How to Register to Vote (in Illinois)
If you’re reading this, you (hopefully) know by now how important voting is, and you might even be counting down the days to head to your polling place. But before you can sport your shiny new “I voted” sticker, you need to be registered to vote.
Your voter registration is your ticket to voting in all kinds of elections, from federal, state, and local all the way to primary elections. Once you’re registered, you only have to update your registration if your address or name changes.
In Illinois, you have until 27 days before an election to register to vote. But even after that, you can register under the registration grace period (the 27 days before an election), you just need to do it in person.
So what’s it gonna take to get registered? Don’t worry, it’s a surprisingly easy process:
- To be eligible to vote in Illinois, you must be 18 or older and have lived here for at least 30 days
- You can register to vote online here — all you need is your Illinois driver’s license or state ID card and social security number.
- You can also register to vote in person. Every voter has a specific jurisdiction to visit to register in person, find yours here. You still need two forms of ID, but they can be any of the following:
- 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
- Postmarked mail from one of these categories can be used in conjunction with a current and valid photo 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
Think you’re registered but not sure? No problem! You can check your voter registration status here.
The next election is November 6th, so mark it on your calendar with your favorite emojis, get registered, and make your voice heard!
