Illinois elections

• SEP 24
  Early in-person voting opens

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• OCT 6
  Registration in person and by mail closes

  Regular registration closes Tue Oct 6, 2026 (28 days before). A mailed application is timely if postmarked before the close of registration (if there is no or an illegible postmark, if received within 5 calendar days after the close). Online registration on the State Board of Elections website continues through Sun Oct 18, 2026. Grace period (same-day) registration and voting runs Oct 7 through Election Day, in person only, at the election authority's office or designated sites, at early voting sites from 15 days before the election, and at some polling places on Election Day; the voter must vote at the time of registering and needs two forms of ID. Polls: 6 a.m. - 7 p.m.

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• OCT 18
  Online registration closes

  Regular registration closes Tue Oct 6, 2026 (28 days before). A mailed application is timely if postmarked before the close of registration (if there is no or an illegible postmark, if received within 5 calendar days after the close). Online registration on the State Board of Elections website continues through Sun Oct 18, 2026. Grace period (same-day) registration and voting runs Oct 7 through Election Day, in person only, at the election authority's office or designated sites, at early voting sites from 15 days before the election, and at some polling places on Election Day; the voter must vote at the time of registering and needs two forms of ID. Polls: 6 a.m. - 7 p.m.

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• OCT 29
  Last day to request a mail ballot

  Request deadline is a received deadline. In-person application allowed until 2026-11-02. Return: postmark counts (postmarked no later than Election Day (Nov 3, 2026); a ballot without a postmark also counts if its certification envelope is dated before Election Day or a USPS intelligent-mail barcode shows it was mailed by Election Day); ballot must be received by 2026-11-17.

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• NOV 2
  Early in-person voting ends

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• NOV 17
  Last day for mail ballots to arrive

  Mailed ballots must be postmarked no later than Election Day and received within 14 days after it (by Tue Nov 17, 2026). Ballots returned in person or to a drop box (collection site) must arrive before the polls close (7:00 p.m.) on Nov 3.

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• NOV 3
  Election Day

Illinois offers same-day registration.