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Are you a student in Wisconsin? Make your voice heard by voting in the upcoming Spring General and Presidential Preference Election on April 2nd. Your vote matters and can make a difference in your community. Don’t miss this opportunity to have a say in the future of your community and country.
Voter Registration Deadline: 28 days before Election Day for registration by mail and 16 days before Election Day for online registration.
Grace period registration is available in person at specific locations after the registration deadline and at some polling places on Election Day. Contact your local election authority or check online for locations. For more information on grace period registration, please visit: https://www.elections.il.gov/VotingAndRegistrationSystems/EarlyVotingLocationsSearch.aspx.
2024 Election Information
Primary Election: March 19, 2024
Voter Registration Deadline: February 20 (by mail), March 3 (online)
Mail-in Ballot Application Deadline: March 14
General Election: November 5, 2024
Voter Registration Deadline: October 8 (by mail), October 20 (online)
Mail-in Ballot Application Deadline: October 31
More election information at: https://www.elections.il.gov/Default.aspx
Online voter registration available at: https://ova.elections.il.gov/
Mail-in PDF voter registration form available at: https://bit.ly/IL-Mail-In-PDF
Students have a decision about where to register to vote.
You have a right to register to vote at the address you consider the place where you live, whether that is your family’s home or the place where you attend school. You should update your registration anytime this home address changes.
You may only be registered and vote in one location.
Paper Voter Registration Application: The Illinois paper voter registration form asks for your Illinois driver’s license or ID number, or the last four digits of your Social Security number. Be sure to provide one of these numbers if you have it.
Online Voter Registration Application: The Illinois online voter registration portal requires your Illinois driver’s license or ID number.
You do not need ID to vote in Illinois; however, if you are registering to vote for the first time, are applying by mail, and do not have an ID number or Social Security number, you must submit a copy of a current and valid photo ID, or a copy of a current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck, or other government document that shows your name and current address. This type of documentation includes a student ID card, coupled with either a copy of your lease for a residence, or any postmarked mail delivered to you at your current residence address.
Make a plan. Look up your voting site and hours at:
By Mail: Any registered Illinois voter can vote by mail without an excuse. A mail-in ballot application can be submitted in-person or by mail. Some counties offer the option to submit an online application. The Illinois State Board of Elections’ website will direct voters in these counties to their county’s online application form.
Mail-in Ballot Application Deadline: Your application must be received no later than 5 days before Election Day.
Completed Mail-in Ballot Return Deadline: Completed mail-in ballots must be returned in-person by the close of the polls on Election Day or, if returned by mail, postmarked on or before Election Day.
Mail-in ballots can be returned by mail, in person to your local elections office, or, where available, to a secure drop box. You can find a list of drop box locations in your election jurisdiction at:
Early In-person: All voters may vote early in person without an excuse at an early voting location established by their local election authority. Early voting takes place from the 40th day before Election Day through the day before Election Day.
Contact your local election authority for information about early voting locations and hours or check onlinehere.
Election Day: Voting sites will be open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Election Day. If you are in line by closing time, then you have a right to cast a ballot.
Does Registering to Vote Affect my Federal Financial Aid?
Where you register to vote will not affect federal financial aid such as Pell Grants, Perkins or Stafford loans, or your dependency status for FAFSA.
Does Registering to Vote Affect my Status as a Dependent on My Parents’ Taxes?
Being registered to vote at a different address from your parents does not prevent them from
claiming you as a dependent on their taxes.
Does Registering to Vote impact my Tuition Status?
Being deemed out-of-state for tuition purposes does not prevent you from choosing to register to vote in your campus community.
Will registering to vote in Illinois affect my driver’s license or car registration?
As a resident of Illinois, you may be required to obtain an Illinois driver’s license or update your car registration, regardless of whether you register to vote there. For more information, you may wish to contact the Illinois Department of Motor Vehicles.
Fair Elections Center and Campus Vote Project intend the information contained herein to be used only as a general guide. This document should not be used as a substitute for consultation with a licensed Illinois legal professional.
Last updated May 2024
Testimony Opposing Wisconsin SB 935, Which Would Impose New and Needless Requirements for Absentee Ballot Certificate Envelopes (2022)
In late September 2022, Fair Elections Center along with Wisconsin-based Law Forward, filed a complaint on behalf of the League of Women Voters of Wisconsin in Dane County Circuit Court, seeking both clarity and protection for absentee voters whose ballots have technical defects.
In 2024, Wisconsin courts ruled in favor of the League of Women Voters of Wisconsin in its lawsuit to clarify voting rights protections for voters whose absentee ballots have minor errors in listing their witnesses’ addresses. This decision means that absentee ballots with certain technical witness address defects will not be rejected in future elections.
