Voters in Illinois will head to the polls on Tuesday to choose major-party nominees for the U.S. Senate and House, and as well as for governor. All eyes are on the crowded Democratic primary to fill the open Senate seat long held by Senator Richard J. Durbin, who is retiring after nearly three decades. Five seats vacated by retiring members of the House are also up for grabs. And Gov. JB Pritzker, a potential 2028 presidential contender, is running for re-election.
Here is what to know.
Where do I go to vote?
You can find your designated polling site by visiting the state election board’s polling place look-up portal and entering your ZIP code. You can also use the portal to confirm that you’re registered to vote.
When are polls open?
Polls will be open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. local time (7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Eastern) on Tuesday.
Is it too late to vote by mail?
The deadline to apply for a mail-in ballot has passed. But if you have already applied and received one, you can send it in as long as it’s postmarked by Election Day. You can also hand-deliver it to your local election authority until polls close on Tuesday.
And there is still time to vote early in person, generally at your local election authority’s office or an early voting site in your area. There is no statewide early voting schedule, so although much of Illinois holds evening and weekend early voting in the run-up to the election, it’s best to check your jurisdiction to be sure. Find your early voting location and see when you can vote here.
Who is allowed at polling stations? Could U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers show up?
Illinois limits who can be at polling places on Election Day to voters, poll workers and poll watchers. People who don’t fall into these categories can’t loiter as people cast their ballots.
The Department of Homeland Security, which operates Immigration and Customs Enforcement, told election officials last month that immigration agents would not be stationed at polling sites during the midterm elections.
That said, if you feel intimidated by anyone at your polling location, or feel someone is hindering your ability to cast a ballot, you should ask an election official for help.
What if I’m in line when polls close?
You will be able to vote if you’re in line when polls close.
Do I need identification?
If you’re already registered to vote in Illinois, you don’t need to bring a government-issued ID with you when you go to cast your ballot. Your signature when you receive your ballot serves as identification.
If you have not yet registered and plan to do so right before you vote, you will need to bring two forms of ID.
If your vote is challenged by poll workers and you don’t have two forms of ID with you, you will have to cast a provisional ballot. You will then have a week after Election Day to bring valid identification to your election authority for your ballot to count.
Do I need to be registered with a party to participate in primary elections?
Voters in Illinois do not register an affiliation with a political party. Instead, voters who wish to participate in a certain party’s primary simply request a ballot specific to that primary. Which primary you participate in is recorded.
Could there be a runoff?
No, Illinois is not one of the nine states with the option of a runoff election. In each race, the top vote-getter wins.
Taylor Robinson is a Times reporter covering the New York City metro area.
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