Illinois

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Illinois does not require ID to vote. You must verify your identity when you register to vote.

1 Voter Registration

Illinois Voter Eligibility Requirements

You must register before you can vote in Illinois.

You are eligible to vote in Illinois if you meet all of the following requirements:

  • You are a citizen of the United States.
  • You a resident of Illinois.
  • You are at least 18 years of age on Election Day.

Illinois Voter Registration ID Requirements

To register to vote:

  • You must provide your driver’s license number or state ID card number if you have one.
  • If you do not have either of these IDs, you can use the last 4 digits of your Social Security number (SSN).
  • If you do not have a Social Security number, then leave that space blank on your registration form.

If you don’t provide any of these numbers or the state can’t match the number you provide to official records, you will have to show an accepted form of ID the first time you vote.

You can use one of the following:

  • Unexpired photo ID (driver’s license, state ID card, passport, etc.)
  • Current utility bill, bank statement, or government document

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I register and vote on the same day in Illinois?

Yes, Illinois has same-day voter registration. Same-day registration allows you to register and vote in person on the same day. You can also use it to update your voter registration information.

The online deadline to register to vote in Illinois is 16 days before Election Day. The mail deadline is 28 days before Election Day.

If these registration deadlines have passed, same-day registration (called “grace period registration” is available in Illinois during early voting and on Election Day.

You must provide two forms of ID when you register to vote. One of them needs to show your current address.

Common examples include:

  • Driver’s license
  • State ID card
  • Last four digits of your Social Security number
  • Student ID
  • Utility bill, bank statement, paycheck or government check, or other government document
  • Residential lease or rental contract
  • Postmarked mail delivered to current address
Can I register to vote in Illinois if I have been convicted of a crime?

Each state has its own laws about whether citizens with previous criminal convictions can vote.

To check your eligibility to register to vote in Illinois use Restore Your Vote.

You can also learn more by reading this blog post: Can People Convicted of a Felony Vote in the United States?

Can I register to vote in Illinois if I attend college in Illinois?
College students are allowed to vote using their Illinois school residence address. You can decide if you prefer to register in your home state or in Illinois if you attend school there. You may only be registered and vote in one location.