Voter Registration

Automatic Voter Registration

Effective July 2, 2018, Illinois’ opt-in portion of the Automatic Voter Registration(AVR) legislation is in place.
When you visit a Secretary of State Drivers Services facility, you will be asked if you want to register to vote or update your registration. If you say yes, you have ‘opted-in’ to AVR.  To successfully register, you will be asked to confirm via signature:
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• I am a US Citizen
• I will be 18 years old or older by the next non-primary election​

If you affirm yes to both, your completed voter registration application is transmitted from Drivers Services to the Illinois State Board of Elections.  You will be provided a receipt of voter registration application.  Retain the receipt until you receive your voter registration card from your local election authority.

Choosing not to register to vote for whatever reason will be kept CONFIDENTIAL by the Secretary of State, and will not affect you in engaging in another service through the Secretary of State.

Signage Information about AVR through Secretary of State will be provided in English, Spanish, Hindi, and Chinese in Drivers Services facilities throughout the state of Illinois.
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With AVR now available, Illinois residents have an additional registration option for the upcoming election.  LWVIL encourages ALL voters to check their voter registration information with the Illinois State Board of Elections.
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LWVIL provides a print summary with additional details for your reference on AVR.

Voter Registration: The Facts

Persons in Illinois wishing to register to vote must be a U.S. citizen, 18 years of age by election day; 17 years of age to vote in a General Primary if individual will be 18 as of the following General Election; and must have resided at their current address for at least 30 days.

Voter registration is open year round except during the 28-day period just prior to an election and the two-day period after each election (one day after in Chicago).

• Illinois law provides individuals who were unable to register to vote or change their address prior to the traditional deadline (28 days prior to an election) a "grace period" to register and vote. The grace period is from the 27th day through the 14th day prior to an election.
• Online voter registration closes 16 days before the election.  
• During the grace period, individuals may only register in-person at the office of their election authority.

At all other times voter registration is held at the following locations:

• County Clerk's Office
• Board of Elections Office
• City and Village Halls
• Township Offices
• Driver's License Facilities
• Department of Public Aid Offices
• Department of Public Health Offices
• Department of Mental Health & Developmental Disabilities Offices
• Department of Rehabilitation Service Offices
• special voter registration drives
• many libraries

Two forms of identification are required, with one showing your current address. 
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Re-registration is required with a move or change of name. People who move within 28 days of an election but reside in the same precinct may vote by signing an affidavit. If you change your name, you do not need to re-register. You can vote on election day after updating your information at the polls.

Register online. The Illinois State Board of Elections has launched paperless online voting (POV) registration. Visit the Illinois Online Voter Registration Application Website at ova.elections.il.gov to register to vote or update your registration online, without the need to mail in a form. 

For more information, please contact: 

• Illinois State Board of Elections
  100 West Randolph
  Chicago, IL 62704
  (312) 814-6440
  www.elections.state.il.us

For more information, please visit the Illinois State Board of Elections website or contact your local election authority.