What time do polls open and close? Hours, where to vote near you on Election Day

Tuesday, March 17 isn’t just St. Patrick’s Day — it’s also Election Day for the 2026 Illinois Primary Election.

Several major seats in the Chicago area are up for grabs in the primary, which will determine what names are on the ballot for the general election in November. In several races, longstanding Democratic incumbents aren’t running for another term, including Sen. Dick Durbin, U.S. Rep. Danny Davis and U.S. Rep. Jan Schakowsky.

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.

What are super PACs? Here’s why they’re pouring money into the Illinois primary

Polls for the primary open early Tuesday, remaining open through the evening. Early and mail-in voting across the state has already been underway.

Here’s what to know.

What time do the polls open and close in Illinois?

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.

Where to vote near you

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.

For those outside Chicago, a polling place search feature may be offered on your county clerk’s website.

Illinois voters will soon head to the polls in a pivotal election featuring five hotly contested congressional races and an open U.S. Senate seat. Mary Ann Ahern has a preview of what to expect.

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 Day

After 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.