Election Day for the 2026 midterm election has arrived — and if you’re in line at the polls before they close Tuesday, you have the right to vote.
In Illinois, early voting and mail-in voting have been underway for weeks. According to Lake County Clerk Anthony Vega, early voting and vote-by-mail turnout have already reached record numbers. At Truman College in Chicago, voters on Monday waited in hours-long lines to cast their ballots.
On the ballot in Illinois, several seats are up for grabs, including the governor’s office and all 17 congressional seats. Also on the Illinois ballot is the U.S. Senate seat long held by Democratic Sen. Dick Durbin, who announced he would not seek reelection.
As Election Day gets underway, here’s what to know about polling hours and more.
What time do polls open and close on Election Day?
Under Illinois state law, polls open at 6 a.m. on Election Day. They will remain open until 7 p.m. CT.
If you are still in line when polls close, you can still vote.
Are schools open on Election Day?
Illinois’ largest school district, Chicago Public Schools, is closed to students on Election Day with no classes. Many suburban school districts are also closed Tuesday, including Wilmette District 39, Indian Prairie School District 204 in the western suburbs and Oswego Community Unit School District 308.
Some districts, private schools and universities may still hold classes Tuesday, or have an Institute Day scheduled for staff.
Under Illinois law, workers are permitted two hours of paid time off to cast ballots on Election Day.
Where to vote near you: Find your polling place
A “polling place lookup” feature is available on the Illinois State Board of Elections website. Simply enter your ZIP code and address on the website and click “submit” to see your polling place.
In Chicago
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.
In the suburbs
Voters outside Chicago can also visit their local county clerk’s website to find their polling place and other election information.
Who’s on your ballot? See a sample
Use the tool below to see which races will appear on your ballot based on your location. These races include the governor’s race, U.S. House and U.S. Senate races, state House races and, if applicable, state Senate races.
(NOTE: Judges will not appear on the ballot below. You can find more information on judicial races in your area here.)
var pymParent=new pym.Parent('whos-on-your-ballot-eng', ' visuals.otsops.com/projects/whos-on-your-ballot-2026/index.html?market=IL&elec=ge-26', {title: '', parenturlparam: '', parenturlvalue: ''});Here is a list of links to additional information about races that could be on your ballot
City of Chicago
Cook County
DeKalb County
DuPage County
Grundy County
Kane County
Kankakee County
Kendall County
Lake County
LaSalle County
McHenry County
Will County
Balance of power in the Senate, House
The 2026 midterm elections are shaping up to be a hugely consequential battle for control of both chambers of Congress and multiple governor’s mansions around the U.S.
Control of the House depends on which party reaches 218 seats. Currently, 219 members caucus with Republicans, just one more than the minimum needed for a majority when all seats are filled. There are two vacancies now.
The bar for the Senate is 51 seats for Democrats or 50 for Republicans, since Vice President JD Vance can cast a tiebreaking vote for his party. Republicans have a 53-47 edge in the Senate right now.
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In Illinois, the U.S. Senate seat vacated by longtime Democratic Sen. Dick Durbin is open after Durbin said he would not seek reelection. In that race, former Lt. Gov. after Juliana Stratton is running against former Illinois GOP Chair Don Tracy.
Live results can be found in the NBC Chicago app and online, with voters able to turn on notifications to get all the latest news surrounding the election.
How to research the judges on your ballot
While the state of Illinois does not have any state Supreme Court races on the ballot in November, there are circuit court and appeals court vacancies that must be decided upon, along with retention votes on those judicial seats.
Here’s a breakdown of the best ways to research the judges on your ballot.
Referendum questions
Many suburban Chicago voters will be faced with hugely consequential referendums and questions about how their local governments work.
In the 2026 general election, numerous communities will vote on bond issues for school and library construction, while others will be asked whether they should implement term limits for public officials, or even cede the selection of certain officials to various governmental bodies.
A handful of counties will also have advisory questions, including on a potential “Millionaire’s Tax” or whether a consolidation effort should be undertaken for townships, school districts and more.
Here’s a breakdown by county of the referendum questions that will appear on your ballot.
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