State of Illinois Voting Requirements & Information

Statewide Voter Information

 

U.S. Domestic Voters

Federal and State Elections

Illinois General Election held on Tue Nov 6, 2018

Type

Deadlines

New Voter Registration
  • Tue Oct 9, 2018
  • Voter Registration "Grace Period" Wed Oct 10, 2018 thru Election Day
  • Online by Sun Oct 21, 2018
  • Election Day Registration & Voting (Call Local Election Office) Tue Nov 6, 2018

Absentee Ballot Request
  • Post received by Thu Nov 1, 2018
  • In-Person Request by Mon Nov 5, 2018

Absentee Ballot Return
  • Postmarked by Tue Nov 6, 2018
  • Post received by Tue Nov 20, 2018

In-Person Absentee Voting

 none on record

Early Voting

 Thu Sep 27, 2018 - Mon Nov 5, 2018
Regular registration is open year round except during the 27-day period just prior to an election and during the 2-day period after each election (1 day after in Chicago). Grace period registration is an extension of the regular registration deadline from the 27th day prior to an election through Election Day. Grace period registration is only available “in-person” at sites authorized by each election authority. Overseas voters who are unregistered must do so by 10/9/2018 to vote all ballots; or 10/29 if only requesting to vote a federal ballot.

Local Elections

City of Chicago Election held on Tue Feb 26, 2019

Type

Deadlines

New Voter Registration
  • Tue Jan 29, 2019
  • Voter Registration "Grace Period" Wed Jan 30, 2019 thru Election Day
  • Online by Sun Feb 10, 2019
  • Election Day Registration & Voting Tue Feb 26, 2019

Absentee Ballot Request

 Thu Feb 21, 2019

Absentee Ballot Return
  • Postmarked by Tue Feb 26, 2019
  • Post received by Tue Mar 12, 2019

In-Person Absentee Voting

 none on record

Early Voting

 Mon Feb 11, 2019 - Mon Feb 25, 2019

Registration

You can register to vote or update your registration information:

  • online
  • by mail
  • in person at your elections office
  • on Election Day - contact your local elections office to confirm locations where same day registration is available in your area

You must have resided in your precinct at least 30 days prior to the election in which you intend to vote.

Grace period registration is an extension of the regular registration deadline from the 27th day prior to an election through Election Day. Grace period registration is only available at sites authorized by each election authority.

Election Day Voting

Polling places are open from 6am until 7pm on Election Day.

Find my polling place

Early Voting

A registered voter may cast a ballot prior to Election Day at the office of the election authority or at an Early Voting Center. Contact your election office to inquire about early voting options in your area for specific elections.

Absentee Voting

Any registered voter may request an absentee ballot and vote by mail.

You are eligible to vote in Illinois if you:

  • Are a U.S citizen
  • Are a resident of Illinois
  • Are at least 18 years old by Election Day
*You can vote vote in a Primary Election at the age of 17, if you will be 18 by the time of the General Election.

Voter Registration

To register to vote in Illinois you should provide:

  • The Last Four Digits of your Social Security Number
  • Your Illinois Driver's License or State/non-driver ID Number

If you do not have any of these IDs, you can provide a copy of one of the following with your registration application:

  • Current and Valid Photo ID
  • Government Issued Document that shows your current name and address
  • Utility Bill
  • Government Check
  • Bank Statement
  • Paycheck that Shows your current name and address

You can alternatively provide one of these documents when you vote to complete your registration.

Voting In-Person

If you registered to vote in Illinois, you may be required to present valid ID if you are voting for the first time or your registration is incomplete. You can use any ID from this list:

  • Paycheck that shows your Current Name and Address
  • Current and Valid Photo ID
  • Utility Bill
  • Bank Statement
  • Valid Student ID and Mail Addressed to your Residence
  • Government Check
  • Government Issued Document that shows your Current Name and Address
  • Lease

Domestic Voter

 In-Person Mail Fax Email Online

Voter Registration

 - -

Absentee Ballot Request

 - -

Voted-Absentee Ballot Return

 - - -

Blank Ballot To Voter

 - - -
Illinois allows electronic submission of the FPCA (Federal Postcard Application) for registration and ballot request purposes

Overseas & Military Voters

Federal and State Elections

Illinois General Election held on Tue Nov 6, 2018

Type

Deadlines
Overseas Military

Absentee Voter Registration

 Not Required

Ballot Request for Registered Voter
  • Post received by Mon Oct 29, 2018
  • Email, Online or Fax by Mon Oct 29, 2018
 Signed by Mon Oct 29, 2018

Ballot Return
  • Postmarked by Tue Nov 6, 2018
  • Signed by Tue Nov 6, 2018
  • Post received by Tue Nov 20, 2018
  • Postmarked by Tue Nov 6, 2018
  • Signed by Tue Nov 6, 2018
  • Post received by Tue Nov 20, 2018
Regular registration is open year round except during the 27-day period just prior to an election and during the 2-day period after each election (1 day after in Chicago). Grace period registration is an extension of the regular registration deadline from the 27th day prior to an election through Election Day. Grace period registration is only available “in-person” at sites authorized by each election authority. Overseas voters who are unregistered must do so by 10/9/2018 to vote all ballots; or 10/29 if only requesting to vote a federal ballot.

Local Elections

City of Chicago Election held on Tue Feb 26, 2019

Type

Deadlines
Overseas Military

Absentee Voter Registration

 Received by Sun Feb 10, 2019 Received by Wed Feb 20, 2019

Ballot Request for Registered Voter

 Received by Thu Feb 21, 2019 Received by Thu Feb 21, 2019

Ballot Return
  • Postmarked by Tue Feb 26, 2019
  • Post received by Tue Mar 12, 2019
  • Postmarked by Tue Feb 26, 2019
  • Post received by Tue Mar 12, 2019

Overseas Voters

U.S. citizens living abroad have the right to vote as absentee voters, provided they are eligible to vote in their state. If you are living outside of the U.S. permanently, indefinitely, or temporarily, your voting rights stay with you, even if you never voted when you lived in the U.S. To vote from overseas:

  • Complete and send an overseas voter registration/ballot request form to your election office in the U.S. This is one specific form that will register you as an overseas voter and request your absentee ballot – simultaneously.

Many states allow children who were born overseas, but never lived in the U.S., to use their U.S. parents’ last residence address to register.

Military Voters

Service members and their eligible family members living outside their voting jurisdiction (within or outside the U.S.) are able to vote as absentee voters.

  • If you are a service member, or an eligible family member, there is a single form to file for both voter registration and ballot request. It is often called the “Federal Post Card Application” or the FPCA form. This form must be re-filed with your election office each time you change location.

To vote as a service member or eligible family member:

  • Complete and send a voter registration/ballot request form “FPCA” to your election office in the U.S. It is the same form in all states.

Voting Military

Service members and their dependents may register and request a ballot using the federal voter registration/ballot request form ("FPCA"). You will have the following identification options when completing the form:

  • U.S. State or Territory or District Issued ID
  • Option to Indicate that you do not have the Requested ID
  • Last 4 Digits of your Social Security Number

Voting Overseas

U.S. citizens living overseas may register and request a ballot using the overseas voter registration/ballot request form. You will have the following identification options when completing the form:

  • U.S. State or Territory or District Issued ID
  • Option to Indicate that you do not have the Requested ID
  • Last 4 Digits of your Social Security Number

Overseas Voter

 In-Person Mail Fax Email Online

Voter Registration

 -

Absentee Ballot Request

 -

Voted-Absentee Ballot Return

 - - - -

Blank Ballot To Voter

 -
Illinois allows electronic submission of the overseas and military registration and ballot request forms. If postmarked by Election Day your ballot may arrive up to 14 days after the election and still be counted. Please note that private email over the Internet is not a secure method of transfer for documents containing your confidential identity information. OVF strongly recommends regular mail and fax over email transfer. The Illinois state website offers a the ability to track the status of registration/ballot request.

Military Voter

 In-Person Mail Fax Email Online

Voter Registration

 -

Absentee Ballot Request

 -

Voted-Absentee Ballot Return

 - - - -

Blank Ballot To Voter

 -
If postmarked by Election Day your ballot may arrive up to 14 days after the election and still be counted. Please note that private email over the Internet is not a secure method of transfer for documents containing your confidential identity information. OVF strongly recommends regular mail and fax over email transfer. The Illinois state website offers a MOVE account to track the status of registration/ballot request.

 

Register to Vote   Request Absentee Ballot