Chicago, Illinois Public Records

The Chicago Board of Election Commissioners is located at 69 West Washington Street, Suite 600, Chicago, IL 60602 (phone: 312-269-7900, website: chicagoelections.gov) and oversees voter registration, polling place operations, and election results for municipal races including mayor, city clerk, city treasurer, and the 50-member Chicago City Council with aldermen elected by ward. The Cook County Clerk, Election Department, 69 West Washington Street, 5th Floor, Chicago, IL 60602 (phone: 312-603-0906, website: cookcountyclerk.com/elections) administers all other elections for Chicago residents including federal, state, and county contests. Illinois residents can register to vote online at ova.elections.il.gov (the Illinois State Board of Elections portal) up to 16 days before an election, or register in person at election offices or designated agencies up through Election Day with proper identification including driver's license, state ID, or two forms showing current name and address. Same-day registration and voting is permitted during early voting and on Election Day at designated locations. The city holds municipal elections in February and April of odd-numbered years, the next Chicago mayoral election is scheduled for February 25, 2027 (nonpartisan primary) with a runoff on April 5, 2027 if no candidate receives over 50% in the primary. All 50 aldermanic seats are also up for election in 2027. Chicago voters can locate their assigned polling place by entering their address at chicagoelections.gov/en/your-voter-information.html or cookcountyclerk.com/agency/pollplace-search. Illinois makes extensive election records publicly available including voter registration statistics (not individual voter records, which are protected), campaign finance disclosure reports through the Illinois State Board of Elections at elections.il.gov, candidate filing information and nomination petitions, and detailed precinct-level election results. 8 million ballots cast countywide; the city's turnout was similarly with highest participation in North Side lakefront wards. On November 3, 2026, Chicago and Cook County voters will decide the Illinois Governor race (incumbent J.B. Pritzker eligible for re-election), all 118 Illinois House seats, approximately half of the 59 Illinois Senate seats in even-numbered districts, Cook County Board President, Cook County Board of Commissioners seats in even-numbered districts, Cook County Clerk, Cook County Treasurer, Cook Chief County Assessment Officer, Cook County Board of Review commissioners, Circuit Court judges in retention elections and contested races, and potentially various local referenda and ballot measures. While there is no U.S. Senate seat up in Illinois in 2026 (next U.S. Senate election is 2028 for the seat currently held by Tammy Duckworth), competitive state legislature races will likely focus on suburban Cook County districts with the city's solidly Democratic wards typically showing strong support for Democratic candidates. Illinois voters can request mail-in ballots (vote-by-mail) without providing a reason; applications are available at cookcountyclerk.com or by calling the Cook County Clerk's election department, and ballots must be postmarked by Election Day and received within 14 days after the election to be counted. Early voting is available at numerous locations throughout the city typically beginning 40 days before Election Day.