How to Vote in Illinois in 2026: Registration, early voting and mail ballots

ROCKFORD, Ill. (WTVO) — Looking for information about voting in Illinois? From voter registration and early voting to vote-by-mail ballots and polling places, here's what Illinois voters need to know before Election Day.

Registering to Vote

In Illinois, residents can register to vote online, by mail or in person. To register, you must be a U.S. citizen, be at least 18 years old by Election Day, live in your precinct for at least 30 days before the election, not be serving time in jail or prison for a criminal conviction, and not claim the right to vote in another state.

Residents as young as 16 can pre-register to vote, but their registration will not become active until they turn 18.

To register online, visit the Illinois State Board of Elections' online voter registration portal. You'll need an Illinois driver's license or state ID, the issue date, the last four digits of your Social Security number, and your date of birth.

To register by mail, download the mail-in voter application form from the State Board of Elections' website and mail it to your local election authority. The application must be postmarked before the voter registration deadline.

If you register by mail, federal law may require you to vote in person for the first time unless you provide sufficient proof of identity in advance.

You can also register to vote in person at your local election office, county clerk's office, or board of elections office. Eligible voters may register and vote during the grace period at designated locations, including some polling places on Election Day. When registering to vote in person, whether on Election Day or during early voting, bring two forms of ID, including one that shows your current address.

Examples of acceptable identification include:

• Driver's license
• State ID card
• Utility bill
• Bank statement
• Lease or rental agreement

Regular voter registration remained open through Oct. 6, 2026, but eligible voters can still register and vote during Illinois' grace-period registration.

Online voter registration is available through Oct. 18, 2026.

Checking your Registration

To check your voter registration in Illinois, visit the Illinois State Board of Elections' website. If your information is outdated, such as after a move or name change, you can update your registration online, by mail or in person.

How can I vote?

In Illinois, voters can cast their ballots in person on Election Day, vote early at designated polling locations, or vote by mail. Specific dates, locations and procedures may vary by local election authority.

Vote-by-mail

Illinois voters can also vote by mail. You do not need to provide a reason to request a vote-by-mail ballot. You can also request to vote by mail permanently; in that case, your local election authority will send you a ballot for every election, including primaries, if you choose.

To request a vote-by-mail ballot, visit the Illinois State Board of Elections website and download the application from your local election authority. Select "2026 General Election" under the "Election" tab, and select your jurisdiction under the "Jurisdiction" tab.

Follow all instructions on the form. Send the application to the election authority by mail or, if available, by fax. Some jurisdictions, such as the City of Rockford, allow voters to request a vote-by-mail ballot online.

Illinois voters can request a mail ballot in person through Oct. 29, 2026. Completed ballots must be postmarked by Election Day, Nov. 3, and received by Nov. 17 to be counted. You can also drop off your vote-by-mail ballot at a ballot drop-off box.

Early Voting

Another option for casting a ballot before Election Day is early voting. Any registered Illinois voter may vote early without providing a reason. Those who requested a vote-by-mail ballot may still vote in person during early voting if they follow their local election authority's requirements.

Early voting is available at polling places designated by the local election authority. An ID is not required to vote unless you are registering to vote at the polling place (see the "Registering to Vote" section for more details).

To find an early polling place, visit the Illinois State Board of Elections website. Select "2026 General Election" under the "Election" tab, and select your jurisdiction under the "Jurisdiction" tab. You can select the "Grace Period on Election Day Only" box to find early polling places with grace period registration.

Early voting ends Nov. 2.

Election Day

Election Day is Nov. 3. Polls open at 6 a.m. and close at 7 p.m. Voters in line when polls close at 7 p.m. can still cast a ballot. An ID is not required to vote unless you are registering to vote at the polling place (see the "Registering to Vote" section for more details).

To find your polling place, visit the Illinois State Board of Elections website, enter your zip code, then your home address. If you would prefer to cast a ballot at a vote center, visit the Illinois State Board of Elections website to find a vote center. Select "2026 General Election" under the "Election" tab, and select your jurisdiction under the "Jurisdiction" tab.

A note on election authorities

Voters in Bloomington, Chicago, Danville, East St. Louis, Galesburg and Rockford are served by separate municipal election authorities. Residents of those cities should contact their local election authority for information about voter registration, early voting, vote-by-mail ballots and polling places, as elections in those jurisdictions are not administered by county clerks.

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