Illinois' Election Day is today. Here's what voters need to know

After a long campaign season, today is Election Day. Now, voters will decide who leads Illinois for the next four years and who will represent them at the federal, state and local levels.

Here are things to know on Election Day:

What time do polls open in Illinois?

Polls open at 6 a.m. at the county's polling places. Polls close at 7 p.m., but those in line prior to then will get the opportunity to cast their ballots.

Can I still register to vote in Illinois?

Early registration has ended, but people can register to vote at their polling places. In what is called "grace period registration," people can sign up to vote and then cast a ballot. That ballot would count just the same as if the voter were already registered.

Those looking to register must bring at least two forms of identification to their polling place, one of which has a home address.

Illinois live election updates:What you need to know before heading to the polls in Springfield

Is there still time to vote by mail in Illinois? Where can ballots be dropped off?

Voters can still mail their ballots and they must be postmarked by Election Day. Ballots have to be received by the clerk's office by Nov. 22.

Voters can drop off ballots at the boxes at the Sangamon County Complex or the Sangamon County Juvenile/Regional Office of Education on Dirksen Parkway. Ballots also can be brought to the clerk's office.

Those bringing in ballots for someone else must sign a ballot return affidavit prior to doing so.

When do Illinois election results start to come in?

After the polls close at 7 p.m., results should begin to come in on all races. Because Illinois has more liberal election laws than other states, it could take at least two weeks for any close races to be called. Nov. 22 is the date all absentee ballots must arrive by at election offices.

There's a lot of races. How do I know which ones are on my ballot? Check your sample ballot

Voters can check who's on their ballot by logging onto the Sangamon County clerk's website and clicking "Where do I vote/View a sample ballot" on the home page.

What's on the Illinois 2022 election ballot?

The big races at the top of the ticket are the state offices with governor, secretary of state, treasurer, attorney general and comptroller all being decided.

Governor: Incumbent Democratic Gov. JB Pritzker faces Republican state Sen. Darren Bailey, R-Xenia.

Illinois elections 2022:Where Democratic Gov. JB Pritzker stands on abortion, cash bail ahead of Illinois election

Illinois governor race:Where Illinois GOP governor candidate Darren Bailey stands on abortion & cash bail

Secretary of state: After nearly 25 years in office, incumbent Democrat Jesse White is retiring. Former Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias is carrying the Democratic banner this time around, with state Rep. Dan Brady, R-Bloomington, running for the GOP.

2022 elections:Illinois Secretary of State: Candidates want to cut wait times, modernize offices

Attorney general: Incumbent Democrat Kwame Raoul faces challenger Thomas DeVore, famous for his series of lawsuits against the state regarding COVID-19 restrictions.

Elections in Illinois:Where Illinois attorney general stands on SAFE-T Act and COVID-19 restrictions

Midterm elections:He is the GOP nominee for Illinois attorney general. Where he stands on SAFE-T Act, crime

Treasurer: Incumbent Democrat Mike Frerichs is seeking a third term against state Rep. Tom Demmer, R-Dixon.

Illinois treasurer:Candidates differ on role of treasurer, amount of campaign money

Comptroller: Incumbent Democrat Susana Mendoza is seeing another term. She's opposed by Republican challenger Shannon Teresi, the former McHenry County auditor.

Illinois state comptroller:Money among differences between Mendoza and Teresi

Also, the ballot is topped by Amendment 1, which would establish the right for employees to collectively bargain with management and prevent the legislature from passing any laws that would restrict labor rights.

Top of the Illinois ballot:What to know about the Workers' Rights Amendment

At the federal level, incumbent Democratic U.S. Sen. Tammy Duckworth is facing challenger Republican Kathy Salvi in her bid for another term.

2022 midterm election:Tammy Duckworth's war chest dwarfs rivals in US Senate campaign

For the U.S. House of Representatives, two area races are unfolding.

13th Congressional District: Former OMB Chief of Staff Nikki Budzinski, a Democrat, is in a battle with Republican Regan Deering for the seat.

2022 elections:Where Nikki Budzinski, 13th congressional district candidate, stands on ag, climate, costs

Illinois elections:Where Regan Deering, 13th congressional district candidate, stands on rising prices, voting, border

15th Congressional District: Democratic challenger Paul Lange is challenging incumbent Rep. Mary Miller, R-Oakland.

U.S. Congress:Trump-backed Miller, off hotly-contested primary, takes on Lange for 15th District seat

While the composition of the state Senate and state House aren't likely to change too much, there is a chance Republicans could cut into Democratic supermajorities. Here are some local races:

48th Senate District: Incumbent Sen. Doris Turner, D-Springfield is running against state Rep. Sandy Hamilton, R-Springfield. Both have spent thousands covering the airwaves with tough ads attacking each other on issues relating to corruption and abortion.

Incumbent Republican Sens. Steve McClure, R-Springfield and Sally Turner, R-Lincoln, are each running unopposed in the 54th and 44th districts, respectively.

Illinois State Senate:The Illinois 48th District Senate race gets heated as candidates lob attack advertising

96th House District: The only competitive House race in the area, incumbent Rep. Sue Scherer, D-Decatur, has been challenged by Republican Lisa Smith of Mount Auburn, a pediatric nurse.

Incumbent Republican Reps. Tim Butler, R-Springfield, and C.D. Davidsmeyer, R-Jacksonville, are running unopposed in the 95th and 100th districts, respectively. Bill Hauter, a Tazewell County-based nurse practicioner and former Rep. Wayne Rosenthal, R-Morrisonville, are also running unopposed in the 87th and 108th districts.

Illinois election 2022:Where the 96th House district candidates stand on abortion, crime

At the county level, the race for treasurer is the only contested one on the ballot, with incumbent Republican Joe Aiello facing a challenge from Democrat Daniel Pittman, a former Marine.

Sangamon County election:Incumbent Joe Aiello faces newcomer Daniel Pittman in race for treasurer

The offices of county clerk and sheriff are each on the ballot this year, with both incumbents – Republicans Don Gray and Jack Campbell – running unopposed.

The county board will have all 29 districts on the ballot this year, with 10 having contested races. Those districts are as follows:

District 10: Republican Paul Truax tries seeks a full term against Democrat Chrisandra Brown in a district on the north side of Springfield.

Sangamon County board:Truax faces Brown in north-end fight for full term on county board

District 12: Longtime Republican incumbent Linda Fulgenzi faces Democratic challenger Marc Ayers.

District 12 race:Incumbent Sangamon County board member Fulgenzi faces Ayers in District 12 race

District 13: Republican incumbent Brad Miller tries for a third term in this seat on the south side of Springfield against Democrat Mikaelah Curry.

District 13 race:Newcomer Curry, incumbent Miller square off in Sangamon County District 13 race

District 17: Republican incumbent Annette Fulgenzi tries for a third term in this north-side district against Democrat Aaron Tebrinke.

District 17 race:Newcomer challenges incumbent in District 17 county board race

District 19: Democratic incumbent Vera Small looks to retain this east-side district against Republican Alice Ramey.

District 19 race:Incumbent Small faces challenger Ramey in District 19 county board race

District 24: Board Chair Andy Van Meter faces a challenge from his next-door neighbor, Democrat Maureen Duffy Bommarito.

District 24 race:Incumbent county board chair Van Meter faces political newcomer Bommarito in District 24

District 25: Longtime Republican incumbent George Preckwinkle faces Democrat Krishna Brahmamdam.

District 25 race:Meet Krishna Mohan Brahmamdam, Sangamon County Board District 25 candidate

District 26: Republican incumbent John O'Neill tries to retain his Chatham-area seat against Democratic challenger Rusty Jones.

District 26 race:Rusty Jones and John O'Neill in matchup to represent Sangamon County District 26

District 27: Republican incumbent Abe Forsyth seeks to remain on the board for another term against Democratic challenger Jon Hackler.

District 29: Incumbent Republican Cathy Scaife faces Democratic challenger Kathy Johnson.

District 29 race:It's 'Kathy vs. Cathy' in race for District 29 seat on Sangamon County Board

Last, but not least, the Regional Office of Education #51 Superintendent office is on the ballot, with Republican incumbent Shannon Fehrholz going up against Democrat Jonnell Baskett, a former District 186 teacher and principal.

This article originally appeared on State Journal-Register: Illinois elections 2022: Everything to know on Election Day