MOLINE, Ill. — The 2024 General Election is just around the corner, taking place on Tuesday, Nov. 5.
The race for U.S. president between Republican Donald Trump and Democrat Kamala Harris is arguably at the forefront of this year's election, but numerous national, statewide and local elections will also be taking place.
In Illinois, most of the races are at the state level except for the U.S. House of Representatives. Since representatives only serve two-year terms, politicians in each of Illinois' 17 congressional districts are up for reelection.
That includes the race between Democratic incumbent Eric Sorensen and Republican Joseph McGraw in Illinois' 17th Congressional District, which covers much of the immediate Quad Cities area and extends down towards Peoria and up to Rockford.
Two Republican incumbents are running unopposed in their respective districts, including Darin LaHood in the 16th Congressional District and Mary Miller in the 15th Congressional District.
Races for the Illinois General Assembly will be taking place across the state, including elections for the state senate and state house.
News 8 will have live election results on Tuesday, Nov. 5 as ballots start to pour in across the state
Who can vote?
Under Illinois law, voters must be U.S. citizens who turn 18 on or before the date of the general election. Voters must live in the precinct in which they're casting their ballot at least 30 days in advance of the election date. In addition to that, any Illinois residents who are currently incarcerated for a criminal conviction are ineligible to vote, but any formerly incarcerated person who's on parole, probation or has fully completed their criminal sentence is immediately eligible to vote.
When is Election Day?
The 2024 general election will be held on Tuesday, Nov. 5.
What time do polls open and close in Illinois?
Polls are open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Election Day.
Can I check if I'm registered?
To check if you're registered, visit the State Board of Elections website here.
I haven’t registered to vote yet: Can I still vote on Nov. 5?
Illinois residents can register to vote up to election day through the state's grace period. Regular voter registration by mail stopped Oct. 8 and online registration must have been done by Oct. 20. Residents can register in-person through Nov. 5, the day of the election.
Find out where you can register to vote during Illinois' grace period here.
When does early voting start in Illinois?
Early voting started on Oct. 9 and can be done at your local election authority's office and select polling sites. Residents who requested mail-in ballots should have started receiving those after Sept. 26. The deadline to get those to your local election authority was Oct. 21 and the last day for early voting is Nov. 4. More information on early voting can be found here.
Find out where you can vote early in Illinois here.
Where can I vote?
Polling places vary by county and precinct. You can find out where you'll need to go on election day by visiting the Illinois State Board of Elections website and entering your address, including your zip code, street name and street number.
What do I need to bring with me to vote?
In Illinois, voters don't need to present proof of identification on registration day as long as their registration information hasn't changed since the last time they voted. Illinois residents can register online, in person at their local election office, or at driver's license facilities.
How can I get to my polling place?
Back in April, Lyft announced it would offer discounted rides to the polls via its LyftUp Voting Access Program. That means 50% off rideshares, bikes and scooters on for customers on Nov. 5, up to $10.
Uber will also offer 50% off rides on Nov. 5. All users need to do is use the "Go Vote" tile to book a ride. In addition, Uber plans to offer 25% off Uber Eats orders beginning at 6 p.m. on Election Day.
All three of the Quad Cities' main forms of public transportation will be offering no-cost rides on Tuesday, Nov. 5. That includes MetroLINK in Illinois, along with Davenport CitiBus and Bettendorf Transit in Iowa. Find route information for MetroLINK here, Davenport CitiBus here and Bettendorf Transit here.
Find the Illinois State Board of Elections' voter guide here. Sample ballots can be found by contacting your local election authority.