It’s almost election season in the Chicago area, and there are countless major races that voters will have to pay attention to.
From U.S. Senate to Illinois governor to Cook County Board President, a slew of offices will be on the primary ballot when the election rolls around in March, and voters will be tasked with identifying candidates that will be vying for the positions when the general election arrives.
So who is on the ballot in this election? How could a change to the way the United States Postal Service handles its mail impact vote-by-mail ballots? Where can you find more information on where to cast your ballots?
For answers to those questions, NBC Chicago and Telemundo Chicago bring you a complete voter’s guide for the 2026 Illinois primary election.
When is Election Day?
This year’s primary election in Illinois will fall on Tuesday, March 17. Voters will be able to choose a ballot for the Democrats, the Republicans, or an independent ballot, which would only feature referendums in communities that are having those votes.
Early voting is getting underway across the Chicago area, and mail-in ballots will be sent to voters who signed up for them in coming weeks.
How to register to vote in Illinois
Even if voters miss the regular registration period, grace-period or same-day voter registration is available in the state of Illinois. The easiest way to register is to visit your local county clerk’s office and to bring required identification, which can be found here. Voters will then be allowed to cast ballots on the same day they register.
Same-day voter registration is also available at select polling places on Election Day, with identification required and voters required to cast their ballots immediately.
For all the different ways you can register to vote in Illinois, visit the NBC Chicago app.
How can I find what’s on my ballot?
Voters can visit the Illinois State Board of Elections’ website to find out the offices they’ll be voting for on their primary ballots.
How to vote in Illinois
Voters can cast ballots on Election Day at their respective polling places, but there are other ways to cast ballots as well.
The first way is via early voting, which will be available in the lead-up to the election. Participating locations can be found on the NBC Chicago app and website.
Voters can also cast mail-in ballots. Applications to do so can be found on the state Board of Elections’ website, but those applications must be returned no later than five days prior to the election in order to ensure that you’ll receive a ballot.
You can find information on mail-in voting here on the NBC Chicago website and app.
Overseas and military voting are available for Illinois voters who won’t be in the country for the election, and procedures can be found on the Board of Elections’ website.
How to vote by mail in Illinois
Any Illinois voter who is interested in voting by mail can do so, according to state law.
To do so, voters must fill out an application and submit it to their local county clerk’s office. The applications must be received at least five days before the election in order for a voter to get a ballot.
Voters who change their mind about voting-by-mail can do so, but must follow procedures laid out on the Board of Elections’ website.
Full information on how to register to vote by mail can be found on the NBC Chicago app.
How to vote early in the Chicago area
Early voting will take place in all Chicago-area counties ahead of the primary election.
Each jurisdiction, including the city of Chicago itself, designates a variety of polling places for early voting. You can find a full list here.
You can find more information at the following links:
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
How to vote on Election Day
Voting on Election Day can be done at a voter’s designated polling place, and while ID is not officially required, there are limited circumstances in which forms of identification may be required.
No ID is required in Illinois if a voter is registered at their current address and is voting at their correct precinct, though an ID can resolve any questions that may arise.
A voter will need a form of identification if election judges have reason to challenge their right to vote at a polling place, or if their voter registration form did not contain a driver’s license or state ID number, or a Social Security Number, according to the Board of Elections.
A full list of acceptable forms of identification, including for same-day voter registration, can be found here.
When are polls open on Election Day?
In Illinois, polls open on Election Day at 6 a.m. and close at 7 p.m.
Any person who is in line at 7 p.m. will still be given the opportunity to vote.
Can you register to vote on Election Day?
Yes, Illinois does have same-day voter registration.
It is important to note that not all polling places offer same-day voter registration, but a list of such polling places can be found on the state Board of Elections’ website.
County clerk’s offices can also register voters on Election Day.
Voters seeking to do so must bring two forms of identification, and their vote will be counted on a provisional basis until their right to register at the address they submit is verified.
You can find more information on grace-period voter registration on the NBC Chicago app and website.
Who’s on the ballot in Illinois?
This year’s election cycle features some big-time races on the ballot, including numerous statewide races.
That list includes a battle for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by retiring Sen. Dick Durbin, who announced he would not seek reelection.
The state will also choose its governor in 2026, with Gov. J.B. Pritzker aiming to become the first Democrat to win a third term in office. The heated Republican battle to name his challenger remains ongoing, and will be decided in the March 17 primary.
Other statewide offices, including Attorney General, Secretary of State, Comptroller and Treasurer are also on the ballot.
Voters will also choose their representatives in Congress, with several high-profile races unfolding to replace retiring lawmakers, including Reps. Danny Davis and Jan Schakowsky.
Finally there are the state House and Senate races up and down the ballot, as well as judges and some local elections.
You can find more information on the Board of Elections’ website.
Are there any referendums on the ballot in Illinois?
There are no statewide referendums on the ballot during the primary election, but there are a handful of local measures that voters will weigh in on.
Those include a $120 million proposal for Naperville officials to build a new sports complex, a $59.4 million plan to build a new public safety building in Geneva, and countywide advisory referendums in McHenry and Grundy counties.
More information can be found on the state’s Board of Elections website.
What are the races to watch in Illinois?
The U.S. Senate primary will be fascinating in Illinois, with Reps. Robin Kelly and Raja Krishnamoorthi battling Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton in the Democratic primary. Former Illinois GOP leader Don Tracy is one of six Republicans battling for that party’s nomination. You can find information on the candidates here.
While Pritzker is running unopposed for governor in the Democratic primary, numerous Republicans have stepped up to try to win the party’s nomination, including former State Sen. Darren Bailey, former Wirepoints CEO Ted Dabrowski and DuPage County Sheriff James Mendrick. You can find information on the candidates here.
With Krishnamoorthi and Kelly running for Senate, those Congressional seats have open primaries, as do seats being left by Davis and Schakowsky.
Another big race is the Democratic primary for Cook County Board President, with incumbent Toni Preckwinkle facing Chicago Ald. Brendan Reilly.
You can get a full list of races to watch on our website and app.
What should I bring to vote in-person?
If a voter is already registered at their current home address, they will not need to bring identification. A photo ID can be helpful if any questions arise, however.
Voters registering on the day of the election, or who need to make changes to their voter registration, can do so at select polling places, but will need to bring two forms of identification to do so.
Voters can also bring notes into the voting booth to help them fill out their ballots, according to state officials.
Can I take a ballot selfie?
Taking photos with a ballot is prohibited by state law, according to experts. That prohibition stems from a law that prohibits marking ballots so that another individual can see how a voter voted.
However, state officials have told NBC Chicago in the past that it’s “unlikely” anyone would be prosecuted, but still recommend taking photos of an “I Voted” sticker in lieu of the ballot itself.
What if I run into problems voting?
Voters who are challenged on their voting eligibility, who experience voter intimidation or have trouble at their polling place are encouraged to report such incidents.
If you run into any of the above issues, or have any questions about the voting process, more than 100 organizations across the U.S. operate an Election Protection hotline, which can be reached at:
1-866-OUR-VOTE (1-866-687-8683): English
1-888-VE-Y-VOTA (1-888-839-8682): Spanish/English
1-888-API-VOTE (1-888-274-8683): Asian languages/English
1-844-YALLA-US (1-844-925-5287): Arabic/English
Illinois residents can also text MYVOTE to 866-687-8683 with any concerns, which will be addressed by trained volunteers.
How to get live election results
Election Day coverage will be available on NBC Chicago, the station’s 24/7 Streaming News Channel, and via NBC Chicago’s website and mobile app.
Live results can be found in the app, with voters able to turn on notifications to get all the latest news surrounding the election.
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