Voting While Experiencing Homelessness
All Illinois residents experiencing homelessness who meet standard voter eligibility criteria have the right to vote in all local, state, and national elections. People experiencing homelessness, whether they are street-based, living in shelters, or doubled-up in the homes of others, still have the right to vote. This right is protected by state and federal laws, including the 2013 Illinois Bill of Rights for the Homeless Act.
The 2026 general election will decide your state legislators (your state senators and state representatives), governor, state secretary of state, state treasurer, judges, U.S. representative and senators. On Election Day, polls are open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. Illinois permits residents to vote early starting Thursday, September 24 or request to vote by mail without providing an excuse or reason for this request. Voters may apply to vote by mail starting August 5. Officials will begin sending out vote-by-mail ballots on September 24.
Who can register to vote
To register to vote, you must:
- be a U.S. citizen
- be 18-years-old on or before Election Day
- not be in prison/jail following a conviction. If you have been charged and are in jail but have not been convicted, you are still eligible to vote. You can also vote if you have been released on parole, mandatory supervised release, bail or bond, or are under electronic monitoring. Learn more.
- not claim the right to vote elsewhere
You do not need a permanent address to register to vote. You can use the address of a shelter, friend’s house, drop-in center, etc., as long as you can receive mail there.
How to register to vote
Check to see if you are registered to vote here.
If you are still registered to vote at your last permanent address and do not currently have an alternative permanent address, you can still vote at any of the 51 early voting sites without updating your address.
What forms of ID are required to register in person?
When registering in-person, you are required to bring two forms of identification (ID), including one that shows proof of residence or a mailing address. Your address can be a shelter, a friend’s house, a drop-in center, etc., as long as you can receive mail there.
Acceptable forms of ID include:
- Passport or Military ID
- Driver’s License or State ID card
- College/University/School/Work ID
- Vehicle registration card
- Lease, mortgage, or deed to home
- Credit or debit card
- Social Security, Medicare, or Medicaid card
- Insurance card
- Civic, union or professional membership card
- LINK/Public Aid/Department of Human Services card
- Illinois FOID card
- Mail addressed to voter (a bill, bank statement, pay stub, or mail from government agency)
If you are experiencing homelessness, a letter from a drop-in center, shelter, or the person in whose home you are living doubled-up can be provided as one form of ID. The letter must confirm that the voter has permission to use their address for the purpose of registering to vote.
Do I need an ID when I go to vote?
Identification is NOT necessary if:
- You already registered to vote at the polling place
- Your signature matches the one on file
- And an election judge does not challenge your right to vote
Identification is necessary if:
- You are registering to vote the same day
- You registered by mail and did not include your Illinois ID/driver’s license number or Social Security number
- Or an election judge challenges your right to vote
Please note: A common reason for challenging a person’s right to vote occurs after the Board of Elections has sent mail to verify a voter’s mailing address and the mail was returned.
If a voter needs to show ID but cannot present ID, they may cast a provisional ballot. For that provisional ballot to be counted, the voter must present ID to the Board of Elections within seven days of the election.
Voting after a recent move, whether homeless or housed
If you moved within the same precinct within 27 days of the election, you can vote a full ballot by signing an affidavit.
If you moved outside of your precinct more than 30 days before the election and did not register in your new precinct, you may grace-period update your registration through Election Day, and then grace-period vote.
If you moved outside of your precinct less than 30 days before the election, but still live in Illinois and did not transfer your registration, you may grace-period update your registration to your new address through Election Day and grace-period vote. Or, you can vote a full ballot in your old polling place or any early voting location after completing an affidavit.
Mail-in Ballots
In Chicago
Chicago voters can apply to vote by mail online starting August 5 or by mailing or delivering this form to the Chicago Board of Elections (69 W. Washington St. Ste 600, Chicago, IL 60690-1122) by October 29.
Voters can return their completed ballot by mail via the U.S. Postal Service or drop-off their ballot at a Secured Drop Box at any Chicago Early Voting location (during operating hours) or the Chicago Board of Elections (24 hours) on or before 7 pm on Election Day. Precinct Polling Places do not have drop boxes and precinct election judges cannot accept Vote By Mail ballots on election day.
For Election Day assistance, call these legal help desks
Chicago Board of Elections
(312) 269-7870
Cook County Clerk’s Office
(312) 603-0236
Illinois State Board of Elections
Chicago: (312) 814-6440
Springfield: (217) 782-4141
Operators will be standing by until 11 p.m. in Chicago and until 12 midnight in Springfield.
Key Dates
September 24, 2026
First day of Early Voting at the Loop Voting Supersite (137 S. State St.) and CBOE Offices (69 W. Washington St., 6th Floor)
October 6, 2026
Paper voting application must be postmarked or delivered
October 18, 2026
Deadline to register to vote online
October 19, 2026
First day of Early Voting in all 50 Wards of Chicago
October 29, 2026
Last day to apply for a Vote By Mail ballot online
November 2, 2026
Last day of Early Voting
ELECTION DAY: TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2026
(Contact Your Local Election Office)
