Accessible Voting in Illinois
For the Tuesday, November 5, 2024 General Election in Illinois
Voting Information
Visit your state State Board of Elections page
Phone: (217) 782-4141
Contact your local election office for polling places and other information.
Read the REV UP voting guide for your state
Register to vote
- Voter registration in Illinois
- Deadlines and information in 18 languages at vote.gov
Your rights
As a voter with a disability, you have a right to vote privately and independently, at an accessible voting location, on an accessible voting system.
Organizations that can help If you can't find the information you need at your state or local election office.
- Contact your local Center for Independent Living
- Contact your state National Disability Rights Network office.
- Call 1-866-OUR-VOTE to report any problems voting
Other websites for voting information
- REV UP Voting Guides for voting info and plain language definitions
- VoteRiders for Voter ID requirements
- Vote.gov for information about registering to vote
- Vote411.org for what’s on your ballot
Voting features in Illinois for voters with disabilities
- Sign up each year to receive a ballot by mail for all elections
- Ask about accessible vote-by-mail system
Self-advocacy! Ask your local election office about:
- Information in large print, audio, or Braille versions
- Other services for voters with disabilities
- How to get assistance voting
- Emergency voting options if you are hospitalized or ill
- Curbside or drive-up voting.
- How to practice using the accessible voting system
- Ballot delivery to your home or a “ride to the polls” program
Learn more about the laws that protect your rights
Early voting is voting in person before Election Day, which is usually less crowded than going to vote on Election Day itself. There are different kinds of early voting, so check the options available for you. They might include:
- vote centers where you can vote at any location in your jurisdiction
- super polling places where you are assigned a location
- voting at an elections office or satellite office
- in-person absentee, where you go to an elections office, get your mail ballot, and then mark and cast it in the office.
September 26 through November 4, early voting centers are open.
Early voting hours and locations can vary. Check with your local elections office.
- Same-day registration is available at all early voting locations.
Find an early voting center near you.
- You can drop off your ballot at all early voting locations.
When you vote in person on Election Day, you go to a voting center to mark and cast your ballot in person. Every in-person voting location is required to have accessible voting systems available.
Polling places are open from 6:00 am to 7:00 pm.
- Same-day registration is available at all Election Day voting locations.
You can drop off your mail ballot at your local elections office on Election Day.
Find your polling place.
- First-time voters are asked to show identification.
Accessible voting systems for in-person voting
The accessible voting systems used in Illinois are shown below. Contact your local election office for more information or a change to practice using the system you will vote on.
AutoMARK
A ballot marking device.
It has a touchscreen, audio, and tactile controls on the front of the device.
The printed ballot is a facsimile of a hand-marked paper ballot.
Ballots are cast at a separate scanner.
Learn more about using an AutoMARK
- Short video from Wisconsin Elections (YouTube 3:55)
- Video from NY City Board of Elections (YouTube 13:47)
Dominion ImageCast X
A ballot marking device.
It has a touchscreen, audio, and tactile controls on a small keypad.
The ballot is printed using a separate printer.
The printed ballot has a list of the voter’s selections and a QR code.
The ballot is cast at a separate scanner.
Learn more about using Dominion ICX
- Short video tutorial from Pennsylvania (YouTube 2:32)
- Short video tutorial from Sacramento (You Tube 3:40)
- Longer instructional video from Michigan (YouTube 15:16)
- Information about Dominion ICX from Pennsylvania
ES&S ExpressVote
A ballot marking device.
It has a touchscreen, audio, and tactile controls on a small keypad.
The printed ballot is a list of selections printed on a narrow card.
Ballots are cast at a separate scanner.
Learn more about using ExpressVote
- Short video tutorial from Pennsylvania (YouTube 1:53)
- Video from Michigan (You Tube 12:29)
- Information about ExpressVote from Pennsylvania
Hart InterCivic eSlate
Electronic voting system.
It has audio and tactile controls, using the Hart move wheel.
Ballots are cast electronically.
It may have a paper audit record.
Learn more about using the Touch Writer
- Short video tutorial from Hart (YouTube 4:42)
- How to Vote eSlate with VVPAT (YouTube 6:05)
Unisyn OpenElect Voting Interface (OVI and OVI-VC)
A ballot marking device.
It has a touchscreen, audio, and tactile controls on a small keypad.
The ballot is printed on a small strip of paper using a built-in printer.
The OVI-VC is used in early voting centers.
Learn more about using the OVI
- Short video tutorial from Unisyn (Vimeo 3:03 - no captions)
- OpenElect OVI product page from Unisyn
Unisyn OpenElect Freedom Vote Tablet (FVT)
A ballot marking device.
It has a touchscreen, audio, and tactile controls on a small keypad.
The ballot is printed on a small strip of paper using a built-in printer.
Learn more about using the Freedom Voting Tablet
- Short video tutorial from Unisyn (Vimeo 3:47 - no captions)
- OpenElect FVT product page from Unisyn
Accuvote TSX
An electronic voting system.
It has a touchscreen, audio, and tactile controls on a small keypad.
Some systems have a paper record for review casting the ballot.
Learn more about using the AVC Edge without a paper record
- Video tutorial from Wisconsin Elections (YouTube 4:55 - open captions)
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Voting by mail can be an accessible option for voters with disabilities. It lets you vote at home, so you can mark, verify and return a paper ballot privately and independently. Some states have emergency options if you are hospitalized or ill. |
Deadline to return your ballot:
Postmarked & Delivered by Election Day, November 5, and received by November 19.
How to get your ballot
- All voters can request a ballot.
- Voters can sign up to receive a ballot for all future elections.
To get your ballot you can:
- Request a ballot online.
- Download, print, and mail a request form.
How to return your ballot
By mail
At a secure drop box
At your local elections office
At any ballot drop-off location
Find a ballot drop-off location near you at your local elections website.
Make sure your ballot counts! Remember...
If you mail your ballot, make sure it is postmarked by Election Day.
Put enough postage on the envelope.
Make sure your ballot is sealed in the envelope.
Sign the form on the envelope.
If you are voting by mail for the first time, check the ID requirements carefully.
- Ask your local elections office who can return your ballot for you.
- If someone helped you, have them complete the form for assistants.
Learn about accessible voting by mail options in the next card.
Accessible voting by mail allows voters with disabilities to mark a mail-in ballot electronically, using their own technology and assistive tools.
To use accessible tools for voting by mail, typically voters:
- Download an electronic ballot to mark using personal technology
- Print the ballot and any signature form
- Seal the ballot in an envelope
- Return it by mail or to a ballot drop off locatoin
Some states allow electronic return by email, fax, or a secure portal.
In Illinois, the accessible vote by mail program is run by the local elections offices
The Remote Accessible Vote by Mail program enables voters who are blind, have low vision, or cannot physically handle paper to cast a private ballot.
- Contact your local election office to request access.*
Deadline to return your ballot:
Postmarked & Delivered by Election Day, November 5, and received by November 19.
Returning a printed ballot
- Follow the instructions provided by the elections office.
You can return your ballot:
- By mail
- At a secure drop box
- At your local election office
- At any ballot drop-off location
The systems in use in Illinois for accessible voting by mail are:
Ask your local election office about the accessible vote by mail system you will use.
Dominion ImageCast Remote
Accessible system for voting by mail.
Creates a summary list-style ballot with warnings about missed opportunities to make a selection.
Ballot is downloaded for return as a PDF file.
Learn more about using ImageCast Remote
- Product Brochure (PDF)
Learn more about accessible voting options in Illinois