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Midterm WatchRaces · forecasts · voting guides

Illinois voting guide

Open the election authority’s current instructions

Illinois · November 3, 2026

In-person registration remains available through Election Day; location, identification and ballot rules apply. OFF-IL · BP-REG · VOTE-REG

Ordinary domestic voters; same-day registration routes and local conditions remain distinct.
Registration routeDateRuleEvidence
OnlineOct 18BP-REG · VOTEGOV-IL
MailOct 6postmarkedOFF-IL · BP-REG · VOTE-REG
In personNov 3OFF-IL · BP-REG · VOTE-REG
A displayed window does not mean every site is open every day. Times are local unless a named time zone is given.
Voting taskDate or windowInstructions
Mailed ballot requestOct 29The application must reach the election authority by this date. BP-MAIL · VOTE-MAIL
In-person early/absentee routeSep 24–Nov 2September 24 is the earliest in-person absentee/early route; permanent early-voting sites can open later. Check the local authority for a particular site. BP-EARLY · VOTE-EARLY
Ballot returnMethod-specific ruleMail: Nov 3 postmark and arrival by Nov 17. Hand return: 7 p.m. Nov 3. BP-RETURN · VOTE-MAIL
Election Day hours6 a.m. to 7 p.m.Local time. Check the assigned polling place for applicable exceptions. BP-HOURS · VOTECLOCK · GP-HOURS

September 24 is the earliest in-person absentee/early route; permanent early-voting sites can open later. Check the local authority for a particular site. OFF-IL · BP-MAIL · VOTE-MAIL · BP-RETURN · BP-EARLY · VOTE-EARLY

Official state election information and ballot lookup. Military/overseas, emergency, accessible-ballot and special-eligibility rules can differ.

2026 House districts; all outlooks are pre-election assessments.
House districtOutlookDDHQ / Cook
IL-1Safe DSafe D / Safe D DDHQ-H · COOK-H
IL-2Safe DSafe D / Safe D DDHQ-H · COOK-H
IL-3Safe DSafe D / Safe D DDHQ-H · COOK-H
IL-4Safe DSafe D / Safe D DDHQ-H · COOK-H
IL-5Safe DSafe D / Safe D DDHQ-H · COOK-H
IL-6Safe DSafe D / Safe D DDHQ-H · COOK-H
IL-7Safe DSafe D / Safe D DDHQ-H · COOK-H
IL-8Safe DSafe D / Safe D DDHQ-H · COOK-H
IL-9Safe DSafe D / Safe D DDHQ-H · COOK-H
IL-10Safe DSafe D / Safe D DDHQ-H · COOK-H
IL-11Safe DSafe D / Safe D DDHQ-H · COOK-H
IL-12Safe RSafe R / Safe R DDHQ-H · COOK-H
IL-13Safe DSafe D / Safe D DDHQ-H · COOK-H
IL-14Safe DSafe D / Safe D DDHQ-H · COOK-H
IL-15Safe RSafe R / Safe R DDHQ-H · COOK-H
IL-16Safe RSafe R / Safe R DDHQ-H · COOK-H
IL-17Likely DLikely D / Safe D DDHQ-H · COOK-H