You must register at least 28 days prior to an election in order to vote in that election. You can register online, by mail, or in person. Following the close of registration, Illinois allows for "Grace Period" Registration and voting beginning the 27th day prior until the day before an election. Online registration is available through the 15th day prior to Election Day. The registration period for the online voter registration system will close at 11:59 p.m. on 10/18/2020 and will reopen on 11/05/2020.

To Vote in Illinois:

• You must be a United State Citizen.

• You must be 17 years old on or before the date of the Primary Election and turn 18 on or before the date of the General or Consolidated Election.

• You must live in your election precinct at least 30 days prior to Election Day.

• You must not be serving a sentence of confinement in any penal institution as a result of a conviction.

• You may not claim the right to vote anywhere else.

Voter Registration Lookup

Online Voter Registration

Find Your Polling Place

August 5

First day for any registered voter to apply by mail or in person for an official vote by mail ballot

September 24

First day for election authority to mail an official ballot to voters who have requested one

First day for early voting at the office of the election authority & temporary locations

October 6

Close of in person voter registration

October 7

Grace period registration and grace period voting begins

October 18

Last day to register to vote online

October 29

Requests for a mail-in ballot must be received by your local election authority by this date

November 2

Last day for early voting

November 3

General Election Day

Mail-in ballots must be postmarked by this date

Last day for grace period registration and voting

Annenberg Political Fact Check

Designed to help voters by “monitoring the factual accuracy of what is said by major U.S. political players in the form of TV ads, debates, speeches, interviews, and news releases.” Updated even when it is not election season. Includes information on special interest groups behind television ads.

Center for Public Integrity

A well documented investigative journalism organization and winner of the Pulitzer Prize in 2014 & 2017.

Newsguard

Browser extension that provides an easy way to evaluate websites. “Green-Red ratings compiled by a team of trained journalists signal if a website is trying to get it right, has a hidden agenda, or knowingly publishes falsehoods or propaganda.”

Politifact

A fact-checking website founded by editors of Time Magazine and in conjunction with Congressional Quarterly.