Illinois Absentee Voter Guide

Military and overseas voters should check out the Overseas Vote Foundation.  Long Distance Voter's forms and deadlines should only be used by voters with US mailing addresses.

Warning: If you are registering for the first time in Illinois and you wish to vote by absentee ballot then you must include a copy of your ID with your voter registration application. If you do not include a copy of your ID, you'll have to vote in person the first time you vote.

Mail-In Deadlines

Voter Registration

To register to vote in Illinois you must:

• be a citizen of the United States
• be a resident of Illinois and of your election precinct at least 30 days before the next election
• be at least 18 years old on or before the next election
• not be in jail for a felony conviction
• not claim the right to vote anywhere else

How to register to vote:

• Recommended: Use our Voter Registration Widget. Enter your information, print and sign the completed form, and mail it to the address printed on the form.  
• Download the Illinois state registration form, print it, fill it out and mail it to your the County Election Authority.  This form is also available in Spanish.

ID requirements for first-time Illinois voters:

If you are a first-time Illinois voter and you register to vote by mail, you must include a copy of your ID.  If you forget, you'll have to vote in person the first time you vote (i.e. you will not be allowed to vote by absentee ballot).  Acceptable forms of ID are: a copy of a current and valid photo identification that shows your name OR a copy of a current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck or other government document that shows your name and address.

Voter registration verification:

You should receive written confirmation that your voter registration was processed in 2-3 weeks.  Don't panic if you never receive your voter registration card: you don't actually need it to vote.  If you not sure if your registration was processed - or if you simply can't remember if you're register to vote - you can use the voter registration verification tools here.

Absentee Voting

Good news! As of August 17, 2009, you no longer need an excuse to vote by absentee ballot. 

However: If you are a first-time voter in Illinois and you did not include a copy of your ID with your voter registration form, may not vote by absentee ballot.  You must vote in person and show your ID at the polls. 

How to apply for an absentee ballot:

The Illinois absentee ballot application is not available online.  Contact your County Election Authority and ask them to mail you one.  Illinois has strict time frames in which to request your absentee ballot application.  

• By Mail - Not more than 40 days nor less than 5 days prior to the election
• In Person - Not more than 40 days nor less than 1 day prior to the election.

Once you have obtained your absentee ballot application, fill it in and return it to your County Election Authority.  The application must include your name, home address, address where you want the ballot mailed, party affiliation for a primary election, and signature.

ID requirements for absentee voters:

You do not need to provide ID if you have already voted in Illinois at least once.  If you are a first-time Illinois voter and you did not include a copy of your ID with your voter registration form, you may not vote by absentee ballot.  You must vote in person and show your ID at the polls.

Emergency absentee ballots

If you are admitted to a health care facility (hospital, nursing home, or rehabilitation center) NOT MORE than five days before the election, you can apply for an emergency absentee ballot. The form is called the “Application for Ballot for Qualified Voter Admitted to Hospital, Nursing Home or Rehabilitation Center.”  You must contact your County Election Authority and request this form. 

You must complete the application and your physician must complete and sign the “Certificate of Attending Physician” section of the application.  After the form is completed and signed by you and your physician, a registered voter from your precinct or your relative can then hand deliver the application to your County Election Authority.  The county election authority will provide the absentee ballot to the person who delivered your application.  Once you receive the ballot, vote the ballot in secret and complete the certification on the absentee ballot return envelope.  Give your voted absentee ballot back to the person who delivered your application. This person must return your voted ballot to your County Election Authority.

Completing and returning your voted absentee ballot:

Your county election authority will process your application and mail you an absentee ballot.  Fill out your ballot in secret, insert the ballot into the provided envelope, and seal it.  Complete and sign the certification on the back and mail the completed absentee ballot to your County Election Authority.

Additional Information