Chapter 5 Registering To Vote

5.C. Grace Period Registration

During the Grace Period, a person can register to vote or change their voter registration address.

"Same day registration" is Grace Period registration.

Grace Period Registration must be done in person at:

  • The office of the Election Authority (County Clerk or local Board of Election Commissioners),
  • A permanent Polling Place,
  • A temporary branch Polling Place (e.g., university student unions, healthcare facilities, the county jail).
  • An Early Voting Polling Place,
  • The voter's precinct Polling Place on Election Day,
  • Or, a Voting Center on Election Day.

Once registered, the voter must vote during the same visit through Grace Period Voting.

However, a voter who registers during the Grace Period at the office of the Election Authority may instead apply for a Vote By Mail ballot.

Relevant Illinois State Law

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Code to the contrary, each election authority shall establish procedures for the registration of voters and for change of address during the period from the close of registration for an election until and including the day of the election. During this grace period, an unregistered qualified elector may register to vote, and a registered voter may submit a change of address form, in person in the office of the election authority, at a permanent polling place established under Section 19A-10, at any other early voting site beginning 15 days prior to the election, at a polling place on election day, or at a voter registration location specifically designated for this purpose by the election authority. Grace period registration and changes of address shall also be conducted for eligible residents in connection with voting at facilities under Section 19-12.2 of this Code. The election authority shall register that individual, or change a registered voter's address, in the same manner as otherwise provided by this Article for registration and change of address.

If a voter who registers or changes address during this grace period wishes to vote at the election or primary occurring during the grace period, he or she must do so by grace period voting. The election authority shall offer in-person grace period voting at the authority's office, any permanent polling place established under Section 19A-10, and at any other early voting site beginning 15 days prior to the election, at a polling place on election day, where grace period registration is required by this Section; and may offer in-person grace period voting at additional hours and locations specifically designated for the purpose of grace period voting by the election authority. The election authority may allow grace period voting by mail only if the election authority has no ballots prepared at the authority's office. Grace period voting shall be in a manner substantially similar to voting under Article 19A.

10 ILCS 5/4-50
Registration of Electors
In Counties Having a
Population of Less than 500,000

10 ILCS 5/5-50
Registration of Electors
In Counties Having a
Population of 500,000 or More

10 ILCS 5/6-100
Registration of Electors
In Certain Cities, Villages
and Incorporated Towns

Voting by physically incapacitated electors who have made proper application to the election authority not later than 5 days before the regular primary and general election of 1980 and before each election thereafter shall be conducted on the premises of

  • (i) federally operated veterans' homes, hospitals, and facilities located in Illinois or
  • (ii) facilities licensed or certified pursuant to the Nursing Home Care Act, the Specialized Mental Health Rehabilitation Act of 2013, the ID/DD Community Care Act, or the MC/DD Act for the sole benefit of residents of such homes, hospitals, and facilities.

10 ILCS 5/19-12.2

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