Illinois Voting Requirements & Information
U.S. Vote Foundation’s Illinois Voting Requirements and Information directory informs you of Illinois voting rules and options. It focuses on Illinois-specific voting guidelines and information for all voters, including domestic, overseas, and military voters. Here you can find out about Illinois voter eligibility, voter ID requirements, registration, absentee and early voting options, ways to transmit voting documents and links to specific-Illinois voting tools. It's an all-in-one Illinois voting resource.
General Information
Registration
You can register to vote or update your registration information:
- online
- by mail
- in person at your elections office
- at some public assistance offices and motor vehicle offices
- 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.
Online registration is available until 16 days before the Election. Mail-in registration must be received 27 days before the Election.
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 may now sign up to permanently vote by mail rather than request a ballot each election.
Please visit the US Vote Disability Voting Guide to see accommodations for the registration and voting process.
Eligibility Requirements
You are eligible to vote in Illinois if you:
- Are a U.S. citizen
- Are at least 18 years old by Election Day
- Live in the precinct where you vote for at least 30 days prior to the election
*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.
You are NOT eligible to vote in Illinois if:
- You are registered to vote in another state
- You are in prison or jail for a conviction of any kind. (Does not include pre-trial detention.)
Restorative Requirements
- If you have completed a felony prison sentence, even if you are still on parole or probation, then you are immediately eligible to register to vote.
If you are a student, you are eligible to vote in Illinois if:
- You reside in Illinois but are attending college in another state
- You reside in another state but attend college in Illinois
Identification Requirements
Voter Registration
To register to vote in Illinois you should provide:
- 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
- Valid Student ID and Mail Addressed to your Residence
You can alternatively provide one of these documents when you vote to complete your registration. Two forms of identification with at least one showing your current residence address are needed when you register in-person.
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:
- Lease or rent agreement
- 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
Voter Materials Transmission Options
Domestic Voter |
In-Person |
|
Fax |
|
Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Voter Registration | |||||
| Absentee Ballot Request | |||||
| Blank Ballot To Voter | |||||
| Voted-Absentee Ballot Return |
State Lookup Tools – Am I Registered?
State Elections Website
Where is my Polling Place?
Can I Register to Vote Online?
Am I Registered?
Where are my Early Voting Locations?
Overseas / Military Voter Information
Where is my Ballot Drop Box?
State Voter Registration FAQ
Where is my Overseas or Military Ballot?
Eligibility Requirements
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.
Identification Requirements
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
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
Voter Materials Transmission Options
Overseas Voter |
In-Person |
|
Fax |
|
Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Voter Registration | |||||
| Absentee Ballot Request | |||||
| Blank Ballot To Voter | |||||
| Voted-Absentee Ballot Return |
Military Voter |
In-Person |
|
Fax |
|
Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Voter Registration | |||||
| Absentee Ballot Request | |||||
| Blank Ballot To Voter | |||||
| Voted-Absentee Ballot Return |