It’s Election Day in Illinois and polls for the 2026 Illinois Primary Election are now open.
The results of the race will determine what names are on the ballot for the midterm election in November, where Illinois will have five open congressional seats and an open Senate seat, a situation that hasn’t been seen in most voters’ lifetimes.
“That’s unprecedented. We’ve never had five open congressional seats at one time,” NBC 5 Political Reporter Mary Ann Ahern said. “Those are also seats that often, once elected, they hold onto for a very long time. And with, in some cases, 12 candidates or more running, someone could win with a very small margin.”
While the 2024 election cycle saw all 17 members of Illinois’ Congressional delegation successfully seek reelection, this year’s election has five incumbents who are either retiring or running for another office.
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That list includes Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi and Rep. Robin Kelly, who are both running for the Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate after the decision by Sen. Dick Durbin not to seek reelection.
“The open Senate seat is the biggest race because it hasn’t been an open seat in 30 years,” Ahern said. “When one wins that seat they often stay a long time.”
The primary will also determine which candidates will be on the ballot for November’s gubernatorial race, with Gov. J.B. Pritzker seeking a third term.
Here’s what to know as in-person voting continues, and how to find where to vote near you.
How to find your polling place by zip code
The Illinois State Board of Elections has a “polling place lookup” feature on its website.
Enter your ZIP code and address into the website and hit “submit” and it will show you your polling place.
Chicago residents can vote at their designated polling place or at one of the 51 early voting centers across the city that will remain open through Election Day.
When do polls open?
All polling sites across the state open at 6 a.m. CST on Election Day, in accordance with state law. Polls will close at 7 p.m. Anyone who is in line before polls close can still vote.
Can you register to vote on Election Day in Illinois?
A voter registration “grace period” allows voters to register and vote in the same day in-person at designated sites up until and on Election Day. And, if you want to change the address where you are registered to vote, you can do that, too.
To register, you’ll need two forms of ID, including one with your address, and to meet the following criteria:
The voter must be a United States citizen The voter must be 18 years of age or older on Election Day The voter must have lived in their precinct for at least 30 days prior to Election DayAfter registering during the “grace period,” you’ll be required to vote immediately if you wish to vote in this election cycle.
More information can be found here.
Where to drop off your mail-in ballot
Commissioner Chicago Board of Elections Marisel Hernandez Tuesday morning said more than 87,000 Chicago mail-in ballots have yet to be returned.
Those ballots should not be dropped into mailboxes, Hernandez said, because “there’s a very high chance that your ballot won’t be postmarked today.”
“And if it’s not, we can’t count it,” Hernandez said.
Voters are encouraged to either take their mail-in ballot to a post office and have a clerk postmark it in-person. Voters can also return their mail-in ballots by 7 p.m. to any drop box near them. Enter your zip code here to find one near you.
How to check if you’re registered to vote
Voters can locate their registration status on a “registration lookup” feature offered by the Illinois State Board of Elections. The website will prompt you to enter your name, birthday, ZIP code and address to see if you are registered in Illinois.
What do you need to vote in Illinois? What you can take into the ballot box with you
If you are registered, the website will tell you where your polling place is.
Who’s on your ballot? How to check before you go
Enter your address in the tool below to see which races will appear on your ballot based on your location:
(NOTE: Judges will not appear on the ballot below. For more information on that click here.)
*If you are an android user, click this link to access the tool.
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