Updated: October 24th, 2026
Your vote impacts your community!
Every vote helps shape the policies that impact our daily lives. Get informed and make your voice heard in the next election!
Make a Plan to Vote:
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Vote By Mail: After completing your mail-in ballot, you must return it as soon as you can by mail or at your nearest dropbox. During the weekend before Election Day, we recommend bringing it to a dropbox location. Find a dropbox location near you!
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Vote Early: You can vote early in person until November 2nd. Check your local election authority’s website for times and locations for voting early.
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Election Day: On Tuesday, November 3rd, polls open at 6AM and close at 7PM. If you are in line to vote by 7PM on Election Day you have the right to vote, even if you need to register that day. Find your Election Day polling site.
2026 General Election Calendar:
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Wednesday, August 5: First day to apply for vote by mail ballot, you can apply here.
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Thursday, September 24: First day to vote early or by mail
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Tuesday, October 6: Last day for paper registration. Online voter registration remains open.
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Wednesday, October 7: First day of grace period for in person voter registration and select early voting sites (varies by election authority)
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Sunday, October 18: Last day for online voter registration @ 11:59pm. Grace period in-person voter registration remains available at select early voting sites.
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Tuesday, October 19: Early voting begins until November 2nd.
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Thursday, October 29: Last day to apply for vote by mail ballot.
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Tuesday, November 3: Election Day! Polls are open from 6AM - 7PM
Know Your Rights!
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Language Accessibility: Depending on your county or language needs, you may be able to request a translated ballot or interpretation assistance.
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Voting Support: You can bring a family member into the polling booth to provide assistance.
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Questions? Call the nonpartisan Election Protection hotline at 866-OUR-VOTE (866-687-8683).
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Did you see ICE? Call our Family Support Network Hotline at 855-435-7693.
Ready to register to vote? Learn more about it below!
Ways to register to vote in Illinois:
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Register and vote the SAME DAY at early voting locations
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Register and vote in person on Election Day at your local polling place
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Register by mail
To register to vote in Illinois, you must:
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Be a resident of Illinois and of your election precinct at least 30 days before the next election;
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Be at least 18 years old on or before the next election;
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Not claim the right to vote anywhere else;
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Not be incarcerated for a criminal conviction;
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If registering in person, you must show two (2) forms of identification. At least one (1) identification must list your current address.
Please Note:
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If you register online, you must have a valid Illinois driver’s license or State ID.
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If you don’t have a valid Illinois driver’s license/State ID or miss the online voter registration deadline, you can still register and vote at the same time as voting in person at early voting locations OR at your local polling place on Election Day.
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If you register in person at an early voting location or on Election Day, you will need to show two forms of accepted identification.
Check out what ICIRR is doing to Get Out the Vote!
Since 2002, ICIRR's Democracy Project Fellowship has empowered immigrant communities by increasing voter participation across Chicago and surrounding suburbs. This nonpartisan, paid, full-time fellowship is a leadership development opportunity for emerging community leaders who are passionate about grassroots organizing, civic engagement, and strengthening democracy. It occurs every two years, leading up to the General Election. Fellows are placed with immigrant-serving organizations throughout the Chicagoland area, where they lead local voter engagement efforts.
For the 2026 Democracy Project, ICIRR has partnered with seven organizations to get out the vote in these election authorities: Arab American Family Services (Southwest Suburban Cook County), Brighton Park Neighborhood Council (Chicago), Coalition for a Better Chinese American Community (Chicago), Casa Michoacan (DuPage and Kane County), PASO - West Suburban Organizing Project (West Suburban Cook County), Mano a Mano Family Resource Program (Lake County), and Southwest Suburban Immigrant Project. (Will County).
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