Chicago Board of Elections

The following information is from the Chicago Board of Elections website, http://www.chicagoelections.com/en/key-dates-and-fast-facts.html

Registered to Vote?

Check your registration status
Register to vote online using an IL driver’s license or state ID through 11:59 pm on Sun., Oct. 23
Registering to vote in person: Oct. 12 – Nov. 8

Grace Period (In-Person) Voter Registration: Oct. 12 – Nov. 8 – Learn more
 – For those who miss the Oct. 11 deadline to register by mail or the Oct. 23 deadline to register online.
– Voters must come in person and need at least two forms of identification, at least one of which shows the address of their new/updated registration.
– Open to those who need to change address or name.
– If you need to register or update your registration on Election Day, you must register at your home precinct for your ballot to count. Click here and enter your address to find your Election Day precinct and polling place.
– Full schedule of locations, dates and hours
– When registering, “grace period” participants vote during that visit. 

Early Voting In-Person Before Election Day: Sept. 29 – Nov. 7 – Learn more

– Voters registered in Chicago may use any Early Voting site in the City.
– Sept. 29 – Oct. 23: Early Voting only at 69 W. Washington, Lower Level
– Oct. 24 – Nov. 5 – All 51 sites open Mon-Sat, 9 am – 5 pm.
– Certain sites will have Sunday hours on Oct. 30 and Nov. 6.
– Certain sites will be open through 7 p.m. from Oct. 31 – Nov. 4.
– Certain sites will be open 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Mon., Nov. 7.
– Government photo ID is encouraged in the event there is a question about your registration. 

Vote by Mail – Apply online for your Vote By Mail ballot
No excuse is needed. All Illinois voters are eligible to Vote By Mail.
 – Oct. 11 – Last day for unregistered civilians temporarily living overseas to have their voter registrations/Vote By Mail applications received by the Election Board. Fax and email applications are accepted.
– Oct. 31 – Last day for civilians permanently residing overseas and military personnel/families to have their voter registrations/Vote By Mail applications received by the Election Board. Fax and email applications are accepted.
 – Nov. 3 – Deadline for all other Vote By Mail applications from civilians inside the United States to be received by Election Board. Chicago voters may apply online. Or, original hard-copy applications must be submitted in person, by mail or by certified courier. By law, we cannot accept email or fax applications from civilians inside the United States.
PLEASE NOTE: Although these are the legal deadlines to apply, the Board strongly encourages filing applications to Vote By Mail by mid-October to avoid any delay in receiving your ballot, and so that you have time to return your Vote By Mail ballot with a postmark on or before Nov. 8.
 – Nov. 4-7 – Missed a deadline? In-person voting at the Election Board, 69 W. Washington St., Lower Level.
 – Nov. 8 – Last day for postmark on the envelope to return Vote By Mail ballot.
 – Nov. 8 – If a voter decides not to return the Vote By Mail ballot by Election Day, the voter may submit the unused Vote By Mail ballot to the judges at the precinct and polling place for that voter’s home address, and then cast a ballot in person. If the Vote By Mail ballot was lost or did not arrive, the voter may sign a “cancellation of Vote By Mail ballot affidavit” and cast a provisional ballot, also at the precinct and polling place for that voter’s home address.
 – Nov. 22 – Last day that a mailed Vote By Mail ballot (postmarked or certified Nov. 8 or earlier) may arrive at the Election Board to be included in the count. 

ELECTION DAY: TUES., NOV. 8, 2016 – Learn more
On Election Day, a voter may cast a ballot only at the polling place assigned to that voter’s registration precinct. Hours are 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. Find your polling place here.

Click here for a complete list of polling places.

You can also go to the Chicago Board of Elections website to learn more about actively participating in the election as follows:

• Judges of Election: About Serving as a JudgeThis is a paid position.
• Judges of Election: About Serving as an Election CoordinatorThis is a paid position.
• Deputy Voter Registrars: About Serving as a Deputy Voter Registrar
• Serving as a Poll Watcher for a Campaign or Political Party

The Board of Election Commissioners for the City of Chicago is proud to lead the United States in hiring and training high school and college students to serve as judges and many college-age students to provide technical support. Each citywide election in Chicago over the last decade has been administered with the help of 4,000 student judges. Click here for general information on Student Judges of Election and applying to serve.