Voting in Illinois
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The policies governing voter participation are enacted and enforced primarily at the state level. These policies, which include voter identification requirements, early voting provisions, online voter registration systems, and more, dictate the conditions under which people cast their ballots in their respective states.
This article includes the following information about voting policies in Illinois:
- Voter registration details, including deadlines and eligibility requirements.
- In-person voting details, including identification requirements, poll times, and early voting provisions.
- Absentee/mail-in voting deadlines and rules.
- Details about Voting rules for people convicted of a felony.
- Contact information for election agencies.
Click here for more information about election administration in the state, including voter list maintenance policies, provisional ballot rules, post-election auditing practices, and additional election policy context.
For information on elections happening this year, click here.
Do you have questions about your elections? Looking for information about your local election official? Click here to use U.S. Vote Foundation’s election official lookup tool.
Voter registration[edit]
Eligibility and registration details[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.[1][2]
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.[1]
Prospective voters can register online, by mail, or at any of the following locations:[3]
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Two forms of identification are required to register in person, one of which must display the voter's current address.[1]
In-person voting[edit]
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.[5]
Voter identification[edit]
- See also: Voter identification laws by state
Illinois does not require voters to present identification while voting, in most cases. Pursuant to the Help America Vote Act, 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 October 2025. Click here for the Illinois State Board of Elections voting information page to ensure you have the most current information.
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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.[7]
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.[7]
Voters can sign up for a permanent vote-by-mail list and automatically receive vote-by-mail ballots for subsequent elections.[8]
Local election officials[edit]
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. |
Voting rules for people convicted of a felony[edit]
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.[9]
Election administration agencies[edit]
Election agencies[edit]
- 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
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
Explore election legislation with Ballotpedia[edit]
Try Ballotpedia's Election Administration Legislation TrackerBallotpedia'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.
Read Ballotpedia's State of Election Administration Legislation ReportsBallotpedia 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.
Subscribe to The Ballot BulletinThe Ballot Bulletin is a weekly email that delivers the latest updates on election policy.
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.
Ballotpedia's election coverage[edit]
- United States Senate Democratic Party primaries, 2026
- United States House Democratic Party primaries, 2026
- Democratic Party gubernatorial primaries, 2026
- Democratic Party Secretary of State primaries, 2026
- Democratic Party Attorney General primaries, 2026
- State legislative Democratic primaries, 2026
- United States Senate Republican Party primaries, 2026
- 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
- Voter ID in Illinois
- Election administration in Illinois
- Ballot access requirements for political candidates 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]
Footnotes[edit]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Illinois State Board of Elections, "Registering to Vote in Illinois," accessed August 12, 2024
- ↑ Ballotpedia Legislation Tracker, "Illinois SB2123," accessed August 12, 2024
- ↑ Illinois State Board of Elections, "Frequently Asked Questions," accessed August 12, 2024
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ Illinois State Board of Elections, "Election Day Information," accessed August 12, 2024
- ↑ Illinois State Board of Elections, "Illinois Voter Information," October 6, 2025
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Illinois General Assembly, "Illinois Compiled Statutes 10 ILCS 5, Article 19. Voting by Mail," accessed August 12, 2024
- ↑ Illinois General Assembly, "Bill Status of SB0825," accessed July 6, 2021
- ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "Felon Voting Rights," April 6, 2023
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