Illinois voter registration closes Oct 6 for the November 3, 2026 election. Every deadline — registration, mail ballot and early voting — with the official source for each.
Look up your own ballot and polling place →
Illinois election authorities begin mailing vote-by-mail ballots on Thursday, Sept 24 to voters who have requested one. State law bars them from sending domestic ballots any earlier.
Early voting may begin Thursday, September 24, 2026 at your election authority's office and any locations it designates. Permanent early voting sites open by Monday, October 19. Early voting ends Monday, November 2, 2026. Early voting runs Sept 24 - Nov 2, 2026 at election authority offices; permanent polling places open Oct 19 and must be open on holidays, Saturdays and Sundays. Temporary sites, dates and hours vary by election authority (county clerk or city/county election board).
Mailed applications must be postmarked before the close of registration on Tuesday, October 6, 2026. If there is no readable postmark, it must arrive within five days after the close.
Register online by 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, October 18, 2026.
Monday, October 19, 2026 is the first day to file nomination papers for the consolidated primary. Monday, October 26, 2026 is the last day to file nomination papers for the consolidated primary.
Monday, October 26, 2026 is the last day to file nomination papers for the consolidated primary.
Your election authority must receive a mailed vote-by-mail application by Thursday, October 29, 2026. You can still apply in person at the election authority's office until Monday, November 2.
Early voting ends Monday, November 2, 2026. Early voting runs Sept 24 - Nov 2, 2026 at election authority offices; permanent polling places open Oct 19 and must be open on holidays, Saturdays and Sundays. Temporary sites, dates and hours vary by election authority (county clerk or city/county election board).
Regular in-person registration closes Oct 6, but grace period registration and voting is available in person Oct 7 through Election Day at the election authority's office or designated locations. Grace period registration and voting runs Oct 7 - Nov 3, 2026, in person at your election authority's office or designated sites. Whether you can do it at your own polling place on Election Day depends on your election authority.
Monday, November 16, 2026 is the first day to file nomination papers for the April 6, 2027 consolidated election. Monday, November 23, 2026 is the last day to file nomination papers for the April 6, 2027 consolidated election.
Mailed ballots must be postmarked by Election Day (Nov 3) and received by Tuesday, November 17, 2026. A ballot with no postmark still counts if its certification envelope is dated by Election Day or postal barcode tracking shows it was mailed by then, and it arrives by Nov 17.
Monday, November 23, 2026 is the last day to file nomination papers for the April 6, 2027 consolidated election.
Tuesday, January 26, 2027 is the close of regular registration for the February 23, 2027 consolidated primary. Online registration stays open through Sunday, February 7, 2027, and grace-period registration and voting are available after that.
Illinois holds a statewide consolidated primary election on Tuesday, February 23, 2027. It is not held everywhere - it applies to municipalities over 5,000 that nominate by party primary, smaller municipalities that have adopted a primary, and the City of Chicago, whose municipal election is held on this date.
Tuesday, March 9, 2027 is the close of regular registration for the April 6, 2027 consolidated election. Online registration stays open through Sunday, March 21, 2027, and grace-period registration and voting are available after that.
Illinois holds one statewide consolidated election for local offices on Tuesday, April 6, 2027. Mayors, city councils, village boards, township, park, library, fire protection, school and community college boards are all elected on this single day, set by 10 ILCS 5/2A-1.1 as the first Tuesday in April of odd-numbered years.
We publish a gap rather than a guess. These points were not settled by an official source:
Every date above was read from the Illinois election office's own published material, last checked Tuesday, September 15, 2026. Confirm anything you are relying on with your local election authority.
The registration period for the online voter registration system will close at 11:59 PM on 10/18/2026 and will reopen on 11/05/2026
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2026 CLOSE OF REGISTRATION ... A mail registration application shall be deemed timely filed if postmarked prior to the close of registration.
October 7, 2026 Grace Period Registration and Voting Begins for the General Election First day of grace period registration and voting at the office of the election authority or at a location designated for this purpose by the election authority.
https://elections.il.gov/Downloads/ElectionOperations/PDF/VoteByMail.pdf
When Does Voting by Mail Start? 40 days prior to Election Day.
Last day for regular registration or transfer of registration within the offices of the election authority. Grace period registration and voting will be available after this date. Online registration through the State Board of Elections website will continue through Sunday, February 7, 2027.