How to Find Your Chicago, Suburban Early Voting Location and Election Day Polling Place

Head's up: Election Day for the 2022 Illinois Midterm election is Tuesday, which means you've only got one more day of early voting.

And while Chicago voters are able to cast a vote Monday in any of the city's 50 wards or at the Chicago Board of Elections Supersite, early voting locations in the suburbs, specifically for Nov. 7, may be more limited.

And in many cases, your early voting location options are different than your Election Day polling place.

Here's a recap of where to you are able to voting on the final day of early voting, how to find your Election Day polling place, what to know about registering to vote and more.

Where to Vote Early the Day Before Election Day

Early voting in most counties in Illinois opened last month, on Oct. 24. And according to election officials, those who take advantage of early voting can vote at any early voting location in their current county -- with the exception of voters in suburban Cook County, and some places in Will County.

In Chicago, voters who choose to vote on Monday can vote in any of the 50 wards, or at the Chicago Board of Elections Supersite.

However, in the suburbs, beginning as early as Nov. 4, your early voting location may have changed.

Here's how to find your correct early voting location for Nov. 7, based on the Chicago area county you live in:

• Cook County
• DeKalb County
• DuPage County
• Kane County
• Kankakee County
• Kendall County
• Lake County
• LaSalle County
• McHenry County
• Will County

Where to Vote on Election Day

All voters in the state are mailed cards by their county clerk’s office prior to the election, and their polling place is usually located on the cards.

If you a registered voter and you want to verify your polling place, the State Board of Elections operates a digital tool to allow you to do so.

If you aren't currently registered to vote, don't worry -- in Illinois, you can register to vote up until, and on, Election Day. Use the tool above to determine where you need to go on Election Day to register to vote and to cast a ballot.

In-Person Voting Do's and Don'ts

Do Bring Identification — If You Are Registering to Vote, or Need to Change Your Address

If you are taking advantage of grace period registration, you need to bring two forms of ID, one with your address, like a utility bill, bank statement, pay stub, etc.

If you are already registered to vote at your current address, you do not need a government-issued photo ID to vote under Illinois law. But it can be helpful to bring one should any questions about registration, address, signature, or more arise during the voting process.

If you aren't sure whether or not you're registered to vote in Illinois, you can check here by entering your name, address and birth date. To register to vote in Illinois, you must be a U.S. citizen, 18 years old by the date of the general election and not serving a sentence in a penal institution because of a criminal conviction.

If you're not registered yet, it's not too late.

While the deadline to register online was Oct. 23, you can still take advantage of grace period registration in-person during early voting or at your polling place on Election Day. To do so, you have to bring two forms of identification, one with your current address (like a utility bill), and be prepared to cast your ballot at the same time.

If you've moved since the last time you voted, you can also use grace period registration to update your registration to your current address. A full list of locations where you can take advantage of grace period registration can be found here.

Don't Take a Ballot Selfie

In Illinois, ballot selfies are prohibited by state law. It's a felony to mark your ballot so another person can see how you voted, carrying a potential prison sentence of one to three years.

State election officials have long said it's "unlikely" anyone would be prosecuted for a ballot selfie, but you should play it safe and take a picture of your "I Voted" sticker or pose next to the polling place sign instead.

Do Bring Notes Into the Ballot Booth

You are legally allowed to bring written or printed materials into the voting booth to assist you. This includes items on your phone.

Don't Get Out of Line, Even If Polls Have Closed

Polls open at 6 a.m. statewide, and will stay open through 7 p.m.

But remember - if you are IN LINE when polls close, you can still vote! So if you're rushing to your polling place at the last minute, don't worry if you see a line - and don't let anyone try to dissuade you from casting your ballot. 

Do Ask for Help if You Need it

Multiple poll workers are on site at each polling location to assist voters with questions that come up. They'll also help direct you wear to submit your ballot. Poll workers are also onsite to observe the process.

While millions of people will cast their ballots without any issues, some may be challenged on their voting eligibility, experience voter intimidation, or have trouble at their polling place.

If you run into any issues at all, or simply have questions about the process, you are encouraged to call the Election Protection hotlines at:

• 1-866-OUR-VOTE (1-866-687-8683): English
• 1-888-VE-Y-VOTA (1-888-839-8682): Spanish/English
• 1-888-API-VOTE (1-888-274-8683): Asian languages/English
• 1-844-YallaUS (1-844-925-5287): Arabic/English

The hotline is run by a nonpartisan coalition of more than 100 organizations, led by the Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law. 

Don't Wear Campaign-Related Clothing

According to the State Board of Elections, residents wearing any campaign-related clothing or material may be required to remove or cover them while voting. Campaign signs and pamphlets cannot be displayed.

Do Pay Attention to the Results

Live Election Day coverage will air on NBC 5 throughout the evening and at 10 p.m. You can also track up-to-the-minute race results live right here on NBCChicago.com or through the NBC Chicago app, where you can turn on notifications to be the first to know about winners of the biggest races.