How to register to vote in Illinois as the primary election nears

Illinois voters will soon head to the polls to cast their ballots in a variety of elections, and even if residents haven’t registered to vote, it isn’t too late.

From U.S. Senate to governor to Congress to local judgeships, there are a slew of races that will see candidates finalized up and down the ballot, and Illinois voters will have plenty of choices to make on both the Democratic and Republican sides of the ledger.

While regular voter registration in the state of Illinois has closed, voters still have two different methods they can use to ensure the ability to cast ballots in the March 17 primary.

It’s worth noting voters will be asked which party they would wish to cast a ballot for in that primary, whether it be Democrats or Republicans. If a voter chooses an independent ballot, they would only be permitted to vote for any referenda on the ballot in their particular community.

In order to register to vote in the state of Illinois, prospective voters must:

-Be a U.S. citizen

-Be at least 17 years old on or before of the date of the primary election and turn 18 on or before the date of the general election.

-Must live in your election precinct at least 30 days prior to Election Day.

-Must not be serving a sentence of confinement at any penal institution as the result of a conviction.

-Must not claim the right to vote anywhere else.

Before Registering

Before registering to vote, voters can check to see if they’re already registered on the Board of Elections’ lookup tool. There, voters can either proceed to signing up to register, or they can update their information.

If a voter is not registered, there are two different ways to do so.

Online Voter Registration

If voters wish to register online, they can do so via the Illinois Board of Elections’ website, but there is only limited time to do so.

The deadline for online voter registration for the 2026 primary will be Sunday.

Proof-of-residence is required to register. The BOE’s website will request an Illinois driver’s license or state ID number, as well as the last four digits of the voter’s Social Security Number and their birthdate.

If a voter does not have a license or state-issued ID, then they will have to register via grace period voter registration.

Grace Period and Same-Day Voter Registration

Grace period voter registration will run all the way through the day of the election, but there are slight differences to how the process works.

In order to register to vote during this time, voters will be required to register and then cast their ballots immediately. Grace period and same-day voter registration are available at local county clerk’s offices and most early voting locations, though voters are urged to check before they arrive at the polling place.

Upon arrival, voters will need to bring two forms of identification. One of those forms must show the voter’s current address, and the list of acceptable ID can include a driver’s license, a bank statement, a residency contract or lease, a utility bill, or a state ID card.

On Election Day itself, voters can still register to vote at most polling places, but are encouraged to check the BOE’s website to ensure their polling place offers the service.