Illinois Midterms: 7 p.m. Deadline and County Specific Rules Define Tuesday Voting

Illinois is holding its midterm elections on Tuesday, November 3, 2026. The state’s legal framework dictates that polling stations must close at 7 p.m. Local authorities report that lines have already formed at sites across the Chicago area ahead of that deadline. Illinois law grants the right to cast a ballot to any registered voter who is in line before the 7 p.m. cutoff.

The path to the ballot box varies by geography. In most counties, voters must go to a specific site determined by their address. These Election Day locations may differ from the sites used for early voting. The Illinois State Board of Elections provides a digital tool to identify the correct address, requiring users to input their zip code and street address.

The rules differ for residents of the City of Chicago and two specific suburban counties. Chicago residents may vote at their assigned precinct or choose from 51 vote centers. In Kane County, registered voters can select any polling place in the county. Lake County follows a similar flexible model, allowing voters to choose any location within the county. Voters in other counties, including Cook, DuPage, and Will, must use their designated sites.

The election concludes at 7 p.m. today. Voters in the specified counties should verify their location using county specific search tools. Those in fixed address counties must match their residence to the assigned site.