March 17th, 2026

Dear Neighbors, 

Today is Election Day, and polls are open until 7pm! 

Remember, long as you are in line by 7 p.m., you can still cast your ballot. Please see below for the 43rd Ward Precinct sites, but also keep in mind that the Lincoln Park Library is open at the same times, as well as the other 49 Ward specific early voting sites, and the 'Supersite' at 137 S. State St. 

Locate your precinct polling place or closest vote center

The Board of Elections has a “Voters Bill of Rights” on its website. If you have any issues with voting — like if someone tries to intimidate you or stop you from casting a ballot — you can contact the board at 312-269-7870. People with questions and concerns can also call the Chicago Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights at 866-687-8683.

As always, our office is open from Monday - Friday from 9 AM - 5 PM and Saturday from 10 AM - 12 PM. Feel free to call us at 773-348-9500 or click here to submit a question to our office directly.

Go out and make your voice heard,

43rd Ward Public Service Office Staff

Voting By Mail? You can also submit your Ballot Return Envelope at any of the Board's Secured Drop Boxes, with the 43rd Ward having one at the Lincoln Park Library (1150 W Fullerton). Please note that Illinois voters who plan to use mail-in ballots for the March 17 primary election should be aware of postmarking procedures and ballot return options.

However, ballots dropped in a mailbox or handed to a letter carrier may not receive a postmark until they are processed at a regional facility, which can take a day or two. Voters returning ballots by mail close to the primary are advised to visit a postal service retail location and have their ballot manually postmarked, according to the announcement.

Chicago voters can drop off their ballot to any Drop Box in the city!

This election, the Chicago Board of Election Commissioners has hired more than 400 “polling place investigators” who are retired or off-duty law enforcement agents to help respond to public safety issues in realtime. These investigators will be the main point of contact for election workers at polling places if they have issues or public safety concerns.

Poll watchers, recruited by outside organizations like political parties and nonprofits, will also be present at polling places. These individuals are credentialed by the Chicago Board of Election Commissioners to observe election processes at polling locations.

Voting Military

Service members and their dependents may register and request a ballot using the federal voter registration/ballot request form (“FPCA”). You will have the following identification options when completing the form:

• U.S. State or Territory or District Issued ID
• Option to Indicate that you do not have the Requested ID
• Last 4 Digits of your Social Security Number

Voting Overseas

U.S. citizens living overseas may register and request a ballot using the overseas voter registration/ballot request form. You will have the following identification options when completing the form:

• U.S. State or Territory or District Issued ID
• Option to Indicate that you do not have the Requested ID
• Last 4 Digits of your Social Security Number

Registration/application for unregistered overseas civilian citizens temporarily residing outside the United States must be received by October 5, 2024. Overseas civilian citizens who currently are registered to vote and absent uniformed service members and eligible family members must have their signed ballot requests received by October 28, 2024. Requests for ballots can be submitted online through the Illinois Military and Overseas Empowerment website or here.
The Chicago Board of Elections offers military/overseas voters emailed ballots, mailed ballots, or an online ballot option (available here). Any eligible military/overseas voter with a valid Federal Post Card Application on file with the Chicago Board of Elections may log into the online ballot option, after which the voter must print and mail the ballot and supporting documents to the Chicago Election Board. Uniformed service members (and their eligible dependents) and U.S. citizens living outside of the United States may request a vote by mail ballot under the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (UOCAVA). Mailed ballots must be signed and postmarked by Election Day and received within 14 days of the election.

The only people in Illinois who CANNOT vote because of their criminal record are people who:

• Are in prison or jail serving a sentence after conviction for any crime;* 
• Are on furlough from confinement under a sentence, including medical furlough;
• Are in an Adult Transition Center; or 
• Are on work-release (or periodic imprisonment) from confinement under a sentence (usually from prison). 

*Note that the majority of people in a jail are being detained in pre-trial detention and have not been convicted of the crime they are being detained for and are eligible to vote.

However, others who have been convicted of a crime CAN vote, including people previously convicted of felony crimes who are not currently serving a sentence of confinement or people on probation or parole. 

After a person has served their sentence and is released from incarceration, they are again eligible to vote as soon as they are released but must re-register to vote.

Looking to update your signature on your voter registration? Use one of the forms below! 

Or stop into 69 W. Washington with two forms of ID (one with your current address) and Board staff will assist you. Please note: you must fill out the registration form completely for it to be processed. For #3, please choose "Apply to register to vote in Illinois."

English: Click here.

Spanish: Click here. 

Cook County Clerk's Office
Voter registration and polling places for the suburban townships of Cook County

Illinois State Board of Elections (ISBE)
Statewide election results and campaign finance records

Illinois Voter Guide
The Illinois Voter Guide is a nonpartisan online voter resource powered by the League of Women Voters of Illinois

BallotReady
Nonpartisan system for voters to review candidates and issues

United States Election Assistance Commission (EAC)
Federal agency that certifies voting equipment and clearinghouse for information on election administration

Verified Voting
The Verified Voting Foundation is a non-governmental, nonpartisan organization that evaluates voting equipment and systems. Founded in 2003 by David L. Dill, a computer scientist from Stanford University, designed to preserve the democratic process with modern voting advancements.

United States Federal Election Commission (FEC)
Regulatory agency that governs the financing of federal elections

United States Federal Voting Assistance Program (FVAP)
Federal agency that facilitates military/overseas voting under the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (UOCAVA)

Project Vote Smart
Database on candidates and elected officials that examines biographies, issues, voting records, campaign finances and interest-group ratings.

Managing Election and Political Stress

DePaul University's practical tips for a healthier mindset from the Master's in Public Administration Program

Electionline.org
Nonpartisan aggregator and creator of news content related to election administration

CanIVote.org | USA.gov | TurboVote
Sites geared to provide all American voters with information on voter registration, early voting, mail voting and election-day polling places

Additional Frequently Asked Questions answered by the Chicago Board of Elections here.

On par with past elections, the majority of the city’s results are expected to be reported and viewable online on election night.

43rd Ward Office Hours: M-F 9am-5pm & Sat 10am-12pm

 773-348-9500 | [email protected] | 2523 N. Halsted