On Nov. 8, voters across Illinois will elect their governor, junior U.S. senator, two Illinois Supreme Court justices, all 17 of Illinois’ representatives in the U.S. Congress, every state senator and state representative in the General Assembly, and county and judicial offices throughout the state.
The November election comes four months after the June 28 primary — the quickest turnaround from a primary to a general election in Illinois since at least the Great Depression. The June primary, which occurred late because lawmakers had to wait for U.S. census data to redraw districts, saw a low voter turnout at 21.68%, down from 26.48% in 2018.
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The political climate, however, has changed for the general election. Just days before the primary, the U.S. Supreme Court announced it was overturning Roe v. Wade, making abortion a major issue for voters this fall. Republicans have continued to hammer Democrats about crime, inflation and corruption.
The battle for governor between incumbent first-term Democrat J.B. Pritzker and Republican state Sen. Darren Bailey of Xenia has made national headlines. Not only are the two candidates debating those issues and more, but speculation has swirled about Pritzker considering a run for president if he wins reelection and President Joe Biden doesn’t seek a second term. Bailey’s national profile has spiked since he received an in-person endorsement in late June from former President Donald Trump during a visit to Illinois.
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Bailey, who has used his Christian faith as the main thread throughout his campaign, has repeatedly defended his controversial remarks calling Chicago a “hellhole.” Because of Bailey’s conservative views, Pritzker viewed him as a better candidate to face in the fall, and the billionaire governor contributed to the Democratic Governors Association, which aired ads that helped Bailey defeat Aurora Mayor Richard Irvin in the primary.
Other high-profile races on the ballot include those for the U.S. Senate, where Republican Kathy Salvi faces Democratic incumbent Tammy Duckworth, and for Illinois attorney general, where incumbent Democrat Kwame Raoul is running against Republican Thomas DeVore. Voters will also decide whether Illinois Comptroller Susana Mendoza, a Democrat, deserves another term as she takes on Republican Shannon Teresi, and whether Democratic Illinois Treasurer Michael Frerichs should get a third term as he faces Republican challenger state Rep. Tom Demmer.
A referendum question about amending the state constitution will also be on the ballot. The referendum will ask voters if Illinois should enshrine into the constitution the right of workers to unionize and collectively bargain, a proposal backed by organized labor that anti-union groups contend will raise taxes and grant unions unprecedented power.
County clerks around the state also have faced a decision about how they implement their own redistricting after a new law signed into effect last November raised the number of voters allowed per precinct. Many counties implemented the change ahead of the primary, while others will hold it for the next election.
In Chicago, the Board of Election Commissioners has cut the number of precincts by nearly 40% since the primary. Most voters may find themselves at a new polling place as a result.
No matter where or how you plan to vote this fall, this guide will walk you through what you need to know.
- U.S. Senate
- Governor and lieutenant governor
- Attorney general
- Comptroller
- Secretary of state
- Treasurer
- Congress (17 districts)
- General Assembly (118 state representatives; 59 state senators)
- County offices (excluding state’s attorney and clerk of the circuit court)
- Judicial offices
- Sept. 29 is when early voting in many counties began. Also the first day ballots were distributed for vote by mail.
- Oct. 7 is the beginning of early voting in Chicago, available at the Board of Election Commissioners Office on the sixth floor at 69 W. Washington St.
- Oct. 12 is the beginning of the voter registration “grace period,” during which residents can only register to vote in person while they vote. This is also the beginning of early voting for suburban Cook County, available in the Pedway at 69 W. Washington St. and select local courthouses.
- Oct. 23 is the last day to register to vote online.
- Oct. 24 is the day early voting expands to permanent or local polling sites in many counties.
- Nov. 3 is the deadline for requesting a vote-by-mail ballot.
- Nov. 7 marks the last day of early voting.
- Nov. 8 is the general election and the deadline for a mail-in ballot to be postmarked in order for it to be counted.
Voters are able to register to vote up until the polls close on Election Day. With that said, there are some key dates to keep in mind for when and how registration is possible.
Illinois State Board of Elections Public Information Officer Matt Dietrich said the easiest way to register to vote is to do it online, which is available through Oct. 23
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Voters can also register to vote in person at an early-voting site, a polling location or a local county clerk. After Oct. 11, however, anyone registering to vote in person will have to vote at the same time. This is what is referred to as the “grace period.” Be sure to check with your local election authority on its rules regarding registering to vote during the grace period.
“You’re never locked out of an election. As long as you’re an Illinois resident and a U.S. citizen, you’re eligible,” Dietrich said.
For those looking to cast their ballots without visiting a polling place, voters in Illinois can vote by mail. You can apply for a vote-by-mail ballot online or in person at your local election jurisdiction.
Applications to vote by mail are now open. The last day to apply is Nov. 3, but election officials say you shouldn’t wait if you know you want to vote by mail because mail delivery times vary greatly, especially in the Chicago metro area, Dietrich said.
“If you plan on voting and you know you’re gonna vote by mail, get that application in there now,” he said.
To cast your ballot by mail, follow the mailing instructions provided, or find a local secure drop box.
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Applying for a vote-by-mail ballot does not eliminate the possibility of voting in person. Dietrich said it is common for people to change their minds or become nervous that their ballot will not arrive on time as Election Day approaches. Those voters are still able to show up at their polling place on Election Day to vote.
If you are one of those voters and you have already received your ballot, you need to bring it with you to surrender it to an election judge. If you have not received it yet, you will be asked to sign an affidavit stating that you have not received your ballot and will be voting in person instead, said Dietrich.
“We had in 2020 a lot of people asking me about a lot of hypothetical situations: ‘What if I put my vote-by-mail ballot in the mailbox and then go straight to my polling place on Election Day? Couldn’t my vote (be) twice?’” Dietrich said. “What you’re going to have to do in that case is, at your polling place, you have to sign under oath, legal documents saying I haven’t gotten mine and I’m not going to vote by mail, I’m going to vote in person instead.”
While Illinois voters have many options for casting their ballot if they vote by mail, Dietrich said that voters are not able to turn in their completed vote-by-mail ballot at a polling place. This is due to differences in how the ballots are procedurally processed.
This year, Illinois launched a program to allow voters to be added to a permanent vote-by-mail list. Election judges will be able to tell you if you should be expecting your ballot in the mail.
Ballots were to begin being mailed out on Sept. 29 for voters outside of Chicago. Chicago’s ballots are being distributed shortly thereafter, and Chicago voters who applied to vote by mail can check their ballot status online.
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If you aren’t opting for vote-by-mail but find yourself unavailable on Election Day, you can vote early. Find your early-voting site information on the State Board of Elections website.
Early voting began for some counties on Sept. 29 — 40 days before Election Day.
In Chicago, early voting is scheduled to begin Oct. 7 at the voting “supersite” at 191 N. Clark St. and the Board of Elections’ office on the sixth floor at 69 W. Washington St. In suburban Cook County, early voting doesn’t start until Oct. 12 at the Pedway at 69 W. Washington St. and at five local courthouses.
On Oct. 24, early voting expands to polling places around the state, to the early-voting sites in each Chicago ward and in suburban Cook County.
In Chicago, residents can vote at any early-voting site regardless of what ward they live in. The Chicago Board of Elections will also take calls from voters looking for information at its Early Voting Election Central at 312-269-1394.
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On Nov. 8, Election Day, the polls are open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m.. You can look up your polling place here.
During the primary election, Cook County and Chicago struggled with opening some precincts on time. A total of 56 precincts in Chicago opened late, but the Chicago Board of Election Commissioners did not obtain a court order to remain open past 7 p.m. Cook County, on the other hand, had six precincts open late and those polling places stayed open an hour later as a result.
“Always on every election, you do have a handful of (late openings) happening,” Dietrich said. “Sometimes it might be a piece of equipment that needs to be brought online, and … sometimes election judges just don’t show up.”
If you experience any issues on Election Day, you can call the State Board of Elections hotline at 217-782-4141 for assistance.
Chicago also takes calls on Election Day. If you have problems or questions, you can call Election Day Election Central at 312-269-7870.
In early October, Chicago election officials said most Chicago voters will be casting their ballots on Election Day in different polling places due to a new electoral map and reduction in voting precincts.
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Since the June Primary, the Chicago Board of Elections updated all voter information to reflect the new ward map. The Tribune reported in August that the new configuration cut nearly 40% of precincts in a move to save money on the cost of running elections.
Chicago voters intending to cast their ballots on Election Day should check the Chicago Board of Election Commissioners’ website to find their ward, precinct and polling place information. Mailers were also sent from the Board of Elections notifying voters of their new assignments.
Early-voting sites, including the supersite located at 191 N. Clark St., will also be open on Election Day. The Board of Elections office will not be open as a polling place on Election Day, however.
Each one of these early-voting sites or “vote centers” are accessible and open to all Chicago voters, regardless of what ward you live in.
If you encounter issues on the day of, you can call Election Day Election Central at 312-269-7870.
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Chicago residents: Chicago Board of Election Commissioners
Suburban Cook County residents: Cook County clerk
DuPage County residents: DuPage County Election Division
Kane County residents: Kane County clerk
Lake County residents: Lake County clerk
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McHenry County residents: McHenry County clerk
Will County residents: Will County clerk
