Early Voting Opens in Illinois for November General Election
Illinois voters began early casting ballots on October 1 for a general election featuring a historic overhaul of the Chicago Board of Education.
Early voting began on October 1 for the November 3, 2026, general election in Illinois. In Chicago, residents can currently cast ballots at the Chicago Board of Elections office and the downtown voting supersite, with voting options expanding to all 50 city wards on October 19.
Chicago voters will elect all 20 seats for the Board of Education for the first time, including the board president. Key candidates for the presidency include attorney Victor Henderson, former CPS principal Jessica Biggs, and former CTU deputy political director Hilario Dominguez. The local ballot also includes nonbinding referendums regarding the city's gunshot detection system and the establishment of a permanent home for large festivals.
Statewide, the election includes contests for the U.S. Senate, U.S. House of Representatives, Illinois governor, and various state and county offices. Residents may register to vote online until October 18 or use same-day in-person registration. Applications for mail-in ballots are accepted through October 29. Illinois law classifies taking "ballot selfies" as a Class 4 felony.
