How to vote in Chicago in the 2026 midterm election

Chicago voters won’t have to wait until Election Day on Nov. 3, with multiple deadlines already approaching for the 2026 midterm election. Two downtown early voting options are open now: the Supersite at 137 S. State St. and the Board of Elections office at 69 W. Washington St. Early voting expands to all 50 wards on Oct. 19. For mail voting, ballots must be requested by Oct. 29, and officials urge voters to return ballots early due to postal delay concerns tied to changes in USPS postmark procedures. Online registration ends Oct. 18, though Illinois allows same-day registration. Polls run 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. Nov. 3.