Where can you vote today? How to find your Election Day polling place by zip code

It’s Election Day in Illinois and polls for the 2026 Illinois Primary Election are now open.

The results of the race will determine what names are on the ballot for the midterm election in November, where Illinois will have five open congressional seats and an open Senate seat, a situation that hasn’t been seen in most voters’ lifetimes.

“That’s unprecedented. We’ve never had five open congressional seats at one time,” NBC 5 Political Reporter Mary Ann Ahern said. “Those are also seats that often, once elected, they hold onto for a very long time. And with, in some cases, 12 candidates or more running, someone could win with a very small margin.”

While the 2024 election cycle saw all 17 members of Illinois’ Congressional delegation successfully seek reelection, this year’s election has five incumbents who are either retiring or running for another office.

That list includes Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi and Rep. Robin Kelly, who are both running for the Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate after the decision by Sen. Dick Durbin not to seek reelection.

“The open Senate seat is the biggest race because it hasn’t been an open seat in 30 years,” Ahern said. “When one wins that seat they often stay a long time.”

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.

Here’s what to know as in-person voting continues, and how to find where to vote near you.

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.

How to find your polling place by zip code

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.

When do polls open?

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.

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.