You have the full right to vote. Your path to citizenship may have been long and hard-earned — voting is one of the most powerful things you can do with it.

❋ If you have a past criminal record:

In Illinois, you can vote as long as you are not currently incarcerated for a felony conviction. If you have completed your sentence — including parole or probation — your right to vote is restored. You may need to re-register.

❋ Who cannot vote in Illinois state and federal elections?

Non-citizens cannot vote, regardless of immigration status — including lawful permanent residents (green card holders), visa holders, and DACA recipients. This is federal law. If you are unsure about your eligibility, please speak with a trusted legal services provider before registering.

We share this not to discourage anyone, but because accurate information protects our community.

If you are a non-citizen, one important and impactful things you can do to make your voice heard, is to encourage and help the people in your life who are citizens to register to vote, get educated on issues and candidates that represent their interests, create a voting plan, and get to the polls to ¡VOTA YA!

Illinois does not require you to show ID to vote in most cases.

The exception: if you are a first-time voter who registered by mail and did not provide identification information at the time of registration, you may be asked to show ID the first time you vote.

ID Requirements

❋ Illinois does not require you to show ID to vote.

Illinois driver's license or state ID
Military ID
Student ID from an Illinois college or university
Utility bill, bank statement, paycheck, government check, or other government document that shows your name and address

❋ Acceptable forms of ID if required:

A federal executive order sought to add a citizenship proof requirement for voter registration. As of April 2025, that order has been blocked by federal court. The information on this page reflects current Illinois law. We will update this section if anything changes.

❋ A note on federal ID requirements:

Language access

❋ You have the right to vote in your language.

Illinois law requires bilingual election materials and bilingual election judges in many jurisdictions across the state, including throughout the Chicago area.

You can request voting materials in Spanish or another language
You can bring a person of your choice to assist you in the voting booth — with one exception: your employer or union representative cannot assist you
If bilingual assistance is not available at your polling place, you can ask an election judge for help

❋ Your rights at the polls:

❋ If you are denied language assistance:

Do not leave without voting. Ask to speak with the chief election judge at your location. If the problem is not resolved, call the Election Protection Hotline: 1-866-OUR-VOTE (1-866-687-8683). They have Spanish-speaking staff available.

Voting Safely

❋ Your immigration status is not checked when you vote.

We know that fear is real in our community right now. We want you to have accurate information so that fear doesn't keep eligible voters away from the polls.

Illinois voter rolls are not shared with immigration enforcement
ICE does not have access to voter registration data
The Illinois TRUST Act limits how much local law enforcement can cooperate with federal immigration enforcement
Polling places are not ICE enforcement zones

❋ What you should know:

❋ If you are a naturalized citizen:

Voting is your right. It is protected by law. No one can take it from you for exercising it.

The best thing you can do right now is make sure the eligible voters in your family and community are registered and ready. Your voice matters too — through them, and through advocacy, organizing, and civic participation in other forms.

❋ If you are not yet eligible to vote:

If you’re challenged at the polls

❋ If you are a citizen, you have the right to vote. Do not leave without casting a ballot.

If an election judge or another person questions your eligibility at the polls, you have the right to cast a provisional ballot. A provisional ballot ensures your vote is recorded while your eligibility is verified.

❋ Know your rights:

Election judges cannot demand proof of citizenship at the polls
ICE cannot operate at or near polling places on Election Day
No one can remove you from a polling place without cause

❋ If any of the following happen, call for help immediately:

You are told you cannot vote and don't know why
Someone asks you about your immigration status
You feel intimidated or threatened

Call the Election Protection Hotline: 1-866-OUR-VOTE (1-866-687-8683)
Available in English and Spanish on Election Day and during early voting.

Important voting Dealines

Registering to Vote

Date	Deadline
Oct 6, 2026	Last day for paper (mail-in) voter registration — must be received by this date
Oct 7, 2026	First day of grace period registration — register in person at your local election authority or early voting site through Election Day
Oct 18, 2026	Last day for online voter registration — closes at 11:59 PM
Nov 3, 2026	Same-day registration available at your polling place on Election Day

Early Voting

Date	Deadline
Sep 24, 2026	First day of early voting — no excuse needed, vote at any early voting site
Nov 3, 2026	Last day of early voting (Election Day)

Voting by Mail

Date	Deadline
Aug 5, 2026	First day to request a vote-by-mail ballot
Sep 24, 2026	First day ballots are mailed to applicants
Oct 29, 2026	Last day election authority must receive your mail-in ballot request
Nov 2, 2026	Last day to request an absentee ballot in person
Nov 3, 2026	Voted mail-in ballots must be postmarked by Election Day
Nov 17, 2026	Last day a postmarked (by Nov. 3) mail-in ballot can be received and still counted

Election Day

Date	Info
Nov 3, 2026	Election Day — polls open 6:00 AM to 7:00 PM. (If you are in line at 7:00 PM, you have the right to stay and vote.)

Know your rights

❋

Who can vote?

ID Requirements

Language access

Voting Safely

If you’re challenged at the polls

Important voting Dealines

¡Vota Ya!