Voter Resources

A nonpartisan resource for election information in DuPage, Kane, Kendall, and Will Counties.

NEXT ELECTION: General Midterm Election (Tuesday, November 3, 2026)

By County

Register to Vote

You must register at least 28 days prior to an election in order to vote in that election. You can register online, by mail, or in person. Following the close of registration, Illinois allows for "Grace Period" registration and voting beginning the 27th day prior until the day before an election. Online registration is available through the 15th day prior to Election Day.

To Vote in Illinois:

  • You must be a United States citizen.
  • You must be 17 years old on or before the date of the Primary Election and turn 18 on or before the date of the General or Consolidated Election.
  • You must live in your election precinct at least 30 days prior to Election Day.
  • You must not be serving a sentence of confinement in any penal institution as a result of a conviction.
  • You may not claim the right to vote anywhere else.

At the library

Register to vote at the library through October 6! Select staff are trained deputy registrars. Stop by a service desk for more information. Dependent on staff availability.

   Check Your Voter Registration Status  

   Online Voter Registration Application  


Grace Period Voter Registration

People who do not register to vote by Tuesday, October 6, 2026 may use the grace period registration to register to vote. Starting October 7, you must also vote at the time of registration, and your options for where you register to vote may be more limited.

Consolidated Election Calendar

August 5: Vote by Mail - Application

First day for any registered voter within the confines of the United States to make application by mail or in person for an official vote by mail ballot.

September 24: Vote by Mail & Early Voting

First day for election authority to mail an official ballot to voters who have requested one.

First day for early voting at the office of the election authority and temporary locations designated by the election authority. 

October 6: Close of Registration

Last day for registration or transfer of registration within the offices of the election authority. 

October 7: Grace Period Registration and Voting

First day for grace period registration, voting or change of address in the office of the election authority or at a location designated for this purpose.

October 19: Early Voting - Permanent Polling Places

First day of early voting for counties that have early voting at permanent polling places other than the office of the election authority. 

October 29: Vote by Mail

Last day for the election authority to receive applications by mail for a vote by mail ballot from any registered voter within the confines of the United States.

November 2: Early Voting - Last Day

Last day for early voting at the office of the election authority or at a location designated by the election authority for this purpose. 

November 3: Election Day

Last day for grace period registration and voting in the office of the election authority or at a location designated for this purpose by the election authority. 

November 19: Counting - Last Day

Last day to count vote by mail & provisional ballots.

Voting

Write-In Candidates: Voters may only write-in candidates who have already filed a Declaration of Intent to be a Write-In Candidate 61 days prior to the election. Nonetheless, write-in candidate names will not appear on the ballot, only the option to write-in.

   Find Your Polling Place  

Vote By Mail

Voting by mail is an option for voters to cast their ballot prior to Election Day. Voters can request a vote by mail ballot through the mail or in person.

Who can vote by mail?
Any qualified elector of the State of Illinois who is properly registered to vote may apply for a vote by mail ballot.​​

For the 2026 General Primary Election:
Request a vote by mail ballot 12/17/25-3/12/26

For the 2026 General Midterm Election:

Request a vote by mail ballot 8/5/26-10/29/26. 

    Vote by Mail Ballot Drop Box Locations   


Voters with Disabilities

Voting must be accessible to people with disabilities.

Curbside Voting
Allows voters who are unable to enter a polling place to vote within 50 feet of the voting place. Election judges bring the ballot out to the voters and the voters cast their ballots. Contact your election authority at least one day before Election Day if you wish to use curbside voting. 

Voting Equipment
Polling places must provide accessible voting equipment, including non-visual systems for the blind and visually impaired, such as direct responding electronic (DRE) voting systems. These touchscreen machines can operate in audio mode and should be available in every polling place, with at least one election judge trained to assist with them. 

Political Parties

Resources

General Resources

ACLU: Know Your Rights: A non-partisan, non-profit organization dedicated to protecting the liberties guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution, the state Constitution, and state/federal human rights laws.

BallotReady: A nonpartisan site that allows you to build your ballot by diving into every candidate and referendum on your ballot, including candidate’s backgrounds, stances on issues, and experience. BallotReady lets you “explore your ballot, make informed choices, and vote!”

Ballotpedia: is the digital encyclopedia of American politics, and the nation’s resource for unbiased information on elections, politics, and policy.

BestColleges.com Student Voting Guide: A nonpartisan guide designed for college students. It includes a bipartisan key issues guide and voter registration information for each state.

Can I Vote: A nonpartisan website created by state election officials to help eligible voters figure out how and where to go vote.

Guides.Vote: produces nonpartisan voters guides that show where candidates stand. They’re produced by veteran journalists with links to credible sources.

ProCon.org: Pros and cons of current issues. Feeling overwhelmed by all the issues debated during election? Start here! ProCon.org is a nonprofit nonpartisan public charity that use professional researchers and rigorous editorial standards. 

Vote Smart: mission is to provide free, factual, unbiased information on candidates and elected officials to ALL Americans.

VOTE411: is committed to ensuring voters have the information they need to successfully participate in every election. Whether it's local, state or federal, every election is important to ensuring our laws and policies reflect the values and beliefs of our communities. Brought to you by The League of Women Voters Education Fund.    

Recursos para Votantes

Can I Vote en Español: Este sitio web no partidista fue creado por los funcionarios electorales para ayudar votantes elegibles obtener información sobre cómo y dónde votar.

La Comisión de Asistencia Electoral de los EE.UU.: La EAC es una comisión independiente bipartidista encargada del desarrollo de la orientación para cumplir con los requisitos de la HAVA, la adopción de directrices voluntarias del sistema de votación, y sirviendo como un repositorio nacional de intercambio de información sobre la administración electoral.

Leyes de votaciones y elecciones en EE. UU.: Entérese cómo los límites de contribuciones económicas a las campañas políticas, las reglas de accesibilidad y otras leyes electorales federales ayudan a proteger sus derechos como votante y el proceso electoral.

VOTE411 en Español: Lanzada por el Fondo de Educación de la Liga de Mujeres Votantes (LWVEF) en octubre de 2006, VOTE411.org es una "ventanilla única" para obtener información relacionada con las elecciones. Proporciona información no partidista al público con información general y específica sobre cada estado sobre los siguientes aspectos del proceso electoral.

Fact Checking

FactCheck.org: A nonpartisan, nonprofit “consumer advocate” for voters that aims to reduce the level of deception and confusion in U.S. politics. 

Newsguard: Browser extension that provides an easy way to evaluate websites. “Green-Red ratings compiled by a team of trained journalists signal if a website is trying to get it right, has a hidden agenda, or knowingly publishes falsehoods or propaganda.”

Politifact: A fact-checking website founded by editors of Time Magazine and in conjunction with Congressional Quarterly.

Government Sites

Illinois State Board of Elections: A quick and easy way to find candidate filings, general election information, and to verify if you are registered to vote in Illinois.

Federal Voting Assistance Program: Federal voting assistance for service members, their families, and overseas citizens. Provides access to election officials and voting assistance officers to help navigate the absentee voting process.

Presidential Election Process: Learn about the Presidential election process, including the Electoral College, caucuses and primaries, and the national conventions.

The Federal Government has developed a glossary of common terms used during election seasons. Perfect for new voters.

Campaign Finance

Federal Election Commission: Official United States Government website that tracks campaign finance and donations.

Illinois Sunshine: A tool for browsing political contributions in the state of Illinois.

News Coverage of Election

Chicago Sun-Times: Political coverage of Chicago and Illinois elections.

Chicago Tribune: Includes an election voter guide, news, opinion, fact checking, and details on how to vote in Illinois.

Daily Herald: Election coverage, including endorsements for local and statewide races.

National Public Radio (NPR): National news coverage of the election.

PBS News Hour: National news coverage of the election.

WTTW News: Political coverage of the Chicago area and Illinois as well as national election news.

This page is compiled and maintained by librarians at the Aurora Public Library District. Links to political parties and/or campaign websites are for informational purposes only and do not in any way constitute an endorsement.