The next election is coming soon and there are several ways to participate. Below are a few highlights, however complete information (including how-to videos) can be found on the Chicago Board of Election Commissioners website. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, all voters are encouraged to Vote by Mail -OR- with Early Voting.

Below is information on 3 methods for voting: 1) Vote by Mail, 2) Deliver your Mail in Vote to a Secure Drop Box or 3) Vote in Person during Early Voting. Although voting is permitted at any polling location, please note that the 40th Ward’s official voting location this year is:

***Mather High School (5835 N Lincoln Ave.)*** not the library as in previous years.

1. Vote By Mail

NOTE: If you received a state letter and already applied to Vote By Mail, you may confirm your Vote By Mail application status here.

Any Chicago voter may apply online now to Vote By Mail ahead of the Nov. 3, 2020 Election. No reason or excuse is needed to Vote By Mail. Mail-in application form      

Chicago voters who apply online between now and Sept. 24 will be among the first to receive ballots. Ballot mailings will begin Sept. 24-Oct. 5.

Chicago voters who apply online to Vote By Mail will receive emails:

• In the days that follow their online application, to confirm that the online application has been received and processed;

• When the ballot is being mailed to the voter -- with a unique link to a system to track the ballot through the US Postal Service;

• When the Vote By Mail "Ballot Return Envelope" is received by the Election Board; and,

• When the Vote By Mail "Ballot Return Envelope" has been approved for counting -- or if there is a question or problem with your Ballot Return Envelope.

2. Drop Boxes

New for the Nov. 3, 2020 Election: Secured Drop Boxes to return your Vote By Mail "Ballot Return Envelope"

Chicago's Vote By Mail voters may return the signed and sealed Ballot Return Envelope at any of the Election Board's Secured Drop Boxes -- in addition to the option of using standard US Mail to return the Ballot Return Envelope.

You must use the Ballot Return Envelope with your name on it, which will be mailed with the ballot and voting instructions.

Mailings of ballots to voters, by law, will begin starting Sept. 24. If you need to apply to Vote By Mail or check the status of your application or ballot mailing, click here.

Secured Drop Box Schedule and Locations

Starting Sept. 24 through Nov. 3

The 24-HOUR Drop Box will be at 69 W. Washington St., through 7 pm on Election Day, Nov. 3

Starting Oct. 1 through Oct. 13 - Loop Super Site

Loop Super Site at Clark & Lake - 191 N. Clark St.

  Monday-Friday - 8:30 am-7 pm

  Saturday-Sunday - 9 am-5 pm

  Nov. 3, Election Day - 6 am-7 pm

Starting Oct. 14 through Nov. 3 - 50 Ward Sites for Early Voting and Loop Super Site

Early Voting sites in all 50 Wards - plus the Loop Super Site
  Monday-Friday - 8:30 am-7 pm

  Saturday-Sunday - 9 am-5 pm

  Election Day, Nov. 3 - 6 am-7 pm

Ward 40 - Mather High School,  5835 N Lincoln Ave.

3. In-Person Early Voting & Registration

Every voter is encouraged to wear a facemask that covers the mouth and nose, whether visiting to use in-person Early Voting or to use a Secured Drop Box.

Voters in line must practice social distancing with 6 feet (2 meters) of space between persons in line.

For the Nov. 3 General Election, Chicago voters may use any Early Voting & Registration location in the city, starting Oct. 1 at the Loop Super Site, and then starting from Oct. 14 at the 50 Ward sites. Chicago voters may use any Early Voting location in the city.

Any ballots that voters cast in Early Voting are final. After casting ballots in Early Voting, voters may not return to amend, change or undo a ballot for any reason. It is a felony to vote more than once -- or to attempt to vote more than once -- in the same election.

Government-issued photo ID is not required but is helpful if there is a question about the voter's registration, address, signature or if there are two voters at the same address with the same names or similar names.

Registration services are available at every Early Voting site. Two forms of ID, one of which shows the voter's current address, are needed to register for the first time or to file a name change or an address update.

Locations & Hours for Early Voting

Starting Oct. 1 through Oct. 13 - only at the Loop Super Site

Loop Super Site at Clark & Lake - 191 N. Clark St.

  Monday-Friday - 8:30 am-7 pm

  Saturday-Sunday - 9 am-5 pm

  Election Day, Nov. 3 - 6 am-7 pm

Starting Oct. 14 through Nov. 3 - All 50 wards

Early Voting sites in all 50 Wards - plus the Loop Super Site
  Monday-Friday - 8:30 am-7 pm

  Saturday-Sunday - 9 am-5 pm

  Election Day, Nov. 3 - 6 am-7 pm

Loop Super Site at Clark & Lake - 191 N. Clark St.
Ward 1 - Goldblatts Building, 1615 W Chicago Ave.
Ward 2 - Ogden Elementary School, 24 W Walton St.
Ward 3 - Beethoven Elementary School,  25 W 47th St.
Ward 4 - Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Center,  4314 S Cottage Grove
Ward 5 - Ray Elementary School,  5631 S Kimbark Ave.
Ward 6 - Harvard Elementary School,  7525 S Harvard Ave.
Ward 7 - Burnham Elementary School,  9928 S Crandon Ave.
Ward 8 - Olive Harvey College,  10001 S Woodlawn Ave.
Ward 9 - Curtis Elementary School,  32 E 115th St.
Ward 10 - Sadlowski Elementary School,  3930 E 105th St.
Ward 11 - Sheridan Elementary School, 533 W 27th St.
Ward 12 - Kelly High School,  4136 S California Ave.
Ward 13 - West Lawn Park,  4233 W 65th St.
Ward 14 - Edwards Elementary School,  4815 S Karlov Ave.
Ward 15 - Carson Elementary School,  5516 S Maplewood Ave.
Ward 16 - Lindblom Park,  6054 S Damen Ave.
Ward 17 - Southside High School,  7342 S Hoyne Ave.
Ward 18 - Carroll Elementary School,  2929 W 83rd St.
Ward 19 - Clissold Elementary School,  2350 W 110th Pl.
Ward 20 - Dulles Elementary School,  6311 S Calumet Ave.
Ward 21 - Turner - Drew Language Acad.,  9300 S Princeton Ave.
Ward 22 - Ortiz De Dominguez Elementary School,  3000 S Lawndale Ave.
Ward 23 - Richardson Middle School,  6018 S Karlov Ave.
Ward 24 - Herzl Elementary School,  3711 W Douglas Blvd.
Ward 25 - Jungman Elementary School,  1746 S Miller St.
Ward 26 - Casals Elementary School 3501,  W Potomac Ave.
Ward 27 - Suder Elementary School,  2022 W Washington Blvd
Ward 28 - Westside Learning Center,  4624 W Madison St.
Ward 29 - Burbank Elementary School,  2035 N Mobile Ave.
Ward 30 - Lorca Elementary School,  3231 N Springfield Ave.
Ward 31 - Falconer Elementary School,  3020 N Lamon Ave.
Ward 32 - Pulaski Elementary School,  2230 W McLean Ave.
Ward 33 - Bateman Elementary School,  4220 N Richmond St.
Ward 34 - Dunne Elementary School,  10845 S Union Ave.
Ward 35 - NEIU El Centro,  3390 N Avondale Ave.
Ward 36 - Hanson Park Elementary School,  5411 W Fullerton Ave.
Ward 37 - McNair Elementary School,  4820 W Walton St.
Ward 38 - Hiawatha Park,  8029 W Forest Preserve Dr.
Ward 39 - Sauganash Elementary School,  6040 N Kilpatrick Ave.
Ward 40 - Mather High School,  5835 N Lincoln Ave.
Ward 41 - Oriole Park Elementary School,  5424 N Oketo Ave.
Ward 42 - Maggie Daley Park,  337 E. Randolph St.
Ward 43 - Lincoln Park High School,  2001 N Orchard St.
Ward 44 - Inter American Elementary School,  851 W Waveland Ave.
Ward 45 - Hitch Elementary School,  5625 N McVicker Ave.
Ward 46 - Truman College,  1145 W Wilson Ave.
Ward 47 - Welles Park,  2333 W Sunnyside Ave.
Ward 48 - Broadway Armory,  5917 N Broadway
Ward 49 - New Field Elementary School,  1707 W Morse Ave.
Ward 50 - Warren Park,  6601 N Western Ave.