Whether you’re on the fence about voting, unsure how to vote or adamant about making your voice heard, it’s essential to have all the deadlines, dos and don’ts in mind as the November 2024 general election rolls around.  

This year’s official Election Day is Nov. 5, where voters will decide not only the new President of the United States but also the outcome of numerous local-, state- and federal-level questions or races as well. But what are all the deadlines to make sure your ballot counts? 

Deadlines 

To vote, the first step is to register. To register to vote in Illinois, you must be a United States citizen and a resident of Illinois at least 30 days before the election. You have to be 18 years old by the date of election. You cannot be serving a jail or prison sentence and cannot have claimed the right to vote anywhere else. 

Qualified residents can register to vote online. The registration system will close at 11:59 p.m. Oct. 20 and reopen Nov. 7. Residents already registered to vote can also use this online portal to change their existing registration or double-check that they are all set. 

To register to vote by mail, the application must be postmarked by Oct. 8. To register to vote in person, qualified residents can do so all the way up to and during Election Day on Nov. 5. 

After registration, it’s important to decide how you want to vote and to have a voting plan in place. Some prefer to vote early to avoid the rush and to have peace of mind ahead of time. Any qualified voter can do so at a site established by the election authority. 

In suburban Cook County, voters can cast an early ballot starting Oct. 21 through Nov. 4. While there are no early voting locations in Forest Park, one of the closest spots that those who are voting early can go to is at the Oak Park Village Hall, 123 Madison St. Voting hours will be 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sundays. 

Others prefer to vote by mail. To do so, a ballot has to be requested by mail between Aug. 7 and Oct. 31. In-person requests must be made by Nov. 4.  

To ensure the mail-in ballot counts, it must be postmarked by Election Day on Nov. 5 and received within two weeks. Voters can also return their ballot in a drop box location, which can be found online, from Oct. 21 to Nov. 4.  

Military personnel and United States citizens that are overseas have to follow additional requirements. 

Where to vote 

But if you want to vote in person on Election Day, it’s important to be prepared and know where to go.  Voters can find their specific polling location for Election Day with the zip code and street address of their voter registration through the Illinois State Board of Elections. 

In Forest Park, there are five polling locations: 

  • Grant-White Elementary School, 147 Circle Ave.  
  • Garfield Elementary School, 543 Hannah Ave.  
  • Howard Mohr Community Center, 7640 Jackson Blvd.  
  • Park District of Forest Park, 7501 Harrison St. 
  • Betsy Ross Elementary School, 1315 Marengo Ave.