Election Day is coming up on November 3rd, and early voting for the 2026 Midterm General Election begins TODAY, Monday, October 19th! Chicago voters in all 50 Wards can now vote at any Early Voting location through November 3rd, no matter where they live. Here are the early voting locations in or near the 40th Ward:
- Budlong Woods Library (5630 N. Lincoln Ave)
- Northtown Library (6800 N. Western Ave)
- Welles Park (2333 W. Sunnyside Ave)
- Broadway Armory (5917 N. Broadway)
- North Park Village Admin Building (5801 N. Pulaski Rd)
- Willye B White Park (1610 W. Howard St)
Polling locations are open Monday-Friday from 9am-6pm, Saturdays from 9am-5pm, and Sundays from 10am-4pm. All locations are fully accessible and offer ballots and instructions in 12 languages: English, Spanish, Chinese, Hindi, Polish, Korean, Tagalog, Gujarati, Urdu, Arabic, Ukrainian, and Russian.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I register?
If you haven’t yet registered to vote, it’s not too late! While online registration closed on October 18th, in-person registration is available at any voting location––and you can vote on the same day you register. Just bring 2 forms of ID (one with your current address). You can find a full list of acceptable forms of ID at the Board of Elections website.
What’s on the ballot?
You can view a sample ballot ahead of casting your vote at the Chicago Board of Elections’ website. Just input your information on the Board of Elections website under Your Voter Information, and hit submit. Then, select your name and scroll halfway down the page to open a sample ballot by selecting a party designation and preferred language. Sample ballots are available in English, Spanish, Chinese, Hindi, Polish, Korean, and Tagalog.
How do I vote by mail?
Any Chicago voter can file an online application to vote by mail for the 2026 Midterm General Election, so if you’re out of town or otherwise prefer to vote by mail, just visit the Board of Elections website to have your ballot sent to your mailing address. Voters will receive a ballot in the mail with instructions on how to fill it out and return it.
Make sure you either send it before November 3rd. Placing your ballot envelope in the mailbox in the afternoon or evening may risk it being postmarked on November 4th and therefore ineligible. USPS recommends voters take additional precautions and mail their completed Vote By Mail Ballot at least one week (October 27th) before Election Day. All qualified ballots properly postmarked by Election Day (November 3rd) and received up to 14 days after (November 17th) will be processed and counted for the 2026 Midterm General Election.
You can also return your mail ballot to a secured drop box at any of the early voting locations––see here for a full list––or delivered in person to the Election Board at 69 W. Washington, Sixth Floor.
What happens if I apply to vote by mail and don’t receive my ballot, or change my mind and want to vote in person?
Voters who request a mail ballot but decide they’d rather vote in person can surrender their mail ballot at any early voting location or their polling place on Election Day to opt for an in-person ballot instead. Voters are NOT allowed to vote by mail and at an in-person location; you must choose only one method of voting.
If a person requests a mail ballot and it is not received by Election Day, voters will still have the opportunity to cast their ballot. Voters who do not receive or lose their mail ballot may complete an affidavit at their polling place on Election Day stating that the ballot was never received or was lost.
Please note that precinct polling places do not have drop boxes on Election Day. Precinct election judges cannot accept Vote By Mail ballots, and Vote By Mail ballots returned at precinct polling places will not be processed. Voters instead can use any of the drop boxes open on Election Day to return their Vote By Mail ballot.
For more information and to complete the vote-by-mail application, visit the Board of Elections website. The deadline to apply for a mail ballot is Thursday, October 29th, at 5 pm.
Apply to Become a Poll Worker
The Board of Elections needs your support! If you’re interested in becoming a poll worker for the November 3rd election, visit pollworker.chicagoelections.gov to learn more and apply.
You must be a US citizen and a registered voter in Cook County. The Board of Elections is specifically looking for Spanish, Chinese, Hindi, Polish, Korean, and Tagalog speakers, but any U.S. Citizen and registered voter in Cook County is eligible to apply. You can earn up to $230 for serving as a poll worker. High school juniors or seniors with a GPA above 3.0 can also serve as an election judge!