5.C.1. When Is The Grace Period?
Grace Period Registration begins the day after regular voter registration ends, 28 (twenty-eight) days before the election* .
Grace Period Registration begins the next day, 27 (twenty-seven) in–person at the office of the Election Authority:
Primary: Wednesday, February 18, 2026
General Election: Wednesday, October 7, 2026
Grace Period Registration continues until the elections at Early Voting Polling Places, Temporary Branch Polling Places, In&ndashPrecinct voting, and Voting Centers.
* Regular voter registration ends 35 (thirty-five) days before the election in counties having a population of 500,000 or more if precinct registration is conducted
Grace Period Registration begins in those jurisdictions 34 (thirty-four) days before the election, in–person, at the office of the Election Authority:
Primary: Wednesday, February 11, 2026
General Election: Wednesday, September 30, 2026
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In counties with a population of fewer than 100,000 and do not have polling books, the Election Authority can forgo in–precinct, Election Day Grace Period Registration if other Polling Places with Grace Period Registration is available at other Polling Places.
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.
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10 ILCS 5/5-50, this link opens in a new browser tab.
10 ILCS 5/6-100, this link opens in a new browser tab.
In counties with a population of less than 100,000 that do not have electronic poll books, the election authority may opt out of registration in the polling place if the election authority establishes grace period registration and voting at other sites on election day at the following sites:
(i) the election authority's main office and
(ii) a polling place in each municipality where 20% or more of the county's residents reside if the election authority's main office is not located in that municipality.
The election authority may establish other grace period registration and voting sites on election day provided that the election authority has met the notice requirements of Section 19A-25 for permanent and temporary early voting sites.
10 ILCS 5/4-50 . this link opens in a new browser tab.
10 ILCS 5/5-50 . this link opens in a new browser tab.
10 ILCS 5/6-100 . this link opens in a new browser tab.