Ready to vote? Here's what to know about casting a ballot this Election Day

It's almost time to vote in Tuesday's Consolidated Election featuring dozens of local government races across the Rockford area.

School board seats are up for grabs in Rockford, Harlem, Belvidere and Freeport school districts and many others.

Depending on where you live, you may be voting for city council or village board representation as well as park district and community college boards.

There are a handful of referendums on the ballot, too.

Here are some things to know before you head out to your polling place.

More: Voting early in Rockford-area April elections? Here's what you need to know

Am I registered?

You have to be registered to vote in Illinois. You can look up your voter registration record and verify that your information is correct using Illinois' voter registration lookup tool.

Can I still register to vote?

While the grace period to register to vote by mail or online has passed, there is a grace period to still register in person at your local elections office now through Election Day. Grace-period registration must be done at an election office, permanent polling place or other site approved by the Illinois State Board of Elections.

Who can register to vote?

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 serving a sentence of confinement for a criminal conviction (but you can vote if you have been charged but not convicted, have completed your sentence, or have been released on parole).

• Not claim the right to vote anywhere else.

Can I still vote by mail?

Yes. The deadline has passed for ballots to be mailed to you, but if you requested a ballot be sent to you in the mail for mail-in voting, you have until April 4 to put the ballot in the mail and return it to your local election office. Ballots must be postmarked by April 4 to be counted.

Where is my polling place?

If you do not know the location of your polling place, as long as you know your zip code and address, you can find it by visiting the Illinois State Board of Elections website or your local election office.

Do I need an ID to vote?

Illinois does not require residents to produce identification as most registered voters have already submitted their driver’s license number, state ID number and the last four digits of their social security number. First-time voters who registered by mail and did not submit their driver’s license and social security numbers are required to produce identification when voting.

First-time voters who do not have a state ID or driver’s license are permitted to produce an alternative form of identification such as a utility bill, government check, bank statement, residential lease, student ID, or government document.

What time do the polls open and close Tuesday?

All polls in Illinois open at 6 a.m. and close at 7 p.m.

What if I can't make it to my polling place on Tuesday?

In the City of Rockford, voters can cast ballots before Election Day from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday at the Rockford Board of Elections, 301 S. Sixth St.

If they cannot make it to their polling place or choose not to vote there, city voters also can vote at the Rockford Board of Elections office on Election Day.

In Winnebago County, voters can vote before Election Day from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday at the County Administration Building, 404 Elm St., Suite 104, Rockford.

In Boone County, early voting continues from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday at the Boone County Administration Building, 1212 Logan Ave.

In Stephenson County, early voting continues from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday at the Stephenson County Clerk and Recorder Office, 50 W. Douglas St. in Freeport.

How do I know if my vote was counted?

When you slide your ballot into the vote tabulating machine, and it is not returned to you, your vote has been counted.

If you voted by mail, you have the ability to verify that your ballot was received and counted by contacting your local election authority. To find your local election authority, visit the Illinois State Board of Elections website.

Still have questions?

In the city of Rockford, visit voterockfordil.gov or call 815-987-5750.

If you live in Winnebago County, visit: clerk.wincoil.gov/election-information or call 815-319-4252.

Boone County residents can visit: boonecountyil.gov/government/departments/clerk___recorder/voter_and_election_information.php or call 815-547-4770.

If you live in Stephenson County, visit: stephensoncountyil.gov/government/county_clerk_and_recorder/elections.php or call 815-235-8289.

This article originally appeared on Rockford Register Star: Ready to vote? What you need to know this Election Day