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 Voters should be aware that third party organizations are allowed
to send voters applications to receive a mail-in ballot, but voters
should stay alert and monitor whether they then receive a ballot in
the mail. Voters who applied for a vote-by-mail ballot but did not
receive it or have not sent in a completed ballot retain the right
to vote in person during the early voting period or on election day.
Madigan and the State Board of Elections urged any voter who wishes
to vote by mail to follow the steps below to ensure they receive a
ballot in time to vote in the November 8 election. Illinois voters
who receive a solicitation to request a vote by mail ballot may
instead follow these steps to request their ballot directly from
their local county election authorities.
Request an application. Registered voters who wish to vote by mail
must first fill out an application to receive the ballot. Voters can
request an application in person or have one mailed to them by their
local election authority. Some counties also have applications
online.
 Apply for a ballot. A voter must fill out the application by
providing certain information, including the address where the
ballot should be mailed and by certifying they are eligible to vote
in this election, and return the application to their local election
authorities. Mailed applications to request a ballot must be
received by the election authority by November 3.
Vote by mail. Once a voter receives their ballot, follow the
instructions to vote by mail. The ballot must be completed, signed
and sealed in the certification envelope. Ballots must be signed and
postmarked by Election Day, November 8, to be counted in the
election. Voters can also turn in their vote-by-mail ballot to
county election authorities before 7 p.m. on election day.
Check the status of your ballot through your county authorities. A
list of county election authorities can be found at
www.elections.il.gov.
If you have not received your vote-by-mail ballot, you can vote
during the early voting period or on election day.
Newly registered voters who did not provide adequate identification
information with their registration need to show identification to
obtain a vote-by-mail ballot.
Early Voting Available Now
Instead of voting by mail, Illinois residents can vote during the
early voting period that is now underway through November 7. Voters
should be aware that they can register to vote and cast their ballot
at the same time during the early voting process. Residents who are
registering to vote and casting a ballot at the same time should
contact their county election authority to find out which local
polling location they should visit to both register to vote and cast
a ballot.
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To find early voting locations, visit the Illinois Board of Elections website
for a list of locations.
Election Day Voting
Polling places will be open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. on election day, November 8.
Voters who are in line when the polls close at 7 p.m. must be allowed to cast
their vote.
Voters should also be aware of a new law that allows voters to register to vote
and cast their ballot at the same time on election day.
Under the law, counties with a population of 100,000 or more must provide voters
with the option of registering to vote and casting their ballots at the same
time at polling places on election day. Counties with a population of 100,000 or
less which use electronic poll books must also provide voters with the option of
registering to vote and casting their ballots at the same time at polling places
on election day. Smaller counties that do not maintain voter records
electronically must offer election day registration at the county’s main
election office or at polling places in the county’s larger municipalities.
Voters registering to vote on election day should be prepared to show two forms
of identification. The most common forms of identification include a driver’s
license or a utility bill, at least one of which must show your current address.
If your voter registration is active and current, you do not need to show
identification to cast your vote.
More information about the voting process and the status of your voter
registration can be found on the Illinois Board of Elections website or through
local county clerks’ offices.
[Office of the Attorney General Lisa
Madigan]
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