How do you vote early in Illinois? Here are some answers to primary election questions

Kelsey Landis
·7 min read

Early voting begins Thursday in Illinois for the June 28 primary election.

Voters will cast their ballots to decide on nominees for governor, Congress, General Assembly, Attorney General, Secretary of State, judicial positions and county board ahead of the Nov. 8 General Election.

The last day for early voting is June 27.

Here are some things to know about voting early, voting by mail and registering to vote in Illinois.

How do I vote by mail?

Any registered voter in Illinois may vote by mail without an excuse.

To find a vote-by-mail application for your local county or election authority, visit the State Board of Elections portal at https://bit.ly/39u1ct4. Do not send your application to the State Board of Elections. It must go to your local election authority.

State law allows voters to apply for a mail-in ballot up to five days before an election, but the State Board of Elections recommends allowing more time. Voters may submit a vote by mail application until June 23, and members of the military may apply to vote by mail until June 20.

You may return your ballot by mail, deliver it in person to your local election authority and in some jurisdictions, drop it in a secure drop-box. The State Board of Elections has a portal to find drop-boxes statewide at https://bit.ly/37SX6u3.

If you mail your ballot, it must be postmarked by Election Day and received within 14 days after the election. If you deliver it in-person, it must be dropped off no later than Election Day.

How do I register to vote?

If you haven’t registered to vote, you may do so under the regular registration period until May 31. You must bring with you two forms of identification, and one must have your current name and address.

There are a number of ways to register to vote, including online using the State Board of Elections online portal at ova.elections.il.gov. Here are some other ways:

  • Mail an application to your county clerk with your driver’s license or state identification card number. If you don’t have either of those, submit the last four digits of your Social Security number and a copy of a current photo identification. If you don’t have a valid photo ID, a copy of a current utility bill, bank statement, paycheck, government check or other government document with your current name or address will work.

  • Visit your county clerk’s office in-person.

  • Other places that do voter registration include Board of Election Commissioners offices, village offices, township offices, schools, public libraries and military recruitment offices.

After May 31, there’s a grace period for voter registration from June 1-28. In grace period voting, you must visit your County Clerk’s office to register with valid identification and vote at the time of registration.

You may also check if you’re already registered to vote on the state elections board’s website at elections.il.gov.

Voting early in St. Clair County

You may vote from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday at the St. Clair County Clerk’s Office Election Department (2nd Floor 10 Public Square, Belleville). The courthouse will be closed on Memorial Day.

Other permanent voting sites include:

  • The Rec Complex, 9950 Bunkum Rd., Fairview Heights

  • O’Fallon Township Office, 801 East State St., O’Fallon

The dates for those sites — as well as at the Election Department in addition to its regular hours — are:

  • Weekdays June 13-17: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

  • Weekdays June 20-24: 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.

  • June 27: 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.

  • 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, June 18

  • 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, June 19

  • 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, June 25

  • 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, June 26

To apply to vote by mail electronically, visit www.stclaircountyil.gov/departments/county-clerk/elections/voter-resources. You may also print the form, fill it out and send it to St. Clair County Clerk, Election Department, 10 Public Square, Belleville, IL 62220. If you have questions about voting by mail, call 618-277‐6600, extension 2366.

St. Clair County has established a voter integrity hotline where voters may submit “report violations of the voting process in St. Clair County,” according to the clerk’s office.

You may send a complaint to voterintegrity@stclaircountyil.gov or send a letter to the St. Clair County Clerk’s Office, attention: Election Department, 10 Public Square, Belleville, IL 62220. You may also call the hotline at 618‐825‐2366. Correspondence will be shared with the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the St. Clair County State’s Attorney, the St. Clair County Sheriff and the County Clerk’s election department.

Madison County

Madison County will hold early voting at the following locations:

  • Edwardsville (County Clerk’s Office, 157 N. Main St., Room 109): 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. weekdays May 19 through June 10, except Memorial Day

  • Alton, Scott Bibb Center (1004 East 5th St.) and Granite City Township Building (2060 Delmar Ave., Office B): 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. June 13-17; 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, June 18; 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, June 19 and 26; 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. June 20-24 and 27; 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, June 25

  • Bethalto Village Hall Committee Room (213 N. Prairie St.), Godfrey Village Hall (6810 Godfrey Road) and Troy City Hall (116 E. Market St.): 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. June 13-17 and June 20-24

  • Collinsville Senior Citizen Center (420 E. Main St.), Highland, Weinheimer Community Center (1100 Main St.), Madison Fire Station (1800 3rd St.): Noon to 6 p.m. June 13-17 and June 20-24; 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, June 18; 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, June 25

  • Southern Illinois University Edwardsville (Morris University Center, Willow Room): Noon to 5 p.m. June 22-24

  • Wood River Township Office (41 S. 9th St., East Alton): 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. June 13-17 and June 20-24

You may apply to vote by mail in Madison County at https://bit.ly/3sIy87T.

Clinton County

The Clinton County Clerk’s Office (850 Fairfax St., Carlyle) will hold early voting from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on weekdays May 19 through June 27 and from 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday, June 25. The clerk’s office is closed on Memorial Day.

You can find a link to download the vote-by-mail application for Clinton County at www.clintonco.illinois.gov/county-offices/county-clerk/elections-voting.

Randolph County

Early voting will be available at the Randolph County Courthouse (1 Taylor St., Chester) from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on weekdays May 19 through June 27 and from 8 a.m. to noon Saturday, June 25. The courthouse is closed on Memorial Day.

Washington County

Early voting will be available at the Washington County Clerk’s Office (101 E. St. Louis St., Nashville) from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on weekdays May 19 through June 27 except for Memorial Day.

Monroe County

Early voting will be available at the Monroe County Clerk’s Office (100 S. Main St., Waterloo) from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on weekdays May 19 through 25 and from 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday, June 25. The office is closed on Memorial Day.

A vote-by-mail application for Monroe County is available online at www.mococlerk.com/elections.html.