Voting & Elections Toolkits: Voter Registration in Illinois

Eligibility

• Age: You must be 17 years old on or before the date of the Primary Election and turn 18 on or before the date of the General or Consolidated Election
• Formerly incarcerated individuals: voting rights restored upon release from prison.
• Incarcerated individuals: You must not be serving a sentence of confinement in any penal institution as a result of a conviction.
• Citizenship: Must be a U.S. citizen
• Residence: You must live in your election precinct at least 30 days prior to Election Day.
• College students can either vote absentee in their home state or register to vote in IL.
• Check to see if you are already registered

More Information on Illinois Voter Eligibility (pdf)

Deadline

• Voter registration deadlines are determined by the date of the election.
• February 17, 2026 is the registration deadline for the 2026 primary election
• October 6, 2026 is the deadline for in-person registration and postmark of mail-in registration for the general election.
• Registration Guidelines
• Election Calendar
• Illinois allows grace period registration and voting at certain sites

Online registration

To use the online voter registration system you must have a current and valid driver’s license, learner’s permit or non-driver photo identification card issued by the State of Illinois.

Online registration form (English)

Mail-in registration

Printable Registration Forms (English and Spanish)

Refer to the box below for information about ID requirements.

Choosing a political party:   

Illinois does not register political parties. In primary elections, voters request either a political party ballot or a non-partisan ballot with only public questions on it. 

Updating registration      

To update registration after a move, name change, or change of political party affiliation, use the online voter registration form.

Cancelling registration

To cancel a registration, voters must send a signed letter or a signed form to local election authorities.

Directory of Election Authorities

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