Voter turnout by the numbers

There are currently 8,301,450 registered voters in Illinois (a new record), and 2,350,707 have been sent been sent vote by mail ballots.

As of Thursday, October 29, 1,397,832 mail-in ballots had been returned and 1,360,943 voters had voted in person, for a total of 2,758,775 total votes cast.

By comparison, in the 2016 general election there were 8,029,847 registered voters and a total of 5,666,118 votes cast, meaning 70.56% voted. 

Get the latest counts from the Illinois State Board of Elections.
Already voted? Help everyone else vote too! Encourage your friends and family to make it to the polls. Be their go-to resource for answers to voting questions.
The Illinois Voter Guide has everything you need
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Register in person and vote immediately at your polling place

You can register in person at your polling place. You will need two forms of ID, one of which shows your current address.

Acceptable Forms of ID
  • Passport or Military ID
  • Driver's License or State ID card
  • College/University/School/Work ID
  • Vehicle registration card
  • Lease, mortgage or deed to home
  • Credit or debit card
  • Social Security, Medicare or Medicaid card
  • Insurance card
  • Civic, union or professional membership card
  • LINK/Public Aid/Department of Human Services card
  • Illinois FOID card

Examples of first-class mail addressed to voter that can be used as ID:
  • Bill, Transcript or Report Card from School
  • Bank Statement, Pay Stub or Pension Statement
  • Utility, Medical or Insurance Bill
  • Official mail from any government agency

If you cannot present ID, you may cast a provisional ballot. In order for that provisional ballot to be counted, you must present ID within seven days of the election to your election authority.
November 3 is the last day to vote

On November 3, it is advisable to vote early in the day. Any voter who is in line before the polls close at 7:00 pm must be allowed to vote.
If your right to vote is challenged for any reason, you are entitled to a provisional ballot. A provisional ballot allows you to vote on Election Day, and a poll worker will explain the steps you need to take after that to make sure your ballot is counted.

If you face any problems when voting, call 866-OUR-VOTE (866-687-8683). This number is staffed 365 days a year by the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law. Additionally, there are lines for those speaking other languages:

Find a secure drop box for your mail in ballot

It is not recommended to put vote by mail ballots in the mail at this late date—better to put them in a secure drop box. Find a drop box near you.
Changed your mind about voting by mail?

No problem—vote in person instead. Bring your mail-in ballot and envelope with you to an early voting site or your polling place on Election Day. You simply need to turn it in to an election judge and then you will be given a regular ballot so you can vote in person. 
 
If you forget to bring your mail-in ballot, you can still vote, though you may have to vote a provisional ballot. Your vote will be counted as soon as it is determined that you did not vote by mail. Make sure a poll worker tells you if there are additional steps you need to take.
Vote by mail ballot hasn't arrived?

If you applied for a vote by mail ballot but it hasn't arrived, you can vote in person on a provisional ballot. Your vote will be counted as soon as it is determined that you did not vote by mail. Make sure a poll worker tells you if there are additional steps you need to take.
At the top of the ballot, voters will find a proposed amendment to the Illinois constitution to grant the state the authority to use a graduated income tax. LWVIL is in support of a YES vote for this constitutional amendment. Learn more about the Fair Tax.
Lyft and Uber offer rides to the polls

Getting to the polls should not be a barrier to voting. Both Lyft and Uber are offering 50% off rides to the polls on Election Day.
Use social media to help get out the VOTE

Make sure to share LWVIL's posts on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter with YOUR social networks! Use your email lists too. Download these graphics and more from our website.
Democracy is worth waiting for
While election authorities around the state are prepared for record-breaking numbers of mail-in ballots, they caution that voters should not expect final election results when they wake up November 4.

Illinois is one of 22 states that will accept vote by mail ballots that are post-marked by Election Day but arrive afterward. In Illinois, mail-in ballots post-marked by November 3 and received by November 17 will be counted. Although some states will not even begin processing ballots until November 3, in Illinois ballots are processed as they arrive and are ready for counting when polls close at 7:00 Tuesday evening.

The country is in for a wait, due to the magnitude of mail-in ballots and the different ways states count them. For example, in Ohio, some results will be reported on Election night, but there will be no further reporting until results are certified, which will not be before November 13, and could be as late as November 28.

Election officials are working around the clock to count an unprecedented number of ballots, and they need time to make sure every vote is counted. Democracy is worth waiting for.
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The League of Women Voters of Illinois is nonpartisan and neither supports nor opposes candidates for elected office but does work to influence public policy on specific issues after member study and consensus.

The League of Women Voters Illinois Education Fund (LWVILEF) encourages the informed and active participation in government by providing civic education and voter services. Make a difference today for you and your community with a tax-deductible gift to support our work to defend democracy and empower voters.