Voting & Civil Rights

The General Election is coming up on Tuesday, November 5, 2024. Below are the most important things Illinois voters should know.

You don't need your ID to vote (but it could be helpful)

In Illinois, you do not need to show your ID at the polls if you are already registered to vote. A poll worker should not ask you for an ID except in a few specific situations. You may need an ID if:

• An Election Judge challenges your right to vote
• You registered to vote by mail but did not provide an ID
• You are registering to vote or updating your address on the same day that you are voting

If you are registering to vote for the first time on Election Day, you will need to show two forms of ID. Find more information on registering to vote on Election Day on the Illinois State Board of Elections website.

If you are not allowed to vote because you do not have an ID when you need one, you can still cast a provisional ballot. The poll worker should give you instructions on what you need to do to make sure your ballot is counted.

It's not too late to register!

In Illinois, you can register to vote and then cast your ballot on Election Day. This is called same-day registration. Each county is required to have at least one location where you can register to vote on Election Day. Check with your local election authority to find out which locations offer same-day registration.

Just remember, if you plan to register to vote on Election Day, you will need two forms of ID. Examples of valid ID include:

• Driver's license
• Passport A document that lets a person travel outside the country
• Social security card
• Public aid ID card (Link card)
• Utility bill
• Employee or Student ID card
• Credit card
• Mail sent to you at your address and postmarked in the last 30 days

You don't have to wait for Election Day to vote

Not everyone can visit their polling place between 6:00am and 7:00 pm on Election Day, Tuesday, November 5th. The good news is you don't have to wait for Election Day! You can vote early by using one of two methods: early voting or mail-in (absentee) voting.

Early voting is available at designated sites that open 40 days before Election Day and close the day before Election Day (Monday, November 4, 2024).

If you want to vote by mail, you need to request and vote with an absentee ballot. If you decide later that you want to vote in person instead, you can still do that! Just bring the absentee ballot to your polling place and have a poll worker mark it as void.

You are entitled to time off from work and school to vote

Voters are encouraged to vote during times that do not interfere with their work hours. If you can't avoid a work conflict, you are allowed to take up to 2 hours off to vote. Make sure to notify your employer before Election Day if you will need time off to vote. You cannot be penalized for taking this time off, and you should be paid for it.

Schools must observe Election Day. Most students and teachers will have the day off to vote. If you do not get the day off, you should still be allowed to take up to 2 hours off from school to vote. You can use this time anytime within 15 days before the election, either through early voting or on Election Day.

You just need to be in line by 7pm

In Illinois, polling places are open from 6:00am to 7:00pm. If you are in line by 7:00pm on Election Day, you can still vote even after the polls close.

Poll workers are not always right!

Sometimes, poll workers (Election Judges) can make mistakes because of tech issues, lack of training, or simple human error. In the past, voters have experienced all kinds of problems with poll workers. It is important to know your rights and speak up if you think a poll worker has violated your rights on Election Day.

If you are still in line when the polls close at 7:00pm on Election Day, stay in line–you still have the right to vote. If you make a mistake on your ballot, you are entitled to a new one. If the voting machines are down at your polling place, you have the right to a paper ballot. Poll workers should also help you if you need language assistance or disability A substantial impairment that functionally limits a person in carrying out major life activities, such as walking, lifting, seeing, or learning. access. Make sure to ask poll workers for this help if you need it.

If you run into any problems on Election Day or believe your rights have been violated contract the Election Protection Hotline: 1-866-OUR-VOTE / 1-866-687-8683.

People with criminal records can vote

In Illinois, if you are a U.S. citizen over 18 and have lived in Illinois for at least 30 days by Election Day, you can vote, even if you have a criminal record. As long as you have finished your sentence and are not currently in the custody of the Illinois Department of Corrections (IDOC), you are eligible to vote.

When you are released from prison, you need to re-register to vote, even if you were registered before your conviction When someone is declared guilty of a crime by a court . Learn how to register to vote.