On March 15th, 2016, voters will narrow the field of political candidates in preparation for the November 2016 general election, which includes the election for President of the United States.
On March 15th, Illinois voters will vote to NOMINATE candidates for:
President of the United States
United States Senator
Comptroller
Representatives in Congress — All 18 Districts
State Senators — For 4-Year Terms
(1, 2, 4, 5, 7, 8, 10, 11, 13, 14, 16, 17, 19, 20, 22, 23, 25, 26, 28, 29, 31, 32, 34, 35, 37, 38, 40, 41, 43, 44, 46, 47, 49, 50, 52, 53, 55, 56, 58, 59)
Representatives in the General Assembly — All 118 Districts
Regional Superintendent of Schools
Trustee Levee and Sanitation District
Appellate Judge — 1st and 5th Appellate
Vacancies for Cook Circuit/Subcircuit Courts
Vacancies for Downstate Circuit/Subcircuit Courts
*To view your specific ballot, and any additional races limited to your locale, please go here and select your county to be directed to your local election authority. There you can find or request your specific ballot.*
Am I registered to vote?
You can check your registration status by entering your name and zip code at the Registration Lookup website. If you’re registered it will also give your polling place location.
How do I register to vote?
Although the traditional voter registration period closes 28 days prior to the election, Illinois residents may register in-person at the office of their election authority during the “grace period” which runs from February 17th to March 15th. Find your election authority office here.
Chicago
69 W. Washington St., 6th Floor
Chicago, IL 60626
312-269-7900
Cook County
69 W. Washington St., 5th Floor
Chicago, IL 60626
312-603-0906
You need two forms of acceptable ID, at least one of which shows your current address, in order to register to vote during the “grace period.”
Acceptable forms of ID include:
- Driver’s license
- State identification card
- Passport
- Current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck stub, or other government document that shows your name and address
*You must immediately vote upon registering during “grace period” registration*
Where is my polling place?
You can find the location of your polling place at the Election Authority website. Each county’s polling places can be found on its website. If you’ve moved since the last election, make sure you check to see where your new polling place is before you go – your vote won’t count if you vote in the wrong precinct.
Do I need an ID to vote?
It depends. You will need to present a government-issued photo ID IF:
- You register during the grace period registration from February 17th through March 15th
- You are a new voter who has registered by mail and have not previously supplied the Election Board with appropriate ID
What time are the polls open in Illinois?
On March 15th, polls will be open from 6:00 AM to 7:00 PM.
Can I vote early?
Yes. Early voting is from February 4th to March 14th. You can find early voting locations, as well as their hours, here.
Can I vote by mail?
Yes. Anyone registered to vote may apply to vote by mail ballot without requiring any reason to do so. You must complete an application by mail ballot from your election authority and will then be mailed a ballot at the mailing address provided. You have till March 10th, 2016 to submit the application. Mailed ballots must be postmarked no later than Election Day (March 15th), and must be received within 14 days of the election. Click here for more information.
Chicago Mail Ballot Application
Cook County Mail Ballot Application
Telephone help lines:
For more information you can call the Illinois State Board of Elections at their Springfield or Chicago offices.
Springfield Office: 217-782-4141 Monday – Friday 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM
Chicago Office: 312-814-6485 Monday – Friday 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM
