Illinois 2026 election voter guide: How to vote, key races and deadlines

How to vote

Early voting started Oct. 1 and kicked into high gear on Oct. 19 with the opening of early spots in all 50 wards.

Why it matters: You don't have to wait until Election Day on Nov. 3, but deadlines for registering, voting by mail and finding an early voting site are approaching.

🗳️ Vote now: Two downtown early voting locations are open at 137 S. State St. and the Board of Elections office at 69 W. Washington St. along with the 50 ward locations.

📬 Vote by mail: You have until Oct. 29 to request a ballot, but election officials are urging voters to request and return ballots early amid concerns about postal delays and changes to USPS postmark procedures.

• In Illinois, ballots must be postmarked by Election Day and received by Nov. 17.

✍️ Register: Online registration ends Oct. 18, but Illinois allows same-day registration and voting through Election Day.

🏫 On Election Day: Polls are open from 6am to 7pm Nov. 3.

More on election security

Governor's race

The race for the governor's mansion is in its final month, and Democrats and Republicans are ramping up their attacks.

Why it matters: Gov. JB Pritzker is seeking a third term that would further cement Democratic control in Springfield, while Republican Darren Bailey is promising a sharp change in direction.

Context: Pritzker and Bailey are facing off for the second time. Pritzker defeated Bailey by nearly 13 percentage points in 2022.

• Independent Collin Corbett is also on the Nov. 3 ballot.

What are the issues?

U.S. Senate

For the first time in 30 years, Illinois will not have a U.S. senator named Durbin.

Why it matters: The midterm election will determine control of the Senate, where Republicans hold a 53-47 majority.

The big picture: Sen. Dick Durbin is retiring after three decades in the Senate, paving the way for a new face to join Sen. Tammy Duckworth in Washington.

Zoom in: Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton (D) is facing former Illinois GOP chairman Don Tracy (R).

• Independent Whitfield Harrington Jr. is also on the ballot.

Meet the candidates

Illinois congressional races

All 17 of Illinois' congressional districts are on the ballot Nov. 3, with voters choosing who will represent them in the U.S. House for the next two years.

Why it matters: The races will help determine which party controls the House when the new Congress convenes in January.

Here's who's running:

1st: Jonathan Jackson (D-incumbent) vs. Christian Maxwell (R)

2nd: Donna Miller (D) vs. Michael Noack (R)

3rd: Delia Ramirez (D-incumbent) vs. Angel Oakley (R)

4th: Patty Garcia (D) vs. Lupe Castillo (R) vs. independent Chris Getty and Working Class Party candidate Ed Hershey

5th: Mike Quigley (D-incumbent) vs. Tommy Hanson (R)

6th: Sean Casten (D-incumbent) vs. Niki Conforti (R)

7th: La Shawn Ford (D) vs. Chad Koppie (R)

8th: Melissa Bean (D) vs. Jennifer Davis (R)

9th: Daniel Biss (D) vs. John Elleson (R)

10th: Brad Schneider (D-incumbent) vs. Carl Lambrecht (R)

11th: Bill Foster (D-incumbent) vs. Jeff Walter (R)

12th: Mike Bost (R-incumbent) vs. Julie Fortier (D)

13th: Nikki Budzinski (D-incumbent) vs. Jeff Wilson (R)

14th: Lauren Underwood (D-incumbent) vs. Jim Marter (R)

15th: Mary Miller (R-incumbent) vs. Jennifer Todd (D)

16th: Darin LaHood (R-incumbent) vs. Paul Nolley (D)

17th: Eric Sorensen (D-incumbent) vs. Dillan Vancil (R)

Statewide offices

Democrats hold all Illinois executive offices, and all but one race has an incumbent on the November ballot.

Attorney general

Former Chicago alderman Bob Fioretti is running as a Republican against Kwame Raoul, who is seeking his third term.

• Raoul has fought against President Trump's agenda, from the administration's attacks on transgender and voting rights to immigration enforcement.
• Fioretti says he's running to restore public trust and fight corruption.

Secretary of state

Incumbent Alexi Giannoulias faces Republican Joliet business owner Diane Harris.

Context: Giannoulias has focused on improving the DMV and fighting book bans, but Harris says the DMV still needs more work.

The intrigue: Giannoulias is also running a very active campaign for mayor, which recently sparked a lawsuit from one of his opponents in that race.

Comptroller

State Rep. Margaret Croke faces Republican attorney Bryan Drew to become the state's chief financial officer.

Context: Croke is backed by Illinois' Democrats, including money from Gov. JB Pritzker. Drew says this support will erode Croke's ability to hold state leaders accountable for financial decisions.

Treasurer

Incumbent Michael Frerichs faces Republican attorney Max Solomon to retain his seat as the state's chief investment and banking officer.

• While the office maintains the state's portfolio, it's also the keeper and distributor of unclaimed property.
• Frerichs even delivered $8.65 to Pope Leo this summer.

Chicago School Board election

Chicagoans will make history on Nov. 3 when they vote for the city's first fully elected school board.

Why it matters: After decades of the mayor controlling the board, Chicago voters will have a direct say in who governs the nation's third-largest school district, potentially leading to more independent policies.

The big picture: Chicagoans will vote for both the board president and a representative from one of the city's 20 school board subdistricts.

• The 21 winning candidates will start their unpaid jobs on the board in January 2027.

What's at stake

Illinois House and Senate races

All 118 seats in the Illinois House of Representatives are up for election Nov. 3. Representatives serve two-year terms.

Voters will elect state senators in 39 districts this November. The Illinois Senate has 59 members, who serve staggered two- and four-year terms.

Why it matters: State lawmakers make decisions on issues that affect Illinois residents, from school funding and public safety to taxes and housing.

For a list of all candidates, check out the Illinois Board of Elections site.