Voting in Illinois, November 3, 2026

Key dates

1. Sep24Thuto Nov 2
   Happening now

   Early in-person voting

   Thursday, September 24 to Monday, November 2, 2026

   Starts at your local election authority's office and any temporary sites it sets up. Additional permanent early voting sites open Monday, October 19, 2026, and are open on weekends. Each local election authority sets its own locations and hours.

   Source: Illinois State Board of Elections, 2026 Election and Campaign Finance Calendar (opens in a new tab)

2. Oct6Tue

   Regular registration deadline

   Tuesday, October 6, 2026

   Online registration stays open until 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, October 18, 2026. After October 6 you can also register and vote in person at the same time (grace period registration) through Election Day, at locations your local election authority designates.

   Source: Illinois State Board of Elections, 2026 Election and Campaign Finance Calendar (opens in a new tab)

3. Oct29Thu

   Mail ballot application deadline

   Thursday, October 29, 2026

   Requests by mail or online must be received by your local election authority by this date. After that, you can still request a mail ballot in person at its office through Monday, November 2, 2026.

   Source: Illinois State Board of Elections, Voting by Mail (opens in a new tab)

4. Nov3Tue

   Election Day poll hours

   Tuesday, November 3, 2026, 6 a.m. to 7 p.m.

   Each local election authority also runs at least one Election Day vote center where any voter it serves can vote, regardless of precinct.

   Source: Illinois State Board of Elections, 2026 Election and Campaign Finance Calendar (opens in a new tab)

5. Nov17Tue

   Mailed ballot arrival deadline

   Tuesday, November 17, 2026

   Mailed ballots must be postmarked by Election Day, Tuesday, November 3, 2026, and received within 14 days, by Tuesday, November 17, 2026. Ballots left in a drop box, where available, must be in before polls close on Election Day.

   Source: Illinois State Board of Elections, 2026 Election and Campaign Finance Calendar (opens in a new tab)

Official links

• Register or update your registrationova.elections.il.gov (opens in a new tab)
• Check your registrationova.elections.il.gov/RegistrationLookup.aspx (opens in a new tab)
• Find your polling placeova.elections.il.gov/PollingPlaceLookup.aspx (opens in a new tab)
• Early voting and grace period registration locationselections.il.gov/VotingAndRegistrationSystems/EarlyVotingLocationsSearch.aspx (opens in a new tab)
• Vote by mail informationelections.il.gov/ElectionOperations/VotingByMail.aspx (opens in a new tab)
• Find your local election authorityelections.il.gov/ElectionOperations/ElectionAuthorities.aspx (opens in a new tab)
• Illinois State Board of Electionselections.il.gov (opens in a new tab)
• Federal voter informationvote.gov (opens in a new tab)