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 →
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.