Camilla Forte/Borderless Magazine/Catchlight Local/Report for AmericaHere’s what Illinois voters and non-English speakers need to know when casting their ballot in Illinois on March 17.
The primary election is on March 17.
Each year, tens of thousands more immigrants become U.S. citizens in Illinois, making them newly eligible to vote.
Whether you’re a first-time or seasoned voter, Borderless has compiled this guide to break down how to register to vote, where to find your nearest voting site and what help is available for non-English speakers as you cast your vote.
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When do polls open on primary day?
On March 17, polls will be open from 6:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., but you may cast your ballot before at early voting sites. Early voting started in February and continues through primary day.
Who can vote in the Illinois primary?
Registered voters may vote in the Illinois primary election. To become a registered voter, you must:
- be a U.S. citizen,
- be 17 years old on or before the date of the primary election, March 17, and turn 18 on or before the general election, Nov. 11, 2026;
- live in your precinct at least 30 days before the election and not claim the right to vote elsewhere;
- And not be in prison or jail serving time for a conviction. However, if you were recently released from prison or jail or are on parole or probation and meet the requirements listed above, you are eligible to register and vote in Illinois.
Note: If you are 16 years old, you may pre-register to vote online through the Illinois State Board of Elections website. Your application will be held in abeyance until you reach voting age.
Can I register to vote on primary day?
Same-day voting registration is available in person at all early voting sites, including on primary day, through grace period registration. You can find early voting and grace period registration locations here.
Feb. 18 was the first day of the grace period registration and extends until the day of the election on March 17.
You will need two forms of ID to register, with at least one showing your current address. A full list of acceptable forms of ID can be found here.
You can verify that your voter registration, including your current address, is correct on the Illinois State Board of Elections website.
March 1 was the last day to register to vote online, and March 12 was the last day to apply by mail. Online voter registration for the general election in November will reopen on March 19, 2026.
What are we voting for in the Illinois primary?
In this Illinois primary election, voters will be choosing which candidates from each party — Democratic and Republican — will advance to the general election on Nov. 3, 2026. The ballot will include races for the next governor, a U.S. Senate seat, U.S. House seats, the Illinois General Assembly seats, Cook County judges and Cook County Board president.
Ballotpedia has a comprehensive list of candidates and their stances. Injustice Watch has a comprehensive guide on the Cook County judicial races.
Do I need to bring my ID?
You are not required to provide a form of identification at the polls in Illinois and you will be required to verify your signature.
However, if you register to vote on the day you cast your vote, you must provide identification.
You are also required to present a form of ID if an election judge challenges your right to vote or you’re a first-time voter registered by mail that did not submit their driver’s license number, state ID number, last four digits of their social security number, or other form of ID before voting.
Voters are not required to be registered with a particular party, but must decide which party ballot to fill out at the voting site.
In-person requests for absentee ballots may be made through March 16.
The deadline to return absentee ballots postmarked on or before primary day is March 31.
How do I find my nearest polling place?
You can locate your closest voting center or polling place using the Illinois State Board of Elections’ Localizador de colegios electorales. A polling place is a voting site for residents of a certain ZIP code, while voting centers serve a wide range of ZIP codes.
What help is available for non-English speakers?
Ballots are available in the following languages:
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Árabe
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Chinese with audio in Mandarin dialect
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Inglés
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Gujarati
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Hindi
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Coreano
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Polaco
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Russian
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español
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Tagalog
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Ucraniano
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Urdu
The Rizal Center compiled a list of voting sites with bilingual officials in Chicago.
You are allowed to bring written-on or printed materials like sample ballots into the voting booth to assist you.
What rights do voters with disabilities have?
By law, all aspects of voter registration must be accessible.
U.S. Vote Foundation’s Illinois Voters with Disabilities Guide lists more information on accessibility for voters with disabilities.
Aydali Campa es miembro de Report for America y cubre temas de justicia medioambiental y comunidades inmigrantes para Borderless Magazine. Envía un correo electrónico a Aydali a [email protected].
