Chapter 5 — In–Person, In–Precinct Voting

5. Closing The Polls

5a. Proclaiming the Polls Will Be Closing In One–Half Hour

In Illinois, for the 2022 election cycle, the polls close at 7:00 p.m.

One–half hour before the polls are scheduled to close, at 6:30 p.m., an election judge will proclaim that the polls will be closed in 30 minutes.

5b. Closing the Polls

At the time the polls close — 7:000 p.m.for the 2022 election cycle — anyone already in line to vote will be allowed to vote.

The election judge keeps track of who the last person in line is.

If the election judge asks the poll watcher to watch the end of the line of voters, politely decline.

As long as there are voters, they are the voting is the poll watcher's concern.

Poll watchers do not have the authority to regulate the people in line.

5c. Court Order Extending the Time for Closing the Polls

If a court order extends the time for closing the polls, the people already in line at the regular closing time will be allowed to vote a regular ballot.

Any voter entering the polling place after the regular closing time and who are voting under court order will be allowed to vote a provisional ballot.

See: Chapter 10G, #3 Voting A Provisional Ballot.

Remember: Voters who are already in line at the regular closing time are NOT required to vote a provisional ballot.

ONLY those who enter the polling place during the court ordered extended time are required to vote a provisional ballot.

ALSO it is not all extended hours, only those polling places with extended hours under court order.