Voting In Illinois

Two forms of identification are required when registering to vote, one that shows your current residential address. If you register by mail, you must vote in person the first time you vote.

In general, identification is not required to vote at the polls, although voters will be required to verify their signatures. However, there are individual circumstances that may require that identification be shown … Click to learn more

In general, identification is not required to vote at the polls, although you will be required to verify your signature. However, there are individual circumstances that may require that identification be shown. In those cases, you must present a photo ID, and if the photo ID has an address, it must match the registration address. If a photo ID is not used, the document (examples of which are listed below) must show your name and address. This must be presented to an election judge before being permitted to vote.

If you do not present a required form on identification, you may vote on a provisional ballot. For further information, please see Provisional Voting below.

If you registered to vote by mail after January 1, 2003, and you did not submit a copy of the required identification with the registration application at that time, and you will be voting in a jurisdiction for the first time, then you will be required to submit a copy of one of the following:

• Current and valid photo identification
• Utility bill
• Government check
• Paycheck
• Government document

Illinois voters who vote during the early voting period must vote in person and must provide a valid identification. Valid forms of identification for this purpose include a current driver's license, state-issued identification card, or another government-issued identification card.

An election judge will issue you a provisional ballot at your polling place if… Click to learn more

An election judge will issue you a provisional ballot at your polling place if:

• Your name does not appear on the lists of registered voters for the precinct
• Your voting status has been challenged by an election judge, poll watcher or another voter and a majority of election judges agree
• A court order is issued instructing your polling place to remain open after 7:00 pm (if this occurs everyone voting after 7:00 pm must cast a provisional ballot)
• You are required to show identification because you registered by mail, but you did not bring ID to the polling place on Election Day or early voting site. In this instance you must supply the election authority with a copy of acceptable identification by 7:00 pm the Thursday after Election Day.

By law, you must vote in your assigned precinct for all votes on your provisional ballot to count.

Provisional ballots are counted after Election Day. The election authority receives all provisional ballots and determines the registration status for each provisional voter within two weeks after the election. If it is determined that you are registered and eligible to vote, your vote will be counted. If you are not registered, your vote will not be counted, but the information you supplied on the affidavit form will serve as a registration application for the next election.

To find out if your vote was counted, please use your state's provisional ballot tool.