Metro Pulse Illinois Voter Toolkit
Know your ballot before you vote
Nonpartisan educational guide | Updated October 11, 2026
Illinois’ general election is Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Research your candidates, judges and ballot questions now—not while standing in the voting booth. Your local election authority is the official source for your address-specific sample ballot, voting locations and election instructions.
1. Start with your address—not just your county
Your home address determines which congressional, legislative, judicial and local districts apply to you. For local races and questions, obtain your official sample ballot from your election authority rather than relying on a statewide candidate list.
Use these tools:
| What you need | Where to go |
|---|---|
| Registration status and assigned Election Day polling place | Illinois polling-place lookup. |
| Early voting and grace-period registration locations | Illinois early voting locator; select “2026 General Election.” |
| Chicago sample ballot and voter information | Chicago Board of Elections; select “Your Voter Information.” |
| Suburban Cook County sample ballot and voter information | Cook County Clerk Elections; select “Your Voter Information.” Chicago has a separate election authority. |
| Other Illinois counties and election jurisdictions | Capitol News Illinois Election Guide, which includes an election-authority lookup and guidance for requesting a specimen ballot. |
Save your sample ballot and make a short research checklist for every contest and question.
2. Research candidates—and give judges special attention
For candidate races, compare qualifications, experience and stated positions. Use campaign websites for the candidates’ own claims, then compare those claims with attributed reporting and public records.
For judges, start with these resources:
- Illinois State Bar Association judicial ratings: evaluations and attorney advisory polls, including county-by-county resources outside Cook County. An evaluation represents the association’s assessment; an advisory poll reflects participating attorneys’ opinions—not all lawyers’ views.
- VoteForJudges.org: compare Cook County judicial ratings from participating bar associations. Its 2026 ratings are available now.
Know which kind of judicial vote you are casting
- Judicial vacancy election: choose a candidate for the office.
- Judicial retention election: vote “Yes” or “No” on whether a sitting judge should remain. There is no opposing candidate in that retention question. A judge needs at least 60% of votes cast on that question to remain in office.
Research each judge individually. Compare ratings, read the accompanying explanations and distinguish professional assessments from campaign endorsements.
3. Read the ballot questions—not just the slogans
Your official sample ballot is the starting point for identifying the questions you will actually be asked to decide. Local questions vary by jurisdiction.
For each question, build a simple three-line note:
Question: Copy the exact ballot wording.
Effect: What would “Yes” do? What would “No” do?
Evidence: Link to the sponsoring government’s explanation, underlying proposal and credible reporting.
Ask whether the question is binding or advisory, whether it changes taxes or borrowing, and what costs or implementation details are documented. Compare proponents’ and opponents’ claims against the actual proposal.
4. Can you leave some races blank?
Yes. Leaving a candidate race or ballot question blank does not nullify your entire ballot. It is an “undervote”: you cast no vote in that particular contest, while properly marked votes elsewhere can still count. Illinois law allows voters to correct an undervote but does not require them to fill it in.
- A blank judicial retention question is not a “No” vote; it records no choice.
- Do not select more candidates than the ballot permits. An “overvote” can invalidate your vote for that office—not automatically the rest of your ballot.
- If the scanner flags a problem, ask an election judge to explain it before completing submission. You may correct the ballot or leave an intentional omission unchanged.
5. Registration: key facts and deadlines
For this general election, eligible voters must be U.S. citizens, be 18 by Election Day, and have lived in their election precinct for at least 30 days. They cannot claim voting rights elsewhere or currently be serving a sentence of confinement following a conviction.
| Date | What it means |
|---|---|
| October 6 | Regular registration deadline; this deadline has passed. |
| October 18 | Last day to register online through the Illinois voter registration portal. |
| October 7–November 3 | Grace-period registration and voting are available at authorized locations. If you register or update your registration through this process, you must vote at that time. |
For in-person registration or an address update, bring two forms of identification, at least one showing your current address. Examples include a driver’s license, passport, lease or utility bill. Check your election authority’s accepted-document instructions before leaving home.
6. Early voting and Election Day: plan your visit
- Early voting began September 24 in many Illinois jurisdictions, but individual sites open on different dates. Check the official locator for your jurisdiction and its current hours.
- In Chicago, downtown early voting began October 1; all 50 ward early voting sites open October 19. Chicago voters may use any Chicago early voting/vote center, including on Election Day.
- Already-registered voters generally do not need ID if their registration and signature present no issues. Registration, address changes and certain other circumstances require identification; bringing it helps avoid complications.
- An early ballot cannot be canceled so you can vote again on Election Day. Research first, then cast your ballot once.
- Election Day polls are open 6 a.m.–7 p.m. If you are in line by 7 p.m., stay in line—you are entitled to vote.
Check your assigned polling place separately from early voting locations. Do not assume an early voting site is your Election Day precinct location; Chicago’s vote-center options are a separate alternative.
Your before-you-go checklist
- Confirm registration and current address.
- Obtain your official sample ballot.
- Research candidates, each judge and every ballot question.
- Verify your chosen location’s eligibility rules, opening date and hours.
- Bring registration documents if needed.
- Review your selections and confirm the voting equipment accepted your ballot.
Metro Pulse provides this guide for voter education, not candidate endorsement. Election authorities control official ballots, registration procedures and site schedules. Recheck their current instructions before voting.