En español | Illinois’ Nov. 8 general election includes races for the U.S. Senate, U.S. House of Representatives, Illinois General Assembly, governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general, secretary of state and other statewide and municipal offices. The state’s primaries took place on June 28.
The state has approved redistricting maps for U.S. congressional and state legislative seats that may change which candidates appear on your ballot.
Completed vote-by-mail ballots must be postmarked by Election Day and received no later than two weeks following Election Day – that's Nov. 22. You can also place your completed mail-in ballot in a secure drop box or take it to a vote center in your local jurisdiction. Or hand deliver your vote-by-mail ballot at your polling place on Election Day. Contact your local election authority to find out where to drop your ballot on Election Day.
Your local election authority may offer online ballot tracking or require voters to call or email the office to check the status of your ballot. Read the instructions sent with your vote-by-mail ballot to find out how your jurisdiction tracks voted ballots. A list of state election authorities and contact information is available on the Illinois Board of Elections website. Call the Chicago office at 312-814-6440 or the Springfield office at 217-782-4141 for more information.
Yes. Early voting begins Sept. 29. Use the state board of election’s online tool to find locations for early voting and Election Day vote centers.
The general election — a state holiday — is Nov. 8. Polls are open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. Find your polling place online.
Only if you do same-day registration – registering and voting on Election Day. In that case you’ll need two forms of ID, such as a driver’s license, a state ID card or Social Security card (at least one ID needs to show your current address). Other acceptable IDs include copy of a current utility bill, bank statement, paycheck, government check, or other government document that shows your name and address.
Your signature is considered your ID and is all you will need if you vote at a polling station on Election Day.
Editor’s note: This guide was updated on June 29 with information about how to vote in 2022. The guide was first published on Aug. 20, 2020.
This story is provided by AARP Illinois. Visit the AARP Illinois page for more news, events, and programs affecting retirement, health care, and more.
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Find information about getting a COVID-19 vaccine in your state. CDC information is available at cdc.gov/coronavirus; additional AARP information and resources are at aarp.org/coronavirus. En español, visite aarp.org/elcoronavirus.
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