Illinois permits online voter registration.

* Illinois permits early voting and no-excuse absentee/mail-in voting.

* In Illinois, polls are open from 6:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Central Time.

* Illinois does not require identification to vote.

* In Illinois, a voter must be affiliated with a party to vote in their primary. However, voters state their affiliation at the polls and any voter may change their affiliation on the day of the primary. A voter's eligibility to vote a party's ballot may be challenged.

* Illinois has tools for verifying voter registration and checking the status of provisional ballots.

Below, you will find details on the following election administration topics in Illinois:

* Poll times
* Voter registration
* Early and absentee/mail-in voting policy[1]
* Voter identification requirements
* Provisional ballot rules
* Primary election type
* Time off work for voting
* Voting rules for people convicted of a felony

* Voter list maintenance
* Post-election auditing
* Election policy ballot measures
* Election policy legislation
* Ballot access
* Redistricting
* Election administration agencies

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## Contents

* 1 Poll times
* 2 Voter registration
* 2.1 Automatic registration
* 2.2 Online registration
* 2.3 Same-day registration
* 2.4 Residency requirements
* 2.5 Verification of citizenship
* 2.6 Verifying your registration
* 3 Early and absentee/mail-in voting policy
* 3.1 Early voting
* 3.2 Absentee/mail-in voting
* 3.2.1 Returning absentee/mail-in ballots
* 3.2.2 Signature requirements and cure provisions
* 3.2.3 Was your absentee/mail-in ballot counted?
* 4 Voter identification requirements
* 4.1 Provisional balloting for voters without ID
* 5 Provisional ballot rules
* 5.1 Was your provisional ballot counted?
* 6 Local election officials
* 7 Primary election type
* 8 Time off work for voting
* 9 Voting rules for people convicted of a felony
* 10 Voter list maintenance
* 10.1 When names can be removed from the voter list
* 10.2 Inactive voter list rules
* 10.3 The Electronic Registration Information Center (ERIC)
* 11 Post-election auditing
* 12 Noteworthy events
* 12.1 Gov. Pritzker signs Senate Bill 825 (2021)
* 12.2 U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit reverses injunction of same-day voter registration law (2017)
* 12.3 Illinois implements automatic voter registration (2017)
* 13 Election policy ballot measures
* 14 Recent legislation related to election administration in Illinois
* 14.1 Explore election legislation with Ballotpedia
* 15 Ballot access
* 16 Redistricting
* 16.1 State process
* 17 Election administration agencies
* 17.1 Election agencies
* 18 Ballotpedia's election coverage
* 19 See also
* 19.1 Elections in Illinois
* 20 External links
* 21 Footnotes

## Poll times[edit]

See also: State poll opening and closing times

In Illinois, all polls are open from 6:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Central Time. An individual who is in line at the time polls close must be allowed to vote.[2]

## Voter registration[edit]

Check your voter registration status here.

To register to vote in Illinois, a person must be a U.S. citizen, a resident of an Illinois precinct for at least 30 days prior to election day, and at least 18 years old by election day. A 17-year-old may vote in a primary if he or she will be 18 years old at the subsequent general election. Preregistration is available starting at age 16.[3][4]

Regular registration closes during the period beginning 27 days prior to an election and ending two days after the election. Online registration closes 16 days prior to an election. Grace period registration is available in person through election day at certain locations.[3]

Prospective voters can register online, by mail, or at any of the following locations:[5]

“  |

* County Clerk's Office
* Board of Election Commissioner's Office
* City and Village Offices
* Township Offices
* Precinct Committeeman
* Schools
* Public Libraries
* Military Recruitment Offices[6]

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Two forms of identification are required to register in person, one of which must display the voter's current address.[3]

### Automatic registration[edit]

Illinois automatically registers eligible individuals to vote through the Department of Motor Vehicles and other designated automatic voter registration agencies.

### Online registration[edit]

See also: Online voter registration

Illinois has implemented an online voter registration system. Residents can register to vote by visiting this website.

### Same-day registration[edit]

Illinois allows same-day voter registration.

### Residency requirements[edit]

Illinois law requires 30 days of residency in the state before a person may vote.

### Verification of citizenship[edit]

See also: Laws permitting noncitizens to vote in the United States

Illinois does not require proof of citizenship for voter registration. An individual applying to register to vote must attest that they are a U.S. citizen under penalty of perjury.

All 49 states with voter registration systems require applicants to declare that they are U.S. citizens in order to register to vote in state and federal elections, under penalty of perjury or other punishment.[7] Seven states — Alabama, Arizona, Georgia, Kansas, Louisiana, New Hampshire, and Wyoming — have laws requiring verification of citizenship at the time of voter registration, whether in effect or not. In three states — California, Maryland, and Vermont — at least one local jurisdiction allows noncitizens to vote in some local elections. Noncitizens registering to vote in those elections must complete a voter registration application provided by the local jurisdiction and are not eligible to register as state or federal voters.

### Verifying your registration[edit]

The Registration Lookup page, run by the Illinois Board of Elections, allows residents to check their voter registration status online.

## Early and absentee/mail-in voting policy[edit]

### Early voting[edit]

See also: Early voting

Illinois permits early voting. Learn more by visiting this website.

Early voting permits citizens to cast ballots in person at a polling place prior to an election. In states that permit no-excuse early voting, a voter does not have to provide an excuse for being unable to vote on Election Day. States that allow voters to cast no-excuse absentee/mail-in ballots in person are counted as no-excuse early voting states.

Forty-seven states and the District of Columbia permit no-excuse early voting.

### Absentee/mail-in voting[edit]

See also: Absentee/mail-in voting

All voters are eligible to vote absentee/by-mail in Illinois. There are no special eligibility requirements for voting by mail.[8]

To vote by mail, a ballot application must be received by the election office between 90 and five days prior to the election if sent by mail. An application submitted in-person must be received no later than the day before the election. A returned absentee/mail-in ballot must then be postmarked no later than midnight the night before election and received no later than 14 days after the election.[8]

Voters can sign up for a permanent vote-by-mail list and automatically receive vote-by-mail ballots for subsequent elections.[9]

#### Returning absentee/mail-in ballots[edit]

See also: Mail ballot collection and return laws by state

Illinois voters can return their absentee/mail-in ballot in person or by mail to the city or county clerk in charge of elections in their jurisdiction. Ballots returned by mail must be postmarked no later than election day. Ballots submitted in person must be returned by the time the polls close on election day. "A person authorized by the voter" may return an absentee ballot, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.[10][11]

Twenty states allow anyone chosen by the voter to return a ballot on the voter's behalf, with certain exceptions, while 16 states allow anyone with certain relationships to the voter to return the voter's ballot. Four states allow only the voter to return the voter's ballot, with certain exceptions, and two states required voters to return their ballots by mail. Eight states and D.C. do not specify who may return ballots.

#### Signature requirements and cure provisions[edit]

Absentee/mail-in ballots in Illinois include a return envelope printed with a certification that must be signed by the voter in order for the ballot to be counted. Illinois law includes a cure provision allowing voters to correct an issue with their absentee/mail-in ballot. When an election judge rejects an absentee/mail-in ballot because of a signature discrepancy or for some other reason (e.g., an improperly sealed return envelope), election officials are required to notify the voter by mail within two days of the rejection. The voter has until 14 days after the day of the election to contact local election authorities and resolve the issue.[8]

Thirty-three states have laws that include cure provisions, while 17 states do not. One state, Pennsylvania, allows counties to establish a cure process.

#### Was your absentee/mail-in ballot counted?[edit]

Some city and county clerks in Illinois provide search tools that voters in their jurisdictions can use to check the status of their absentee/mail-in ballot. Check the website of your municipal clerk for more information.

## Voter identification requirements[edit]

See also: Voter ID in Illinois
See also: Voter identification laws by state

Illinois does not require voters to present identification while voting, in most cases. First-time voters who registered by mail and did not submit their driver’s license number, state ID number, last four digits of their social security number, or other form of ID are required to present identification showing their name and address before voting.

The following list of accepted ID was current as of August 2024. Click here for the Illinois State Board of Elections voting information page to ensure you have the most current information.

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* A current and valid photo identification
* Utility bill
* Bank statement
* Government check
* Paycheck
* Lease or contract for residence
* Student ID & mail addressed to voter’s residence
* Government document[12][6]

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Thirty-six states require voters to present identification in order to vote at the polls on Election Day. Of these states, 24 require voters to present identification containing a photograph, and 12 accept other forms of identification. The remaining 14 states do not require voters to present identification in order to vote at the polls on Election Day.

Valid forms of identification differ by state. In certain states that require voters to provide identification, there may be exceptions that allow some voters to cast a ballot without providing an ID. To see more about these exceptions, see details by state. Commonly accepted forms of ID include driver's licenses, state-issued identification cards, and military identification cards.

#### Provisional balloting for voters without ID[edit]

Voters who do not have ID while voting may cast provisional ballots. See below for provisional ballot rules.

## Provisional ballot rules[edit]

Voters in Illinois are given provisional ballots, or ballots requiring additional steps or information before they can be counted, under the following circumstances. [13]

1) If the "[v]oter’s name does not appear on the official list of registered voters eligible voters for the precinct in which the person seeks to vote and the person has refused to register," the voter has the right to cast a provisional ballot.

2) If the "voter’s voting status has been challenged and a majority of the judges uphold the challenge," the voter has the right to cast a provisional ballot.

3) If the "voter did not provide identification when registering by mail and still cannot provide ID on Election Day," the voter has the right to cast a provisional ballot.

4) If "[a] court order extends the time for closing the polls, and the voter votes during this extended time period," the voter has the right to cast a provisional ballot.

5) If the "voter's name appears on the list of voters who voted during the early voting period, but the voter claims not to have voted during the early voting period," the voter has the right to cast a provisional ballot.

6) If the "voter admits receiving a vote by mail ballot, but failed to return it to the election authority (or election judges)," the voter has the right to cast a provisional ballot.

7) If the "voter attempted to register to vote on Election Day, but failed to provide the necessary documentation," the voter has the right to cast a provisional ballot.

According to the Illinois State Board of Elections, the "election authority has 14 days (after the election) to determine voter eligibility, and thus if the ballot should be counted."[13]

A provisional ballot is rejected in the following circumstances:[14]

* If "[i]nformation available to the election authority from five specifically-identified sources opposes registration status. If a conflict exists among the information available, the election authority shall make a determination by a totality of the circumstances;"
* If "[t]he affidavit executed by the voter fails to contain the voter’s first and last name, house number and street name and signature or mark;"
* If the voter voted by mail; or
* If the "voter does not provide the election authority with the necessary registration documentation (ID) within 7 days of the election."

#### Was your provisional ballot counted?[edit]

Visit the office of the Illinois State Board of Elections Office Provisional Ballot Search tool to check the status of your provisional ballot.

## Local election officials[edit]

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Do you need information about elections in your area? Are you looking for your local election official? Click here to visit the U.S. Vote Foundation and use their election official lookup tool.|

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## Primary election type[edit]

See also: Primary elections in Illinois

A primary election is an election in which registered voters select a candidate that they believe should be a political party's candidate for elected office to run in the general election. They are also used to choose convention delegates and party leaders. Primaries are state-level and local-level elections that take place prior to a general election. In Illinois, state law provides for a closed primary where a voter must be affiliated with a party to vote in that party's primary. However, voters state their affiliation at the polls and any voter may change their affiliation on the day of the primary. A voter's eligibility to vote a party's ballot may be challenged.[15]

For information about which offices are nominated via primary election, see this article.

## Time off work for voting[edit]

In Illinois, employees must be allotted two hours for voting if they have applied for it. Employers may specify when employees take this time off, "...except that the employer must permit a 2-hour absence during working hours if 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," according to Illinois law. State law says the following:[16]

“  | Any person entitled to vote at a general or special election or at any election at which propositions are submitted to a popular vote in this State, shall, on the day of such election, be entitled to absent himself from any services or employment in which he is then engaged or employed, for a period of 2 hours between the time of opening and closing the polls; and such voter shall not because of so absenting himself be liable to any penalty; Provided, however, that application for such leave of absence shall be made prior to the day of election. The employer may specify the hours during which said employee may absent himself as aforesaid, except that the employer must permit a 2-hour absence during working hours if 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. No person or corporation shall refuse to an employee the privilege hereby conferred, nor shall subject an employee to a penalty, including a reduction in compensation due to an absence under this Section, because of the exercise of such privilege, nor shall directly or indirectly violate the provisions of this Section.[16][6] | ”

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Twenty-eight states require employers to grant employees time off to vote. Within these 28 states, policies vary as to whether that time off must be paid and how much notice must be given.

## Voting rules for people convicted of a felony[edit]

See also: Voting rights for people convicted of a felony

In Illinois, people convicted of a felony automatically regain their voting rights at the completion of their prison or jail sentence, as specified by Article III, Section 2 of the Illinois State Constitution.

Voting rights for people convicted of a felony vary from state to state. In the majority of states, people convicted of a felony cannot vote while they are incarcerated but may regain the right to vote upon release from prison or at some point thereafter.[17]

## Voter list maintenance[edit]

All states have rules under which they maintain voter rolls—or, check and remove certain names from their lists of registered voters. Most states are subject to the parameters set by The National Voter Registration Act (NVRA).[18] The NVRA requires states to make efforts to remove deceased individuals and individuals who have become ineligible due to a change of address. It prohibits removing registrants from voter lists within 90 days of a federal election due to change of address unless a registrant has requested to be removed, or from removing people from voter lists solely because they have not voted. The NVRA says that states may remove names from their registration lists under certain other circumstances and that their methods for removing names must be uniform and nondiscriminatory.[19]

#### When names can be removed from the voter list[edit]

Illinois law authorizes state and local election authorities to remove the names of voters from the registered voting list if an individual:[20]

* Remains an "inactive voter" for two consecutive general federal elections,
* Requests in writing to be removed from the registration list,
* Becomes incarcerated in a local, state, or federal correctional facility by reason of conviction, or
* Dies.

#### Inactive voter list rules[edit]

Voters who do not respond to confirmation of address notices are defined as "inactive voters," according to Illinois law. Election authorities are required to distribute lists of inactive voters to voting precincts at each election. If a voter remains in inactive status through two general elections–by not voting or updating their registration status–their registration is canceled.[21]

#### The Electronic Registration Information Center (ERIC)[edit]

See also: Electronic Registration Information Center (ERIC)

According to its website, ERIC is a nonprofit corporation that is governed by a board of member-states. These member states submit voter registration and motor vehicle registration information to ERIC. ERIC uses this information, as well as Social Security death records and other sources, to provide member states with reports showing voters who have moved within their state, moved out of their state, died, have duplicate registrations in their state, or are potentially eligible to vote but are not yet registered. ERIC's website describes its funding as follows: "Members fund ERIC. New members pay a one-time membership fee of $25,000, which is reserved for technology upgrades and other unanticipated expenses. Members also pay annual dues. Annual dues cover operating costs and are based, in part, on the citizen voting age population in each state."[22]

Twenty-five states are participating members in the ERIC program. Thirty-four states and the District of Columbia have joined and participated in ERIC at some point.[23]

As of April 2024, Illinois was participating in the ERIC program.

## Post-election auditing[edit]

Illinois state law requires post-election audits. The audit is conducted by county election officials and is overseen by officials from the Illinois State Board of Elections. The audit is conducted on "5% of precincts and 5% of voting devices used in early voting," where in-precinct counting equipment is used. The Illinois State Board of Elections also randomly selects precincts to audit. "If any error is detected, the cause shall be determined and corrected, and an errorless count shall be made prior to the official canvass. If an errorless count can’t be conducted, a written report explaining the errors is made available for public inspection." The audit must be completed before the canvass.[24]

Post-election audits check that election results tallied by a state's voting system match results from paper records, such as paper ballots filled out by voters or the paper records produced by electronic voting machines. Post-election audits are classified into two categories: audits of election results—which include traditional post-election audits as well as risk-limiting audits—and procedural audits.[25][26]

Typically, traditional post-election audits are done by recounting a portion of ballots, either electronically or by hand, and comparing the results to those produced by the state's voting system. In contrast, risk-limiting audits use statistical methods to compare a random sample of votes cast to election results instead of reviewing every ballot. The scope of procedural audits varies by state, but they typically include a systematic review of voting equipment, performance of the voting system, vote totals, duties of election officials and workers, ballot chain of custody, and more.

Forty-six states and the District of Columbia require some form of post-election audit by law, excluding states with pilot programs. Of these, 39 states and the District of Columbia require traditional post-election audits, while three states require risk-limiting post-election audits, and three states require some other form of post-election audit, including procedural post-election audits.[27][25]

## Noteworthy events[edit]

### Gov. Pritzker signs Senate Bill 825 (2021)[edit]

On June 17, 2021, Governor J.B. Pritzker (D) signed SB825 into law, enacting a series of changes to the state's election administration procedures, including (but not limited to) the following:[9][28]

* Rescheduled the 2022 statewide primary election to June 28, 2022.
* Provided that, in a county with a population of less than 3,000,000, the sheriff may establish a temporary branch polling place at the county jail.
* Provided that voters can sign on to a permanent vote-by-mail list, thereafter receiving official vote-by-mail ballots automatically for all subsequent elections.
* Provided that election authorities can establish curbside voting locations during the early voting period or on Election Day.
* Provided that election authorities must establish "one location to be located at an office of the election authority or in the largest municipality within its jurisdiction where all voters in its jurisdiction are allowed to vote on Election Day during polling place hours, regardless of the precinct in which they are registered."

SB825 was introduced in the Illinois State Senate on February 25, 2021. On May 31, 2021, the Illinois House of Representatives approved the final version of SB825 by a vote of 72-46. The Senate followed suit that same day, approving the bill by a vote of 41-18.[9]

### U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit reverses injunction of same-day voter registration law (2017)[edit]

On August 4, 2017, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit reversed an injunction against Illinois' same-day voter registration law after issuing a temporary stay against the injunction in the fall of 2016. Illinois' same-day registration law required counties with populations exceeding 100,000 to provide for same-day voter registration but did not require the same of smaller counties. On August 4, 2016, Patrick Harlan and the Crawford County Republican Central Committee filed suit, alleging that the law, by providing for different voting conditions in different locations, violated the Equal Protection Clause of the Amendment XIV, United States Constitution. On August 9, 2016, the plaintiffs asked for a preliminary injunction to prevent counties from offering same-day voter registration. On September 27, 2016, the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois granted the injunction. On October 10, 2016, the Seventh Circuit stayed the district court's order, allowing for same-day voter registration to take place in the November 2016 general election. The court's ruling on August 4, 2017, overturned the injunction altogether and returned the case to the district court for further proceedings:[29][30]

“  | Even if the preliminary injunction had been justified at the time the district court entered it, the passage of time has changed at least one thing: the urgency of injunctive relief. There is plenty of time at this juncture for the district court to consider this case without invoking its extraordinary equity powers. The next election that will be affected by [the law] is the off-year primary election scheduled for March 20, 2018. To the extent that this injunction is designed to address Illinois elections until the merits of the case are resolved, we conclude that it must be vacated.[6] | ”

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The lower court dismissed the case in May 2018.[31]

### Illinois implements automatic voter registration (2017)[edit]

On May 29, 2017, the Illinois House of Representatives approved a bill providing for automatic voter registration when voters interacted with certain state agencies (such as driver's license offices). The House approved the bill in a 115-0 vote. On May 31, 2017, the Illinois State Senate (having approved its version of the bill earlier in May) concurred with the House version, sending it to Governor Bruce Rauner (R) for his signature.[32][33]

On August 28, 2017, Rauner signed the automatic voter registration bill into law. At the signing ceremony, Rauner said, "This is good bipartisan legislation and it addresses the fundamental fact that the right to vote is foundational for the rights of Americans in our democracy. We as a people need to do everything we can to knock down barriers, remove hurdles for all those who are eligible to vote, and to be able to vote." According to The Washington Post, the law was expected to be implemented in phases. Driver's license offices and other offices administered by the secretary of state were slated to comply with the law in advance of the November 2018 general election. Any remaining state agencies subject to the law were expected to be compliant by July 2019.[34]

## Election policy ballot measures[edit]

See also: Elections and campaigns on the ballot and List of Illinois ballot measures

Ballotpedia has tracked the following ballot measures relating to election and campaign policy in Illinois.

1. Illinois Governor Recall Amendment (2010)
2. Illinois Voting Requirement Amendment (1988)
3. Illinois Direct Election of United States Senators Question (1902)
4. Illinois Primary Election Law (1904)
5. Illinois Voters' Veto Question (1904)
6. Illinois Corrupt Practices Act (1910)
7. Illinois Primary Law Amendment Question (1912)
8. Illinois Short Ballot Commission Question (1912)
9. Illinois Initiative and Referendum Question (1919)
10. Illinois Gateway Amendment (1919)
11. Illinois Reduce Size of House of Representatives and Eliminate Cumulative Voting Initiative (1980)
12. Illinois Penalties for Candidate Interference with Election Worker's Duties Advisory Question (2024)

## Recent legislation related to election administration in Illinois[edit]

The table below lists bills related to election administration that have been introduced during (or carried over to) the current legislative session in Illinois. The following information is included for each bill:

* State
* Bill number
* Official bill name or caption
* Most recent action date
* Legislative status
* Sponsor party
* Topics dealt with by the bill

Bills are organized by most recent action. The table displays up to 100 results. To view more bills, use the arrows in the upper-right corner. Clicking on a bill will open its page on Ballotpedia's Election Administration Legislation Tracker, which includes bill details and a summary.

### Explore election legislation with Ballotpedia[edit]

* Try Ballotpedia's Election Administration Legislation Tracker

Ballotpedia's Election Administration Legislation Tracker provides daily updates on legislative activity related to election policy in all 50 states.

Our election policy experts translate complex bill text into easy-to-understand summaries. And because it's from Ballotpedia, our legislation tracker is guaranteed to be neutral, unbiased, and nonpartisan.

Search bills

* Read Ballotpedia's State of Election Administration Legislation Reports

Ballotpedia publishes regular analysis of election administration legislation, including three full reports per year, providing ongoing coverage of legislative activity affecting election policy in each state.

These reports deliver insights into partisan priorities, dive deep into notable trends, and highlight activity in key states.

Read the latest report

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The newsletter tracks developments in election policy around the country, including legislative activity, big-picture trends, and recent news. Each email contains in-depth data from our Election Administration Legislation Tracker.

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## Ballot access[edit]

See also: Ballot access requirements for political candidates in Illinois

In order to get on the ballot in Illinois, a candidate for state or federal office must meet a variety of state-specific filing requirements and deadlines. These regulations, known as ballot access laws, determine whether a candidate or party will appear on an election ballot. These laws are set at the state level. A candidate must prepare to meet ballot access requirements well in advance of primaries, caucuses, and the general election.

There are three basic methods by which an individual may become a candidate for office in a state.

1. An individual can seek the nomination of a state-recognized political party.
2. An individual can run as an independent. Independent candidates often must petition in order to have their names printed on the general election ballot.
3. An individual can run as a write-in candidate.

This article outlines the steps that prospective candidates for state-level and congressional office must take in order to run for office in Illinois. For information about filing requirements for presidential candidates, click here. Information about filing requirements for local-level offices is not available in this article (contact state election agencies for information about local candidate filing processes).

## Redistricting[edit]

See also: Redistricting in Illinois

Redistricting is the process by which new congressional and state legislative district boundaries are drawn. Each of Illinois' 17 United States Representatives and 177 state legislators are elected from political divisions called districts. United States Senators are not elected by districts, but by the states at large. District lines are redrawn every 10 years following completion of the United States census. The federal government stipulates that districts must have nearly equal populations and must not discriminate on the basis of race or ethnicity.[35][36][37][38]

Illinois was apportioned 17 seats in the U.S. House of Representatives after the 2020 census, 1 fewer than it received after the 2010 census.

HIGHLIGHTS

* Following the 2020 United States Census, Illinois was apportioned 17 congressional districts, one less than the number it had after the 2010 census.

* Illinois' House of Representatives is made up of 118 districts; Illinois' State Senate is made up of 59 districts.

* The Illinois General Assembly is responsible for drawing both congressional and state legislative district lines.

### State process[edit]

See also: State-by-state redistricting procedures

The Illinois General Assembly is responsible for drawing both congressional and state legislative district lines. Both chambers of the state legislature must approve a redistricting plan. The governor may veto the lines drawn by the state legislature.[39]

In the event that both chambers of the state legislature do not approve a legislative redistricting plan, a backup commission must draw the lines. The majority and minority leaders of each chamber must appoint two members each to the commission (one legislator and one general citizen). Of the eight commission members, no more than four may belong to the same political party. In the event that these eight members cannot approve a plan, the Illinois Supreme Court must select two individuals (from different political parties) as potential tiebreakers. The secretary of state must then appoint one of these individuals to the backup commission to break the tie.[39]

The Illinois Constitution requires that state legislative districts be "contiguous and reasonably compact." There are no such requirements in place for the state's congressional districts.[39]

State law also mandates the establishment of state legislative districts "that allow racial or language minority communities to elect--or influence the election of--the candidates of their choice, even if no comparable district would be required by the federal Voting Rights Act."[39]

## Election administration agencies[edit]

### Election agencies[edit]

Seal of the U.S. Election Assistance Commission

See also: State election agencies

Individuals seeking additional information about election administration in Illinois can contact the following local, state, and federal agencies.

Illinois Election Authorities

Click here for a list

Illinois State Board of Elections

2329 S. MacArthur Blvd.
Springfield, Illinois 62704
Phone: 217-782-4141
Fax: 217-782-5959
Email: webmaster@elections.il.gov
Website: https://www.elections.il.gov/Default.aspx

U.S. Election Assistance Commission

633 3rd Street NW, Suite 200
Washington, DC 20001
Phone: 301-563-3919
Toll free: 1-866-747-1471
Email: clearinghouse@eac.gov
Website: https://www.eac.gov

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* United States House Republican Party primaries, 2026
* Republican Party gubernatorial primaries, 2026
* Republican Party Secretary of State primaries, 2026
* Republican Party Attorney General primaries, 2026
* State legislative Republican primaries, 2026

## See also[edit]

* State of Election Administration Legislation Reports
* Factors affecting the speed of ballot counting and delivery of unofficial election results
* Voting in Illinois
* Ballot access requirements for political candidates in Illinois
* Redistricting in Illinois

### Elections in Illinois[edit]

* Illinois elections, 2025
* Illinois elections, 2024
* Illinois elections, 2023
* Illinois elections, 2022
* Illinois elections, 2021
* Illinois elections, 2020
* Illinois elections, 2019
* Illinois elections, 2018
* Illinois elections, 2017
* Illinois elections, 2016
* Illinois elections, 2015
* Illinois elections, 2014

## External links[edit]

* Illinois Secretary of State - Elections

## Footnotes[edit]

1. ↑ We use the term "absentee/mail-in voting" to describe systems in which requests or applications are required. We use the term "all-mail voting" to denote systems where the ballots themselves are sent automatically to all voters. We use the hyphenate term for absentee voting because some states use “mail voting” (or a similar alternative) to describe what has traditionally been called "absentee voting."
2. ↑ Illinois State Board of Elections, "Election Day Information," accessed August 12, 2024
3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Illinois State Board of Elections, "Registering to Vote in Illinois," accessed August 12, 2024
4. ↑ Ballotpedia Legislation Tracker, "Illinois SB2123," accessed August 12, 2024
5. ↑ Illinois State Board of Elections, "Frequently Asked Questions," accessed August 12, 2024
6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
7. ↑ Under federal law, the national mail voter registration application (a version of which is in use in all states with voter registration systems) requires applicants to indicate that they are U.S. citizens in order to complete an application to vote in state or federal elections, but does not require voters to provide documentary proof of citizenship. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, the application "may require only the minimum amount of information necessary to prevent duplicate voter registrations and permit State officials both to determine the eligibility of the applicant to vote and to administer the voting process."
8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 Illinois General Assembly, "Illinois Compiled Statutes 10 ILCS 5, Article 19. Voting by Mail," accessed August 12, 2024
9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 Illinois General Assembly, "Bill Status of SB0825," accessed July 6, 2021
10. ↑ Illinois State Board of Elections, "Voting by Mail," accessed August 12, 2024
11. ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "Ballot Collection Laws," accessed August 12, 2024
12. ↑ Illinois State Board of Elections, "Illinois Voter Information," June 16, 2015
13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 Illinois Office of Elections, "Provisional Voting," accessed August 12, 2024
14. ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "Provisional Ballots," accessed August 12, 2024
15. ↑ Illinois General Assembly, "Ill. Rev. Stat. ch. 10, § 5/7–59," accessed September 10, 2025
16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 Illinois General Assembly, "Illinois Compiled Statutes 10 ILCS 5/17-15," accessed August 12, 2024
17. ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "Felon Voting Rights," April 6, 2023
18. ↑ As of May 2024, the Justice Department notes, "Six States (Idaho, Minnesota, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Wisconsin, and Wyoming) are exempt from the NVRA because, on and after August 1, 1994, they either had no voter-registration requirements or had election-day voter registration at polling places with respect to elections for federal office."
19. ↑ The United States Department of Justice, "The National Voter Registration Act of 1993," accessed May 29, 2024
20. ↑ Illinois Administrative Code, "216.50," accessed August 12, 2024
21. ↑ Illinois Administrative Code, "216.20 and 216.40," accessed August 12, 2024
22. ↑ ERIC, "FAQ," accessed May 29, 2024
23. ↑ ERIC, "Who We Are," accessed May 29, 2024
24. ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "Post-Election Audits," accessed August 12, 2024
25. ↑ 25.0 25.1 National Conference of State Legislatures, "Post-Election Audits," accessed July 2, 2025
26. ↑ Election Assistance Commission, "Election Audits Across the United States," accessed July 2, 2025
27. ↑ Ballotpedia research conducted in October 2024, researching and analyzing various state websites and codes.
28. ↑ The Hill, "Illinois governor signs law expanding curbside voting, permanent vote by mail," June 18, 2021
29. ↑ United States Court of Appeals for the 7th Circuit, "Harlan v. Scholz: Order," August 4, 2017
30. ↑ Courthouse News Service, "Seventh Circuit Upholds Same-Day Illinois Voter Registration," August 4, 2017
31. ↑ ACLU Illinois, "Victory For Voter Access in Illinois as Court Dismisses Election Day Registration Lawsuit," May 22, 2018
32. ↑ The Huffington Post, "GOP Illinois Governor Will Sign Automatic Voter Registration After Vetoing It Last Year," May 30, 2017
33. ↑ Illinois General Assembly, "Bill Status of SB 1933," accessed June 2, 2017
34. ↑ The Washington Post, "Illinois governor signs automatic voter registration law," August 28, 2017
35. ↑ All About Redistricting, "Why does it matter?" accessed April 8, 2015
36. ↑ Indy Week, "Cracked, stacked and packed: Initial redistricting maps met with skepticism and dismay," June 29, 2011
37. ↑ The Atlantic, "How the Voting Rights Act Hurts Democrats and Minorities," June 17, 2013
38. ↑ Redrawing the Lines, "The Role of Section 2 - Majority Minority Districts," accessed April 6, 2015
39. ↑ 39.0 39.1 39.2 39.3 All About Redistricting, "Illinois," accessed April 16, 2015

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