Chicago opens early voting in all 50 wards ahead of Nov. 3 election

Early voting expanded to all 50 Chicago wards on Monday, Oct. 19, giving residents more places to cast a ballot before Illinois’ Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026, election. Chicago voters may choose any early voting location within the city rather than voting only in the ward where they live.

That citywide access gives residents flexibility to select a voting location that fits their daily routine. The expansion comes about two weeks before Election Day, with federal, state and Chicago school board offices among the choices facing voters.

The Chicago Board of Elections described this election as the transition to a fully elected Board of Education, including its president and members. Other contests include U.S. Senate and House seats, governor and lieutenant governor, attorney general, secretary of state, comptroller, treasurer and state legislative seats. Voters will also decide referenda.

For Chicago residents voting by mail, Soldier Field offers a ballot drop box. Mail ballots can also be delivered to designated drop boxes at polling locations, providing an alternative to returning them through the postal service. Voters can consult the Illinois State Board of Elections website for additional information about mail voting and polling places.

Separately, suburban Cook County increased its early voting network from six locations to 56. Suburban Cook County voters can use any suburban early voting site, and registration is available at all of those locations. Photo identification is not required for voting, according to the supplied guidance, though it may help resolve questions about a voter’s registration, address or signature.

Cook County Clerk Monica Gordon said Sunday that her office had received more than 200,000 mail ballot requests. The clerk’s Election Lens system is adding U.S. Postal Service scan information to help staff follow ballots from printing through their return and see how long they spend at each stage. The change adds tracking detail as voters choose between early in-person voting and returning a mail ballot.