Voting Overview
You have three options for voting:
- Vote by mail
- Vote in person early
- Vote in person on Election Day
Mail In Voting
First and foremost, mail-in voting is secure and trustworthy. To vote by mail in Illinois, you must fill out an application to request your mail-in ballot, which you can find here. Illinois requires you to apply a minimum of 5 days before the election.
Unless you are unable, you must fill in your own ballot. Once filled out, you can drop it in a secure drop box, deliver it in person to your local election authority, or mail it through the USPS. To be counted, mail-in ballots must be postmarked by Election Day, and received by two weeks after. If someone else is dropping off your mail-in ballot for you, both of you must complete an affidavit on the envelope to acknowledge third-party delivery of the ballot.
Other Scenarios:
As you can see, voting by mail is safe and secure, and, especially in times when we may not feel comfortable spending time in public buildings, is an option to stay safe and healthy, while also getting our voices heard!
Unless you are unable, you must fill in your own ballot. Once filled out, you can drop it in a secure drop box, deliver it in person to your local election authority, or mail it through the USPS. To be counted, mail-in ballots must be postmarked by Election Day, and received by two weeks after. If someone else is dropping off your mail-in ballot for you, both of you must complete an affidavit on the envelope to acknowledge third-party delivery of the ballot.
Other Scenarios:
- You receive or fill out your ballot but then decide you actually want to vote early or on Election Day. You can bring your mail-in ballot to your polling place, and surrender it to an election judge so it can be voided. You will then receive a regular ballot.
- Your mail-in ballot hasn’t arrived yet, so you want to vote in person. That's also fine, you’ll sign a sworn affidavit certifying that you haven’t gotten your ballot yet.
- Lost your mail-in ballot? No worries! Sign an affidavit saying you have not yet voted in this election, and you'll get a provisional ballot.
As you can see, voting by mail is safe and secure, and, especially in times when we may not feel comfortable spending time in public buildings, is an option to stay safe and healthy, while also getting our voices heard!
Early Voting
Sometimes, conflicts arise on Election Day, or some people just don’t want to go to a crowded polling place. This is especially true in the pandemic, when a lot of folks are understandably uncomfortable in large crowds. Election offices determine where and how many polling places will be open for early voting. Early voting is essentially similar to Election Day voting.
Election Day Voting
Election Day voting is pretty straightforward. You go to your polling place and you check in using your house number and the first four letters of your last name. IL doesn’t require that you show your license, but it is good to have it in case there is an issue with your registration. You can choose from a paper ballot or a touchscreen–if you choose paper, you’ll get your ballot, a pen to mark it, and a privacy shield. If you prefer to vote by touchscreen, you will be given a card and directed to the first available touchscreen.
