VOTER REGISTRATION DEADLINE

Registration is closed during the 27 days prior to an election and during the 2-day period after each election (1 day after in Chicago). Individuals who miss the deadline may register or transfer their registration at the office of the election authority under the guidelines of grace period registration. Check these election registration deadlines.

In a Primary Election you will be required to call for the ballot of the party for which you wish to vote. You may call for the ballot of any party conducting a primary and may change party from one primary to the next.

QUALIFICATIONS

To register to vote in the state of Illinois an individual must meet the following qualifications:

• Be a United States citizen
• Be at least 18 years old by election day
• Have lived in your election precinct at least 30 days prior to election day

OBTAINING A VOTER REGISTRATION FORM

Can register to vote in person or obtain a mail-in application from:

• County election office (contact information).
• Board of Election's office
• City and village offices
• Township offices
• Precinct Committeemen
• Select schools
• Select public libraries
• Select labor groups
• Select civic groups
• Select corporations
• Military recruitment offices

 When applying for services at the following:

• Driver's License Facilities
• Department of Health care and Family Services
• Department of Employment Security

Two forms of identification with at least one showing your current residence address is needed when you register in-person.  If you register by mail sufficient proof of identity is required by submission of your driver's license number or State identification card number.  If you don't have either of those, verification by the last 4 digits of your social security number, a copy of a current and valid photo identification, or a copy of a current utility bill, bank statement, paycheck, government check, or other government document that shows your name and address will be required.  A person may also demonstrate sufficient proof of identity by submission of a photo identification issued by a college or university accompanied by either a copy of the applicant's contract or lease for a residence or any postmarked mail delivered to the applicant at his or her current residence address.

Obtain an application for voter registration online:
English
Spanish

To verify your voter registration status contact your county election authority or check online here.

ILLINOIS ABSENTEE BALLOTS

Who Can Absentee Vote in Illinois?

Any qualified elector of the State of Illinois properly registered where registration is required.  No. Per Public Act 96-0553, effective August 17,2009, a person may request and vote an absentee ballot without specifying a reason for the absence from the polling place on Election Day.

Voters who meet one of the following criteria may vote by absentee ballot:

• Registered voters expecting to be absent from their county of residence on Election Day.
• Registered voters appointed to be judges of election in a precinct different from where they reside.
• Registered voters unable to be present at the polls because of a physical incapacity.
• Registered voters observing a religious holiday and unable to be present at the polls because of the tenets of their religion.
• Registered voters who because of election duties in the office of a state's attorney, county clerk, a board of election commissioners or State Board of Elections will be unable to be present at the polls.
• Registered voters who are serving as sequestered jurors on a State or Federal jury only.
• Registered or non-registered members of the United States Armed Forces while on active duty, and members of the Merchant Marines, as well as their spouses and dependents who expect to be absent from their county of residence on Election Day.
• Registered or non-registered members of religious groups, welfare agencies as well as their spouses and dependents who are officially attached to or assisting members of the Armed Forces who expect to be absent from the county in which they reside on election day.
• State and Federal employees who had a voting residence in the precinct at the time they entered employment, but who now reside elsewhere due to State or Federal employment.
• A registered citizen temporarily residing overseas may vote by absentee ballot.
• Any citizen residing outside of the country, not registered to vote but qualified to vote in a federal election, may vote by absentee ballot for federal offices only.

Recent law changes allow children of military members who have never resided in Illinois and have reached the age of 18, to be eligible to vote by absentee ballot in Illinois.

How Can I Acquire an Absentee Ballot?

Applications for absentee ballots are available, either by mail or in person, from your local elections office.

Application to vote absentee can be made:

In Person: Not more than 40 days or less than 1 day prior to the election.

By Mail inside the US: Not more than 40 days or less than 5 days prior to the election.

By Mail outside the US: Not less than 30 days prior to the election to receive full ballot or; less than 30 days prior to the election, but more than 10 days prior to the election to receive Federal Ballot only.

When the application is complete, it must either be mailed or delivered in person to your local elections office (contact information). If the application is mailed and it is properly completed, the election authority will mail an absentee ballot to the voter. If the application is returned in person or completed in the election authority's office, the voter may immediately vote his/her absentee ballot in the election authority's office.

Additional Information for Overseas Voters

More information on absentee voting procedures click here. 

How do I Return the Absentee Ballot and What is the Deadline?

Insert the ballot into the envelope provided, seal it, complete and sign the certification on the back and personally return it or mail it to your local elections office (contact information). Mailed absentee ballots must be postmarked no later than midnight on the night prior to the election, and must be received within 14 days of the election.  All absentee ballots are process centrally.

The absentee voter may authorize in writing a: spouse, parent, child, brother, sister, or licensed motor carrier, to deliver to the election authority the completed absentee ballot in sufficient time to be delivered to the polling place on Election Day.

VOTING ON ELECTION DAY

Where do I Go to Vote?

The location of polling places in Illinois are approved by the county board or board of election commissioners. The list of polling places is published prior to election day in a newspaper of general circulation. Many local election authorities also post polling place information on their websites. The majority of polling places in Illinois are accessible to the physically disabled voter. Check each jurisdiction's history on accessibility.

What do I Need to Bring?

Although identification is not required to vote at the polling place you should go to the polling place prepared to show acceptable identification if called upon to do so. 

If you do not present a required form of identification when asked, you may be required to vote on a provisional ballot.  After voting provisionally, the voter is told how to submit additional proof of registration to the election authority, and how, after the election, to determine if their ballot is counted.  Voters can also search online here to find the status of their provisional ballots.

Can I Get Time Off to Vote?

Every employee is entitled, after giving notice, to two hours off work, provided that 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.

EARLY VOTING

Early voting is available in the state of Illinois.  Contact your county election authority for more information on early voting times and locations.

Source of information:
State Board of Elections
1020 South Spring Street
Springfield, Illinois 62704
Phone: 217-782-4141
TDD: 217-782-1518

http://www.elections.state.il.us/VotingInformation/welcome.aspx