Voting in Illinois

You can search for your polling place here.

No excuse is needed to vote by mail in Illinois.

To request a vote by mail ballot in Illinois, complete the mail ballot application and return it to your local election authority by mail or in person. The paper version of the application must include your original, non-digital signature.

To return your Illinois vote by mail ballot, mail it back or return it in person to your local election authority.

Illinois offers in-person early voting. No excuse is needed to vote early. Early voting begins the 40th day before the election and ends the day before the election.

Illinois has closed primaries. Voters must declare their party affiliation at their polling place and will receive one political party's ballot; however, this has no bearing on how a voter may vote in future primaries and is not considered party registration.17-year-olds can vote in the primary election if they will be 18 by the corresponding general election.

ID is not required to vote in Illinois. However, if you are registering to vote during Grace Period registration, you must provide two forms of ID. If you are a first-time voter who registered by mail and didn't provide a copy of your ID or your social security number, you must present ID (showing your name and address) at the polls. Valid forms of ID include:
- A current and valid photo identification
- Utility bill
- Bank statement
- Government check
- Paycheck
- Lease or contract for residence
- Student ID and mail addressed to voter’s residence
- Other government document

If you are required to show ID at the polls but do not bring it, you can vote a provisional ballot and submit additional information to the election authority later. The additional information must be received by the election authority no later than the close of business on the Tuesday following the election. The election authority has 14 days following the election to determine voter eligibility, and thus if the ballot should be counted. The provisional voter may find out if their ballot was counted, or if it was not counted, the reason that it was not counted. If the ballot is not counted, the provisional voter affidavit will be used as a registration application and the voter will be sent a voters registration ID card.