Chicago voting guide: Key dates and locations for the Nov. 3 general election

Chicago residents have several ways to cast a ballot in the Nov. 3, 2026, general election, including early voting, voting by mail and voting on Election Day. Two downtown early voting locations open Oct. 1: the supersite at 137 S. State St. and the Chicago Board of Elections office at 69 W. Washington St., on the sixth floor. Early voting expands to sites in all 50 wards on Oct. 19.

The election includes an important milestone for Chicago Public Schools: city voters will elect the entire Board of Education for the first time. The ballot includes all 20 board seats and the board presidency. Candidates for president are attorney Victor Henderson, former CPS principal Jessica Biggs and former Chicago Teachers Union deputy political director Hilario Dominguez. Registering at a current address helps ensure voters receive the correct ballot for their local school board contests.

Other offices on the ballot include U.S. Senate and House, Illinois governor, attorney general, comptroller, treasurer and secretary of state. Voters will also choose members of the Illinois General Assembly and fill Cook County offices, including county board president and county commissioner seats. Together, those contests give Chicago residents a role in choosing representatives at the local, state and federal levels.

Eligible voters must be U.S. citizens, be at least 18 by the general election and have lived in their Illinois precinct for at least 30 days. Residents can check their registration through the Illinois State Board of Elections or Chicago Board of Elections websites. Online registration closes Oct. 18. Registration is also available through local government offices and when applying for or renewing a driver's license or state ID.

The grace period for in-person registration and voting begins Oct. 7 and continues through Election Day at election authority and early voting sites. Illinois also permits same-day registration. People registering in person should bring at least two identification or residency documents, with at least one showing their current address. Examples listed in the voting guidance include a passport, driver's license, lease or mortgage.

For voters choosing a mail ballot, the application deadline is 5 p.m. Oct. 29 through their local election authority. Completed ballots must be postmarked or placed in a ballot drop box by Nov. 3 to count. Residents may also join the permanent vote-by-mail roster to receive mail ballots automatically for future elections.

Election Day polling hours are 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Nov. 3. With downtown voting beginning before the ward locations open, residents can choose the option that best fits their schedule while keeping the registration and mail-ballot deadlines in mind.