Illinois Polls Close at 7 p.m. Tuesday
Voters in Cook County and surrounding areas must know if their early voting site is the same as their Election Day location.
By Aiko Sato ·
Polls across the Chicago area remain open until 7 p.m. on Tuesday, November 3, for the 2026 Illinois midterms. Lines are already forming at many sites. If a voter is in line before the clock strikes 7 p.m., Illinois law grants them the right to cast a ballot.
One key point is that Election Day polling places often differ from early voting locations. In many counties, registered voters can only vote at designated sites based on their residential address. The Illinois State Board of Elections provides a tool to find the correct location. Users must enter their zip code and street address to see where they are assigned.
Chicago residents have more flexibility than voters in the suburbs. People living in the city can vote at their assigned precinct polling place. Alternatively, they can choose any of the 51 vote centers located throughout Chicago. This option is not available in every county.
Several counties in the region allow voters to cast ballots at any polling place on Election Day. Kane County and Lake County both permit this practice. Voters in these areas can select their preferred location without checking a specific precinct assignment. Other counties, such as Cook, DeKalb, DuPage, and Will, require voters to use their assigned site.
The list of counties with specific search links includes Grundy, Kankakee, Kendall, LaSalle, and McHenry. In these jurisdictions, the polling location is tied strictly to the voter's address. The State Board of Elections recommends that voters confirm their location before heading out on Tuesday.
