Heads up, Illinois: Election Day for 2024 is officially a week away. Have you already voted?

Numerous referendums, judicial elections and control of the General Assembly are on the ballot in Illinois' 2024 general election next week. Of course, there's also the presidential race between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump.

In Chicago, residents will vote on school board members for the first time, and some voters will even be asked to approve major renovation projects and the construction of new school and park facilities.

Here's what you need to know about voting, what's on your ballot, and more as Election Day approaches.

When is election day?

Election Day in the United States is the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November, which falls on November 5th this year.

Of course, voters can cast their ballots that day, but in Illinois, early voting has now begun in most parts of the state.

Registering to Vote in Illinois

Voter registration deadlines have passed in Illinois. Regular registration ends October 8th and online voter registration ends October 20th.

However, voters in the state of Illinois can register after a grace period or on the same day. The easiest way to do this is to visit your local county clerk's office and bring the required identification. Voters can then cast their vote on the day they register.

On election day, voters can register at certain polling stations, although the same identification requirement applies. For more information, visit your county website.

It is important to note that not all polling stations offer same-day registration as election judges require appropriate training. However, voters can find information on the Board of Elections website.

Voters who wish to do so must bring two forms of identification and their vote will be provisionally counted until their right to register at the address they provided is verified.

For more information about the types of identification required for same-day voter registration, click here.

How to check your voter registration

Your voter registration status can be checked at this link.

Once you are on the website, you will need to enter your first and last name, date of birth and zip code. The website will then ask you for your house number and street name.

Once entered on the website, your registration status will be displayed.

Vote by mail. Deadlines

Illinois residents interested in voting by mail may do so as long as they are registered to vote under state law.

The deadline for requesting a mail-in ballot is five days before the election or October 31, 2024. These ballots must then be postmarked no later than Election Day, November 5, or placed in a designated mailbox by the end of Election Day Election day.

Voters can still choose to vote in person. The relevant steps are described on the election committee’s website.

Detailed information on registering for postal voting as well as further information on the guidelines enshrined in state law can be found here.

Where to vote early near you

Early voting has increased in Illinois leading up to the election. You can find a list of polling locations near you in the Chicago area here.

Each jurisdiction, as well as the City of Chicago itself, designates different polling locations for early voting purposes leading up to Election Day.

Further information can be found via the following links:

City of Chicago

Cook County

DeKalb County

DuPage County

Grundy County

Kane County

Kankakee County

Kendall County

Lake County

LaSalle County

McHenry County

Will County

How to vote on Election Day

Of course, voters may cast their ballots at their respective polling stations on Election Day, but there are certain circumstances in which ID may be required.

No ID is required if a voter is registered at their current address and voting in the correct precinct. However, an ID can clarify any questions that arise when casting your vote.

A voter needs an ID if election judges have reason to challenge their right to vote at a polling place or if their voter registration form did not include a driver's license, state ID number or Social Security number, the election board said.

Anyone who wants to register to vote on Election Day and submit a ballot must also bring two forms of identification. A complete list of permitted forms of identification can be found here.

When do the polling stations open on election day?

In Illinois, polls must open at 6 a.m. and close at 7 p.m. However, voters who are in line when polls close are still legally entitled to vote.

Certain circumstances may cause polling stations to remain open for extended periods of time. However, in these circumstances, the information will be shared with voters.

View your sample ballot

NBC has put together a tool to help voters determine which races they will see on their ballots this November.

For more information about which races will appear on your ballot, click here. Sample ballot papers can be found here.

Who's on the ballot in Illinois?

Illinois is moving away from the U.S. Senate vote by one election cycle, with Sens. Dick Durbin up for re-election in 2026 and Tammy Duckworth in 2028.

However, it will be up to state voters to vote for president, with Vice President Kamala Harris, former President Donald Trump and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. all on the ballot for that office.

In addition to the presidential race, all 17 Illinois seats in the U.S. House of Representatives will be up for election, as will all of the state's House of Representatives seats and one-third of the state's Senate seats.

In addition, there will be three advisory questions on the ballot paper at the statewide level as well as referendums in numerous municipalities and districts.

Finally, there will be a limited number of municipal and county races in the 2024 general election.

Voters can search for candidates for various offices on the State Board of Elections website.

Illinois ballot referendums

According to the State Board of Elections, there are three advisory questions on Illinois' November ballot, none of which will be binding.

One question will be whether candidates should face civil penalties if they interfere with the official duties of a poll worker. A second will ask whether a constitutional amendment should be passed imposing an additional 3% tax on income over $1 million to provide property tax relief. The third question concerns whether reproductive treatments should be covered by state health insurance.

Voters in some Chicago districts will also face a number of advisory questions. Further information on these questions can be found here.

Voters living outside the city of Chicago can find information about their referendums here.

Illinois races to watch

In addition to the presidential election, there are several other races on the ballot that could have nationwide implications for control of Congress.

As Democrats look to potentially regain control of the House, voters should keep an eye on the 17^Th Congressional district where incumbent Rep. Eric Sorensen is running against Republican candidate Joe McGraw.

This race is currently rated as “Likely Democratic” by the Cook Political Report, with McGraw seeking to flip the seat to Republicans.

Democrats are also providing additional resources to Rep. Nikki Budzinski in her 13th term^Th district, which is running against Republican Josh Loyd in this election.

Illinois Democrats will also seek to maintain their control of the state House and Senate, with supermajorities in both chambers.

There are two state Supreme Court races on the ballot, but 1^st District Judge Joy Virginia Cunningham and 4th^Th District Judge Lisa Holder White is running unopposed for the full ten-year term.

Depending on their location, voters will also see a variety of appellate judges and district judges on their ballots, as well as candidates in various superintendent positions at the county level.

Voters can visit the State Board of Elections website for a complete list of candidates in their respective districts.

How to research judges

In addition to the two Illinois Supreme Court races, there are numerous other battles for seats on the state's appellate and district courts.

Voters seeking information about this election can find several resources to help them make their decision.

What do you need to bring with you to vote?

If a voter is already registered at their current home address, they do not need to bring identification. However, if you have any questions, a photo ID can be helpful.

Voters who need to register or make changes to their voter registration on election day can do so at select polling stations, but must bring two pieces of identification.

According to state officials, voters can also bring slips of paper to the voting booth to help them fill out their ballots.

Can I take a ballot selfie?

According to experts, taking photos with a ballot paper is prohibited by law. This ban stems from a law that prohibits marking ballots so that another person can see how a voter voted.

However, state officials have told NBC Chicago in the past that it is “unlikely” anyone will be prosecuted, but still recommend taking photos of an “I Voted” sticker instead of the ballot itself.

What should I do if I have problems voting?

Voters whose eligibility to vote is questioned, who experience voter intimidation, or who experience problems at their polling station are encouraged to report such incidents.

If you encounter any of the above issues or have questions about the voting process, more than 100 organizations in the U.S. operate an election protection hotline, which you can reach at:

1-866-OUR-VOTE (1-866-687-8683): ​​English

1-888-VE-Y-VOTA (1-888-839-8682): Spanish/English

1-888-API-VOTE (1-888-274-8683): ​​Asian Languages/English

1-844-YALLA-US (1-844-925-5287): Arabic/English

Illinois residents can also text MYVOTE to 866-687-8683 if they have concerns. which are looked after by trained volunteers.

How to get live Illinois election results

Election Day coverage will be available on NBC Chicago. the station's 24/7 streaming news channel, and via the NBC Chicago website and mobile app.

Live results can be found in the app. Voters can turn on notifications to receive all the latest election news.