Illinois: Do you need an ID to vote?
Illinois does not require most voters to show ID. Election judges compare the voter's signature with the registration record.
Voters give their name, sign a certificate or ballot application, and judges compare that signature with the one on file. If the signatures don't match and the voter can't answer identifying questions, the voter is challenged and handled under the challenge procedure. ID can come up for voters who register at the polls, first-time voters who registered by mail without ID (a federal rule), and voters whose residence is challenged.
What the law says
Any person desiring to vote shall give his name and, if required to do so, his residence to the judges of election. ... The judges in charge of the precinct registration files shall compare the signature upon such certificate with the signature on the registration record card as a means of identifying the voter.
Sources
- 10 ILCS 5/17-9 (FindLaw) Mirror of official text · codes.findlaw.com
- 10 ILCS 5/4-22 (FindLaw) Mirror of official text · codes.findlaw.com
- 10 ILCS 5/17-10 (FindLaw) Mirror of official text · codes.findlaw.com
Confirm with the state
- Agency
- Illinois State Board of Elections
- Website
- elections.il.gov
How bordering states compare
- Indiana Photo ID requiredIndiana requires a government-issued photo ID. A voter without one votes provisionally and must follow up within 10 days.
- Iowa ID required, non-photo acceptedIowa requires ID at the polls. A free non-photo Voter ID card counts, and a voter with no ID may vote provisionally.
- Kentucky Photo ID requestedKentucky asks for photo ID. A voter without one can sign an impediment affirmation at the polls, show another ID, and vote normally.
- Missouri Photo ID requestedMissouri asks for photo ID. A voter without one casts a provisional ballot, which counts if it matches the signature on file.
- Wisconsin Photo ID requiredWisconsin requires photo ID to vote; without it, the vote counts only if ID is shown by 4 p.m. the Friday after the election.