2026 Primary Dates

Tuesday, 17 March 2026

NOTE: This list of dates is of particular interest to poll watchers and voters. This list does not include dates for candidate nominating petitions or election finance deadlines.

Begin: Voter Registration, 2 days after the previous election: Thursday, April 3, 2025. 10 ILCS 5/4-6
10 ILCS 5/5-5
10 ILCS 5/6-50
Authorization of poll watchers at voter registration sites, 2 days after the previous election: Thursday, April 3, 2025. 10 ILCS 5/4-7
10 ILCS 5/5-17
10 ILCS 5/6-31
Last day: Department of Public Health shall certify to the State Board of Elections a list of the care facilities. 120 days before Primary Monday, November 17, 2025 10 ILCS 5/19-12.2
Last day: State Board of Elections shall certify the care facilities to the appropriate election authority. 100 days before Primary
(20 days after Health Department report.) 		Sunday, December 7, 2025 10 ILCS 5/19-12.2
Begin: Application for Vote by Mail, 90 days before Primary: Wednesday, December 17, 2025. 10 ILCS 5/19-2
Begin: Contested vote by mail election judge review panel for all contested vote by mail application, 90 days before Primary: Wednesday, December 17, 2025. 10 ILCS 5/19-8(g-5)
10 ILCS 5/20-10
Election Authority publishes on Election Authority website the PDF with election boundaries and immediately distributes to party county chairs & effected precinct committeeman maps of changes to precinct boundaries, 90 days before Primary: Wednesday, December 17, 2025. 10 ILCS 5/11-6
The State Board of Elections shall provide written guidance to election authorities on:
  1. ballot tracking procedures and the proper terminology to be used as part of those procedures; and
  2. summarizing requirements for voting, curbside voting, early voting, and vote by mail.
 90 days before Primary: Wednesday, December 17, 2025. 10 ILCS 5/1A-65
The circuit court issues a public notice in local newspapers of the upcoming election, 60 days before Primary: Friday, January 16, 2026. 10 ILCS 5/6-3
Begin: Notification of public testing of tabulators & direct recording electronic equipment, minimum 48 hours before public testing of tabulators and direct recording electronic equipment or 42 days before the Primary at the earliest: Tuesday, February 3, 2026. 10 ILCS 5/24A-9
10 ILCS 5/24B-9
10 ILCS 5/24C-9
Begin: Public testing of tabulators and direct vote recording system equipment, TBD, immediately before tabulator & direct vote recording system equipment can be use in tabulating ballots: Thursday, February 5, 2026. 10 ILCS 5/24A-9
10 ILCS 5/24B-9
10 ILCS 5/24C-9
Begin: Public testing of in-precinct tabulators, TBD, immediately before tabulators can be use in tabulating ballots: Thursday, February 5, 2026. 10 ILCS 5/24A-9
10 ILCS 5/24B-9
Begin: Public testing of other than in-precinct tabulators, TBD, immediately before tabulators can be use in tabulating ballots: Thursday, February 5, 2026. 10 ILCS 5/24A-9
10 ILCS 5/24B-9
Begin: Public testing of back-up equipment, TBD, immediately before tabulators can be use in tabulating ballots: Thursday, February 5, 2026. 10 ILCS 5/24A-9
10 ILCS 5/24B-9
10 ILCS 5/24C-9
Begin: Public testing of voting machines, TBD, before use of voting machines: Thursday, February 5, 2026. 10 ILCS 5/24-13
Begin: In-person early voting at office of the Election Authority, 40 days before Primary: Thursday, February 5, 2026. 10 ILCS 5/19A-15
Authorization of poll watcher for early voting at the office of the Election Authority, 40 days before Primary: Thursday, February 5, 2026. 10 ILCS 5/19A-60
The election authority shall give written notice of the times when, and the place or places where, the voting machines will be prepared for the election, 40 days before Primary: Thursday, February 5, 2026. 10 ILCS 5/24-13
Deadline for organizations (not political parties or candidates) to apply with the local election authority for poll watcher credentials, 40 days before Primary: Thursday, February 5, 2026. 10 ILCS 5/17-23(3)
Deadline for nonpartisan civic organizations within the county or political subdivision to register with the local election authority for poll watcher credentials, 40 days before Primary: Thursday, February 5, 2026. 10 ILCS 5/17-23(3.5)
Deadline for any organized group of proponents or opponents of a ballot proposition to register with the local election authority for poll watcher credentials, 40 days before Primary: Thursday, February 5, 2026. 10 ILCS 5/17-23(5)
Begin: Vote by Mail ballots mailed or delivered to voter, 40 days before Primary: Thursday, February 5, 2026. 10 ILCS 5/19-4
Begin: Vote by Mail Election Judge panels, 40 days before Primary: Thursday, February 5, 2026. 10 ILCS 5/19-8(g)
Begin: Authorization for poll watcher presence at Vote by Mail election judge panels, 40 days before Primary: Thursday, February 5, 2026. 10 ILCS 5/19-8(h)
10 ILCS 5/19-10
Begin: Authorization for poll watcher presence at the casting of Vote by Mail ballots, 40 days before Primary: Thursday, February 5, 2026. 10 ILCS 5/20-10
Authorization for poll watcher presence at Vote by Mail election judge panels, 40 days before Primary: Thursday, February 5, 2026. 10 ILCS 5/19-8(h)
10 ILCS 5/19-10
10 ILCS 5/20-10
Begin: Each election authority maintaining a website must provide 24-hour notice on its website of the date, time, and location of the analysis, processing, and counting of all ballot forms. Each election authority must notify any political party or pollwatcher of the same information 24 hours before the count begins if such political party or pollwatcher has requested to be notified. Notification may be by electronic mail at the address provided by the requester. 40 days before Primary: Thursday, February 5, 2026. 10 ILCS 5/1-9.1
End: Voter registration in counties having a
population of 500,000 or more
if precinct registration is conducted, 		EOB 35 days before the Primary: Tuesday, February 10, 2026. 10 ILCS 5/5-5
Begin: Grace Period Registration at the office of the Election Authority
in counties having a population of 500,000 or more,
if precinct registration is conducted, 		34 days before the Primary: Wednesday, February 11, 2026. 10 ILCS 5/5-5
The county clerk shall publish a notice of the election in 2 or more newspapers published in the county, city, village, incorporated town or town, as the case may be, or if there is no such newspaper, then in any 2 or more newspapers published in the county and having a general circulation throughout the community, 30 days before Election Day: Sunday, February 15, 2026. 10 ILCS 5/12-1
Election Authority issues public notice to elderly and disabled voters of the availability of registration and voting aids and on methods of voting, 30 days before Primary: Sunday, February 15, 2026. 10 ILCS 5/7-15
The Election Authority gives written notice to the county chair of the political party of the party affiliation of central counting facility workers., 30 days before the Primary: Sunday, February 15, 2026. 10 ILCS 5/24A-11
10 ILCS 5/24B-11
10 ILCS 5/24C-13(b)
End: Voter registration office of the Election Authority, 27 days before Primary: Wednesday, February 18, 2026. 10 ILCS 5/4-6
10 ILCS 5/5-5
10 ILCS 5/6-29
Grace Period Registration & Voting begins in-person at the office of the Election Authority, 26 days before Primary: Thursday, February 19, 2026. 10 ILCS 5/4-50
10 ILCS 5/5-50
10 ILCS 5/6-100
Election Authority posts schedule of Early Voting dates, time at Early Voting polling place location[s], 10 days before Early Voting begins or 25 days before Primary: Friday February 20, 2026. 10 ILCS 5/19A-25(b)
Begin: Weekly public notice of Early Voting date, time, and location by Election Authority, one week before Early Voting begins
or 22 days before Primary: 		Monday, February 23, 2026. 10 ILCS 5/19A-25(a)
Deadline for chair of each political party to respond to central counting facility workers notice and approve or disapprove of workers from their party, 10 days after notice or 20 days before the Primary: Wednesday, February 25, 2026. 10 ILCS 5/24A-11
10 ILCS 5/24B-11
10 ILCS 5/24C-13(b)
End: Public notice of election in multiple newspapers, 20 days before Primary: Wednesday, February 25, 2026. 10 ILCS 5/7-15
Continue: Weekly public notice of Early Voting date, time, and location by Election Authority, 15 days before Primary Monday, March 2, 2026. 10 ILCS 5/19A-25(a)
Authorization of poll watcher for early voting at permanent polling place, 15 days before Primary: Monday, March 2, 2026. 10 ILCS 5/19A-60
Authorization of poll watcher for early voting at temporary branch polling places, 15 days before Primary: Monday, March 2, 2026. 10 ILCS 5/19A-20(e)
10 ILCS 5/19A-60
Begin: In-person early voting at permanent polling places, 15 days before Primary: Monday, March 2, 2026. 10 ILCS 5/19A-15(b)
Begin: In-person early voting at temporary branch polling places, 15 days before Primary: Monday, March 2, 2026. 10 ILCS 5/19A-20(b)
Begin: Grace Period Registration & Grace Period Voting, 15 days before Primary Monday, March 2, 2026. 10 ILCS 5/4-50
10 ILCS 5/5-50
10 ILCS 5/6-100
Begins: Application for current Vote by Mail ballot, in-person, at office of the Election Authority for representative of voter admitted to a care facility or hospitalized within 14 days of Primary. 14 days before Primary Tuesday, March 3, 2026. 10 ILCS 5/19-13
Continue: Weekly public notice of Early Voting date, time, and location by Election Authority, 8 days before Primary Monday, March 9, 2026. 10 ILCS 5/19A-25(a)
End: Notification of public testing of tabulators & direct recording electronic equipment, minimum 48 hours before public testing of tabulators or 7 days before the Primary: Tuesday, March 10, 2026. 10 ILCS 5/24B-9
10 ILCS 5/24B-9
10 ILCS 5/24B-9
Begin: On-campus voting, 6 days before Primary: Wednesday, March 11, 2026. 10 ILCS 5/1-12(a)
End: Public testing of tabulators & direct recording electronic equipment, 5 days before the Primary: Thursday, March 12, 2026. 10 ILCS 5/24A-9
10 ILCS 5/24B-9
10 ILCS 5/24C-9
End: Special application by mail to the Election Authority of original residence of voter who moved outside their precinct within 30 days of the Primary in even numbered years for federal ballot of President and Vice President, 5 days before Primary: Thursday, March 12, 2026. 10 ILCS 5/20-13.1
Application for current vote by mail ballot ends,
(except for voters admitted to a care facility or hospitalized within 14 days of the Primary.) 		5 days before Primary Thursday, March 12, 2026. 10 ILCS 5/19-2
(10 ILCS 5/19-13)
Last day: Incapacitated voter application to Election Authority for Election Judge voter assistance at care facility, 5 days before Primary Thursday, March 12, 2026. 10 ILCS 5/19-12.2
End: On-campus voting, EOB, 4 days before Primary: Friday, March 13, 2026. 10 ILCS 5/1-12(a)
Begin: Voting in care facilities, 4 days before Primary: Friday, March 13, 2026. 10 ILCS 5/19-12.2
Earliest electronic voting machine keys can be delivered to precinct in a sealed envelope, the Saturday before the Primary: 12PM, Saturday, March 14, 2026. 10 ILCS 5/24-13
End: Special application in-person to the Election Authority of original residence of voter who moved outside their precinct within 30 days of the Primary in even numbered years for federal ballot of President and Vice President, the day before Primary: Monday, March 16, 2026. 10 ILCS 5/20-13.1
End: Voting in care facilities, the day before Primary: Monday, March 16, 2026. 10 ILCS 5/19-12.2
End: Testing of voting machines, the day before the Primary: Monday, March 16, 2026. 10 ILCS 5/24-13
End: In-person early voting at permanent polling places, the day before Primary: Monday, March 16, 2026. 10 ILCS 5/19A-15(b)
End: In-person early voting at temporary branch polling places, the day before Primary: Monday, March 16, 2026. 10 ILCS 5/19A-20(b)
End: Physically disabled voter request to the Election Authority for two (2) Election Judges voter assist of ballot delivered to within 50 feet of the polling place entrance, End of Business (EOB) >the day before Primary: Monday, March 16, 2026. 10 ILCS 5/7-47.1
The latest an electronic voting machine keys can be delivered to precinct in a sealed envelope, one hour before the polls open on the day of the Primary: 5AM, Tuesday, March 17, 2026. 10 ILCS 5/24-13
Primary   Tuesday, March 17, 2026.  
End: Application for current vote by mail ballot, in-person, at office of the Election Authority for representative of voter admitted to a care facility or hospitalized within 14 days of the Primary, EOB Primary Day Tuesday, March 17, 2026. 10 ILCS 5/19-13
Begin: Authorization of poll watchers at counting location, the day of the Primary: Tuesday, March 17, 2026. 10 ILCS 5/24C-14
Begin: Voter Registration, 2 days after Primary: Thursday, March 19, 2026. 10 ILCS 5/4-6
10 ILCS 5/5-5
10 ILCS 5/5-5
Election Authority shall transmit to the State Board of Elections voter information for those voting a Provisional Ballot, 2 days after Primary: Thursday, March 19, 2026. 10 ILCS 5/18A-15(d)
Election Authority posts the number of uncounted ballots on their website and shall share the same information with the State Board of Elections, within 48 hours of the polls closing, and each day thereafter: 7PM, Thursday, March 19, 2026. 10 ILCS 5/1-9.2
End: The voter provides the Election Authority with the additional documentation in support of the voter's Provisional Ballot, 7 days after Primary: Tuesday, March 24, 2026. 10 ILCS 510 ILCS 5/18A-15(b)(5)
10 ILCS 5/18A-15(d)
End: Election Authority updates of the number of uncounted ballots on their website, 14 days after Primary: Tuesday, March 31, 2026. 10 ILCS 5/1-9.2
End: Vote by Mail Election Judge panels, 14 days after Primary: Tuesday, March 31, 2026. 10 ILCS 5/19-8(g)
End: Authorization for poll watcher presence at Vote by Mail election judge panels, 14 days after Primary: Tuesday, March 31, 2026. 10 ILCS 5/19-8(h)
10 ILCS 5/19-10
End: Authorization for poll watcher presence at the casting of Vote by Mail ballots, 14 days after Primary: Tuesday, March 31, 2026. 10 ILCS 5/20-10
End: Validation and counting of provisional ballots by the Election Authority 14 days after Primary: Tuesday, March 31, 2026. 10 ILCS 5/18A-15(a)
Begin: Vote Abstracts shall be turned over to the chair of the county central committee of each of the then existing established political parties or his duly authorized representative immediately after the completion of the entries on the sheets and before the totals have been compiled, After the Vote by Mail ballots that were received after the polls closed are counted and after the Provisional Ballots are counted, 14 days after Primary at the earliest: Tuesday, March 31, 2026. 10 ILCS 5/22-1
End: Countywide Canvass of vote count, 21 days after Primary: Tuesday, April 7, 2026. 10 ILCS 5/22-1
End: Vote Abstracts shall be turned over to the chair of the county central committee of each of the then existing established political parties or his duly authorized representative immediately after the completion of the entries on the sheets and before the totals have been compiled, 21 days after Primary: Tuesday, April 7, 2026. 10 ILCS 5/22-1
End: Authorization of poll watchers at counting location, 21 days after Primary: Tuesday, April 7, 2026. 10 ILCS 5/24C-14
Election Authority shall provide unit-by-unit vote totals to the State Board of Elections in an electronic format, 22 days after Primary: Tuesday, April 8, 2026. 10 ILCS 5/22-6(a)
End: State Board of Elections shall canvass votes for statewide and multi-county candidates and ballot questions, 31 days after Primary: Tuesday, April 17, 2026. 10 ILCS 5/22-7
State Board of Elections shall shall publish the precinct-by-precinct vote totals on its website and make them available in a downloadable form, 52 days after Primary: Friday, May 8, 2026. 10 ILCS 5/22-6(b)
Election Authority provides of list of registered voters to the party chair, with an indication of the political party chosen in the primary, 60 days after Primary: Saturday, May 16, 2026. 10 ILCS 5/4-11
10 ILCS 5/5-29
10 ILCS 5/6-60
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