Early voting in the Illinois primaries starts Thursday. Here’s how to cast a ballot.

Key races include one of Illinois’ U.S. Senate seats, governor and local judges. These are your options for voting in the June 28 election.

I voted
"I Voted" stickers on the table for voters after voting at Trinity Lutheran Church in Evanston, Ill. Early voting for the Illinois primary election begins May 19. Nam Y. Huh / AP Photo
I voted
"I Voted" stickers on the table for voters after voting at Trinity Lutheran Church in Evanston, Ill. Early voting for the Illinois primary election begins May 19. Nam Y. Huh / AP Photo

Early voting in the Illinois primaries starts Thursday. Here’s how to cast a ballot.

Key races include one of Illinois’ U.S. Senate seats, governor and local judges. These are your options for voting in the June 28 election.

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Early voting for Illinois’ June 28 primary elections begins on Thursday for most of the state, and millions of Illinois residents are expected to once again be seeking alternatives to voting in-person on Election Day. Democrats currently occupy every office that’s elected statewide, and almost all of them are looking to retain their current seats in November. While voters consider candidates for one of Illinois’ U.S. Senate seats, governor, Congress and local judges, here’s an easy guide for how to vote in this year’s primary.

Early voting

Illinois has one of the longest early voting periods in the United States — nearly double the national average — with in-person polls opening 40 days before and running through Election Day. The early voting period begins on Thursday, May 19 this year, and same-day registration is available at all early voting sites as well.

However, early voting begins later for Chicago and Cook County voters. Chicago residents can vote early at the Chicago Board of Elections Super Site starting May 31, located downtown at 191 N. Clark St. The start date of early voting in the city has been delayed multiple times due to last-minute changes to the ballot. The voting site is open weekdays from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m, Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. According to the city’s Board of Election Commissioners, early voting in all 50 wards will begin on June 13, with sites still to be announced.

Suburban Cook County residents can vote early in-person in the pedway of 69 W. Washington starting June 1. Early voting in specific suburban locations begins June 13.

Voter registration

If you haven’t registered to vote yet, you can do so online through the Illinois State Board of Elections registration portal until June 12, or in-person at early voting or Election Day polling precincts, driver’s license facilities, libraries or the office of the election authority. To register in-person residents need to show two forms of ID, at least one of which must have your current address. Those who want to register to vote must have lived in their location for at least 30 days prior to Election Day, must be a U.S. citizen and must be 18 years old by Nov. 8, 2022 — the date of the general election.

In Chicago, residents can register in-person at the Illinois secretary of state’s office and the Chicago Board of Elections, the Super Site (if early voting) or their Election Day polling precincts.

Vote by mail

Voters can now file requests for a mail-in ballot for this year’s primary. They must request a mail-in ballot by June 23 if requesting online or by mail, or by June 27 if requesting it in-person. Voters can apply online for their mail-in ballot through their local election authority. Chicago residents can apply here. Suburban voters should go to their local election authority’s website. Local elections authorities outside of Chicago and suburban Cook County will begin mailing ballots to voters who request them on May 19. Voters must have their ballots postmarked by June 28 and arrive within 14 days of Election Day to get counted. Ballots can be returned via the U.S. Postal Service or in-person by June 27 at secure ballot drop boxes at any early voting location or your local election office.

Election Day

Chicago residents can find their ward’s election precinct online through the Chicago Board of Elections Commissioners. Polls will be open on June 28 from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m., and do not require ID if already registered to vote. If you’ve moved within 30 days before Election Day, you can update your vote registration information on-site, but must bring two forms of ID, one with your updated address.

If you live in the collar counties, you can find more information about how to cast your ballot on your local clerk’s website.

This story has been updated after Chicago changed the start of its early voting.

Hannah Faris is an intern on WBEZ’s Government and Politics desk.