Voters should not expect final election results when they wake up November 4.The unprecedented number of mail-in ballots being cast this election means the country will have to wait, as the timelines for ballot counting and certification vary greatly from state to state,

Although many things about this election look different—secure drop boxes, extended early voting hours and lines of masked voters—the way ballots are processed and votes are counted after the polls close looks no different than in other elections.

Mail-in ballots are processed as soon as they are received by the local election authority—signatures are checked against voter lists and ballots are separated from envelopes so voting remains private. This year, in addition to ballots delivered by the US Postal Service, election authorities received ballots from drop boxes, which were emptied at the end of every day of early voting. Early polling sites deliver their digital files of in-person votes to the local election authority at the end of each voting day as well.

What is strikingly different about this election is the sheer volume of votes being cast before election day. Nearly 1.8 million mail-in ballots have been cast, along with about the same number of early in person votes. More than 40% of Illinois' 8.3 million registered voters have already voted. Get the latest counts from the Illinois State Board of Elections.

After the polls close at 7:00 pm, all polling sites deliver their equipment to the election authorities and the counting of all ballots begins. Illinois law allows two weeks after the polls close for ballots to be counted and election results certified by each County Clerk. This year, certification is due November 17. Mail-in ballots postmarked by November 3 and received by November 17 will be counted.

Once election results are certified for the presidential election, each state will appoint electors to cast electoral ballots on December 14. The electoral college vote will be certified at a joint congressional session on January 5, 2021.

You will need to present two forms of ID, one showing your current address. If you do not have the correct forms of ID, you may cast a provisional ballot. You then have seven days to present the appropriate ID to your election authority.

NOTE: Drop boxes are not available at every polling place. Find a drop box near you.

Bring your mail-in ballot and envelope with you to your polling place, turn it in to an election judge and you can vote in person.  

Vote by mail ballot hasn't arrived?

Vote in person at your polling place 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.

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).

Additionally, there are lines for those speaking other languages:

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.