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The 2026 Illinois primary election will take place on Tuesday, March 17. The upcoming election will determine the candidates for a variety of local, state-wide, and national offices, including county officials, governor, and seats in the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives. Ahead of Election Day, explore resources from Loyola Votes to get informed and prepare to vote to make your voice heard.
Register to vote
The first step in the voting process is to get registered. Illinois-based voters can check if they are already registered or find more information on eligibility and getting registered through the Illinois State Board of Elections.
Out-of-state students can check their home state’s primary election dates and registration deadlines and can find more information through their state and local election offices.
Prepare in advance
To prepare for Election Day, identify the causes most important to you and review candidates’ political goals through their campaign websites, policies, interviews, and debates. Find voter guides from your state’s election website and build a sample ballot.
Ramblers are encouraged to stop by the Loyola Votes tabling in the Damen Student Center atrium on March 13 to learn more about voter registration and civic engagement.
Have a plan
If voting in-person in Illinois, double-check polling places here. If you’re registered at a Lake Shore Campus address, your Election Day polling place may be at the south end of the Damen Student Center—check to confirm your specific location. For early voting, all students, regardless of registered address, can visit the Broadway Armory, just a few blocks away, to register and vote before Election Day.
If voting by mail, voters must request a vote by mail ballot through the Illinois State Board of Elections.
What to bring
For Ramblers who have already voted in Illinois or have already shown an ID when they registered to vote, an ID is not needed at the polls. For first time Illinois voters or voters who didn’t show an ID at registration, a current and valid photo ID or a document proving residence is required.
Voters can also bring their phone or written or printed materials into the voting booth to assist you.
Explore more resources from the University Libraries and Loyola Votes to prepare for Election Day.
