Illinois 2022 General Election Guide: Key Dates, Races To Watch

ILLINOIS — Early voting is under way at most county clerk's offices throughout Illinois, and mail-in ballots are being sent to voters ahead of the Nov. 8 general election. This time around, Illinois voters will cast their ballots for statewide races, including governor, attorney general, secretary of state, U.S. senator, U.S. representative, state senator and state representative.

If you're not registered to vote, you can do so now at your county clerk's office, driver's license facility or with a deputy registrar in your area. You can also register in person on election day at your polling place, but make sure your poll offers same-day registration. If you want to register by mail, your application must be postmarked by Oct. 11. You can register to vote online through Oct. 23.

If you're not sure if you're already registered, you can check online.

And if you're not sure where your polling place is, you can also look that up online using your address.

Key election dates, deadlines

Here's how and when residents can vote in Illinois:

• Thursday, Sept. 29: First day of early voting at county clerk's offices in most areas (outside the City of Chicago); first day mail-in ballots are sent to voters
• Oct. 7: First day of early voting in Chicago at the Chicago Board of Elections Supersite, 191 N. Clark St., and Chicago Board of Elections office, 69 W. Washington St.
• Oct. 11: Last day to register to vote in person or by mail. (You can also register to vote on election day at your polling place)
• Oct. 23: Last day to register to vote online. (You can also register to vote on election day at your polling place)
• Oct. 24: Early voting begins at sites in all 50 wards in Chicago, early voting locations throughout Illinois
• Nov. 3: Deadline to request a mail-in ballot
• Nov. 7: Last day of early voting
• Nov. 8: Polls are open 6 a.m. to 7 p.m.; last day to send a mail-in ballot (mail-in ballots must be postmarked by Nov. 8 to count)

Early voting sites

While voting at county clerk's offices began Sept. 29 in most jurisdictions, additional early voting locations will open Oct. 24 in most places:

• Chicago
• Suburban Cook County
• DuPage County
• Kane County
• Kendall County
• Lake County
• McHenry County
• Will County

Voting by mail

You can request a vote-by-mail ballot online or from your location election authority.

The deadline to request a ballot to vote by mail is Nov. 3 and if you're going to send it via the U.S. Postal Service, it must be postmarked by Nov. 8.

You can drop your vote-by-mail ballot off with your local election authority (check with your county clerk's office) or at a drop box in your county.

Here's where you can find a drop box:

• Chicago (starting Oct. 7 at 69 W. Washington St. and 191 N. Clark St.; starting Oct. 24 at any early voting site)
• Suburban Cook County (Oct. 24 through Nov. 7)
• DuPage County: DuPage County Clerk Election Division, 421 N. County Farm Road, Wheaton,
• Kane County
• Kendall County: At the county building at 111 W. Fox St. in Yorkville
• Will County

What's on the ballot

Here are the top contested races on the Nov. 8 general election ballot:

• Illinois Governor
• Attorney General
• Secretary of State
• State Treasurer
• Comptroller
• U.S. Senate
• U.S. House
• State Senate/State House

The Illinois treasurer and comptroller primaries are uncontested after candidates were removed from the ballot.

Top Illinois races to watch

Illinois Governor

• Democrat Gov. J.B. Pritzker
• Republican State Sen. Darren Bailey

Bailey, a downstate Illinois farmer and state senator who was a vocal critic of Pritzker's COVID-19 restrictions, faces off against the billionaire incumbent governor. There are also several write-in candidates: Republican Emily Johnson, Independent Shon-Tiyon Horton and Independent Elizabeth Sebesta.

Attorney General

• Democrat Kwame Raoul
• Republican Thomas DeVore

DeVore, who made a name for himself by filing lawsuits over Gov. J.B. Pritzker's COVID-19 restrictions, will face incumbent Kwame Raoul in November's General Election for Attorney General. Libertarian Dan Robin is also on the ballot.

Secretary of State

Democratic primary:

• Democrat Alexi Giannoulias
• Republican Dan Brady

With longtime Secretary of State Jesse White not seeking re-election, former Illinois Treasurer Giannoulias will face Brady, a state representative. Libertarian Jon Stewart is also on the ballot.

Comptroller

• Democrat Susana Mendoza
• Republican Shannon Teresi

Mendoza is seeking re-election against McHenry County auditor Teresi. The race also has a write-in candidate, Independent Jeffrey English.

Treasurer

• Democrat Mike Frerichs
• Republican Tom Demmer

Frerichs looks to keep his seat against Demmer, a state representative. Republican Patrice McDermand is also a write-in candidate.

U.S. Senate

• Democrat Sen. Tammy Duckworth
• Republican Kathy Salvi

Duckworth, an Iraq war veteran and Purple Heart recipient, will look to hold onto her U.S. Senate seat against Lake County attorney Kathy Salvi. The race also includes Libertarian Bill Redpath, National Union Party member Connor Vlakancic and Independent write-in candidate Lowell Seida.

U.S. Representatives

1st Congressional District

• Democrat Jonathan Jackson
• Republican Eric Carlson

With Bobby Rush not seeking re-election, Jonathan Jackson emerged victorious from a field of 17 Democratic candidates to get the nomination. He will face Eric Carlson of Lemont. There are also two Independent write-in candidates, Tori Nicholson and Babette Peyton.

6th Congressional District

• Democrat Sean Casten
• Republican Keith Pekau

Sean Casten defeated Marie Newman in the newly redrawn 6th District in the Democratic primary, and will take on Orland Park Mayor Keith Pekau. Republican and self-avowed Nazi Art Jones, who has unsuccessfully run for Congress several times, is also running as a write-in.

8th Congressional District

• Democrat Raja Krishnamoorthi
• Republican Chris Dargis

Krishnamoorthi has represented the 8th District since 2017 and will take on Dargis, a businessman and retired Naval officer and nuclear engineer from Palatine. Independent Mohammed Faheem is also on the ballot.

11th Congressional District

• Democrat Bill Foster
• Republican Catalina Lauf

Foster, a physicist, has represented the 11th District since 2012. Lauf served as a U.S. Department of Commerce adviser after being appointed by the Trump administration. Donald Wagner is an Independent write-in candidate.

Workers Rights Amendment

The bill, which was drafted by the Illinois General Assembly in 2021, provides that “employees shall have the fundamental right to bargain collectively through representatives of their own choosing for the purpose of negotiating wages, hours and working conditions and to “protect their economic welfare and safety at work.”

Here's what you need to know.