Voting & Civil Rights

The next Illinois General Election is Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Illinois polling places are open from 6:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. People who are qualified to vote and are in line by 7:00 p.m. have the right to vote, even after the polls close. 

Voters can also participate in this election by early voting and voting by mail:

• Early voting is available through November 2, 2026, at some locations, and
• Registered voters who have obtained a mail ballot from their local election authority can vote by mail.

Applications for a ballot sent by mail must reach the local election authority by October 29, 2026. Voters must complete and sign the ballot return envelope as directed. Mailed ballots must be:

• Postmarked on or before Election Day, which may require asking for a manual postmark from the post office counter, and
• Received by the election authority on or before November 17, 2026 (14 days after Election Day).

Mail ballots may also be dropped off in authorized mail ballot drop boxes provided by the election authority by 7:00 p.m. on Election Day. Some drop boxes close earlier.

Learn more about voting from the Illinois State Board of Elections.

To vote in the General Election, a person must be:

• A U.S. citizen,
• 18 years old or older on November 3, 2026, 
• Living in the election precinct for at least 30 days before November 3, 2026, although special rules apply to registered voters who move within Illinois, and
• Only claiming the right to vote in Illinois.

People eligible to vote must register before voting. This can include registering and voting during the same visit to the polls at a location that allows both.

Eligible voters can vote while on probation, parole, or mandatory supervised release (MSR). Voters held in jail while awaiting trial can also vote. However, people who are currently serving time for a conviction in federal or state prison, county jail, or on work release cannot vote. 

Learn more about voting rights and criminal history from the Illinois Department of Corrections and the Illinois State Board of Elections.

Voters with disabilities have the right to accessible polling places and voting equipment. 

Voters who are blind, have a disability, or are unable to read, write, or speak English may receive help marking their ballot from:

• A helper of their choice, as long as the helper is not the voter’s employer, an agent of the voter's employer, or an officer or agent of the voter’s union, or
• Election judges from 2 different political parties.

Any helper must follow the voter’s directions and keep the voter’s choices private. 

Some voting locations also provide translated ballots and poll workers who speak other languages. The local election authority can explain which languages and services are available.

Intoxication is not considered a physical disability for the purpose of voting assistance. This rule is in section 17-14 of the Election Code.

Use the Illinois State Board of Elections’ voter registration lookup to check on voter registration. Eligible voters can register or update their registration online through 11:59 p.m. on October 18, 2026. If registration information is missing or incorrect, and the online process is unavailable, the local election authority can help voters check their records and explain how to update them.

In-person registration is available through Election Day, November 3, 2026, at designated locations. After the regular registration deadline, this is called grace period registration. Voters using this process register or update their registration and vote during the same visit. Not every polling place offers registration. The local election authority can identify locations that offer registration and voting.

Voters can also look up their Election Day polling place. Early-voting locations may be different.

All voters registering in person need two forms of ID. The address requirements are:

• For voters who are housed, one ID that shows their current residence address, and
• For voters experiencing homelessness, evidence that they use the mailing address listed on their registration.

Mailing addresses can include a shelter, a day shelter, or a private residence. Voters experiencing homelessness may prove their use of the mailing address with:

• Mail addressed to the voter and received at that address, or
• A statement from someone authorizing the voter to use that mailing address.

These rules are in section 6-37 of the Election Code.

Voters who move within Illinois can update their registration and vote at the location assigned to their new address using the grace-period registration process. Registration updates are available through Election Day for in-person voters at designated locations. Check with the local election authority for more information.

If a voter was already registered at their old precinct and moves during the 30 days before an election, they can still vote at their old polling place. The voter must sign a sworn statement, also called an affidavit. They must also provide either two forms of ID showing their current residence address or a supporting affidavit from a registered voter in the former precinct. This rule is in section 17-10 of the Election Code.

A voter who requested a mail ballot can:

• Drop the completed mail ballot off at a designated dropbox at a polling place, or
• Give their mail ballot to an election judge to cancel and receive a regular ballot to vote in person.

A voter who never received the mail ballot can sign a sworn statement, called an affidavit, and receive a regular ballot once election officials establish that the voter has not already voted. A voter who received but lost the mail ballot may need to cast a provisional ballot, which election officials review before deciding whether it can be counted.

Learn more about voting by mail from the Illinois State Board of Elections.

Illinois employees eligible to vote can request two hours off to vote on Election Day. They must request the time off before Election Day. Employers cannot penalize employees or reduce their pay for taking protected voting leave.

Employers can generally choose the hours. However, employers must allow two hours during the workday when both conditions apply:

• The employee starts work less than two hours after polls open, and
• The employee finishes work less than two hours before polls close.

For example, an employee working from 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. meets both conditions because polls are open from 6:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Learn more in section 17-15 of the Election Code.

Students eligible to vote can take two hours away from school to vote on Election Day or during the 15 days before it. For the 2026 general election, this period runs from October 19 through November 3, 2026. The school can choose the hours.

November 3 is not a required statewide school holiday. School schedules vary, so check the school’s calendar.

Generally, registered voters do not need to show ID at the polls. Providing ID may be needed when:

• A voter registers or updates their address at the voting location,
• A first-time voter registered by mail without providing the required proof of identity, or
• A voter’s eligibility is challenged.

When eligibility is challenged, a sworn statement from a qualifying witness may be accepted instead of ID. The requirements depend on the reason ID is needed.

Learn more about ID requirements and voting rights in Illinois.

Election judges can question a voter's registration or right to vote. To verify voter eligibility, election judges may review registration records. When a voter's eligibility is challenged, the election judges may require that the voter provide a sworn statement and supporting proof, such as ID or a statement from a qualifying witness. Eligible voters with registration problems may also be able to register or update their registration and vote at a designated location.

If the voter cannot resolve the issue with the election judges, they can still cast a provisional ballot. Casting a provisional ballot does not guarantee that it will count. Provisional ballots are kept separate while election officials decide whether they meet the requirements to be counted. 

Election judges must give provisional voters written instructions explaining the process and how to check whether their ballot was counted. Voters can submit information supporting their eligibility to the local election authority. For the 2026 general election, that information must be received by November 10, 2026. Learn more in sections 18A-5 and 18A-15 of the Election Code.

The Illinois Attorney General’s Office operates election hotlines where voters can report voting problems or suspected improper or illegal activity. Voters who experience problems voting can call the Illinois Attorney General's Election Hotline:

• In Northern Illinois, at (866) 536-3496, and
• In Central and Southern Illinois, at (866) 559-6812.

People with hearing or speech disabilities can access these hotlines by using the 711 relay service. The hotlines are open through November 17, 2026.

The local election authority can also answer questions about registration, polling places, mail ballots, and ballot status.