Since taking office, the Trump administration has attempted to assert federal executive control over our nation’s elections. This has led my office, in partnership with other state attorneys general across the country, to file lawsuits challenging the administration’s unlawful actions and has generated news headlines that range from confusing to alarming.
No doubt many Illinoisans are experiencing uncertainty and possibly even apprehension around casting their votes in the general election. However, I encourage you to tune out the noise, and if you have not already, make your plan to vote today.
Here’s what you need to know.
The Constitution gives states the responsibility of administering elections. Voters can have confidence that our elections are safe and secure and can rest assured that in Illinois, we are focused on facilitating, not limiting, your access to the ballot box. Illinoisans have several options to cast votes, including by mail, in-person early voting and going to the polls on Election Day.
A recent U.S. Supreme Court decision secured by my office and other state attorneys general ensures that voting-by-mail operations will proceed as usual, without any federal restrictions.
The last day to request a mail-in ballot is Thursday. Illinois voters can vote by mail for any reason, and you can request a mail-in ballot through your local election authority. You can look up your local election authority using the Illinois State Board of Elections website.
Ballots can be returned by mail, to the local election authority or, in many jurisdictions, a secure drop box. If possible, return your ballot to your local election authority or a drop box, where available. You can check the Illinois State Board of Elections website for a list of drop box locations.
If you return your ballot by mail, do so as early as you can to make sure it is received on time. Ballots must be postmarked by midnight Election Day. The U.S. Postal Service recommends mailing ballots at least one week before the deadline for submitting them. If you take your ballot to a Postal Service retail location on or near Election Day, request a manual postmark at the counter. Mail-in ballots cannot be accepted at polling places or early voting locations.
Early in-person voting has begun in many areas in Illinois and will continue until the day before Election Day. You can find out about early voting in your area by visiting the Illinois State Board of Elections website.
If you opt to vote in person on the Nov. 3 Election Day, polling places are open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. You are entitled to cast a ballot as long as you are in line at the time the polling place is scheduled to close.
Voters do not need to show an ID to vote. A poll worker should not ask you for ID, except in a narrow range of circumstances. Only voters who are registering on Election Day, need to change their registration address, or registered to vote by mail without providing an ID need to present ID at the polls.
If you are eligible to vote but not registered, you can still register at the office of your local election authority under the guidelines of grace period registration.
It has been the longstanding practice of the attorney general’s office to monitor elections in Illinois to ensure that voters’ rights are protected and polling places are accessible. Voting no longer takes place only on Election Day, so my office has expanded its monitoring efforts. Teams of attorneys from my office are in the field monitoring polling places around Illinois now and on Election Day.
We also rely on voters to report issues that they observe. If you encounter activity that you suspect could be illegal, contact my office by calling 866-536-3496 in Chicago and northern Illinois or 866-559-6812 in central and southern Illinois. Our hotlines are open now and will remain open through Nov. 17.
Voters can find more information about their rights and options for voting by visiting the election resource hub on my office’s website. The attorney general’s office is also sharing information for voters through our social media accounts.
No matter who you vote for, you have a right to cast your ballot freely and fairly. It is incumbent upon each voter to set aside any distractions and invest in our country’s future by exercising that sacred right. Knowing your rights and making a voting plan will ensure that your vote will be counted.
Kwame Raoul is Illinois’ attorney general.
