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State profile

Illinois elections & voting

Electoral votes, voting rules, and presidential results for Illinois.

How Illinois votes

In 2024, Illinois voted Democratic. It has backed the Democratic Party in its last 5 consecutive elections.

19
electoral votes
Voter IDNo-excuse absenteeEarly votingSame-day registrationAutomatic registration

Voting rules

No ID Required
Active

ID not required to vote

Voter ID
Effective: 1975
No-Excuse Absentee
Active

Any voter can request mail ballot

Mail-In Voting
Effective: 2016
40 Days Early Voting
Active

Early voting begins 40 days before election

Early Voting
Effective: 2006

One of longest early voting periods in nation

Same-Day Registration
Active

Register and vote on Election Day

Same-Day Registration
Effective: 2014
Automatic Voter Registration
Active

Automatic registration at DMV

Automatic Registration
Effective: 2018

Election history

How Illinois has voted in presidential elections.

  • 2024DemocraticKamala Harris19 EV
  • 2020DemocraticJoe Biden20 EV
  • 2016DemocraticHillary Clinton20 EV
  • 2012DemocraticBarack Obama20 EV
  • 2008DemocraticBarack Obama21 EV
  • 1920RepublicanWarren G. Harding29 EV
  • 1916RepublicanCharles Evans Hughes29 EV
  • 1912ProgressiveTheodore Roosevelt29 EV
  • 1908RepublicanWilliam Howard Taft27 EV
  • 1904RepublicanTheodore Roosevelt27 EV
  • 1900RepublicanWilliam McKinley24 EV
  • 1896RepublicanWilliam McKinley24 EV
  • 1892DemocraticGrover Cleveland24 EV
  • 1888RepublicanBenjamin Harrison22 EV
  • 1884RepublicanJames G. Blaine22 EV
  • 1880RepublicanJames A. Garfield21 EV
  • 1876RepublicanRutherford B. Hayes21 EV
  • 1872RepublicanUlysses S. Grant21 EV
  • 1868RepublicanUlysses S. Grant16 EV
  • 1864RepublicanAbraham Lincoln16 EV
  • 1860RepublicanAbraham Lincoln11 EV
  • 1856DemocraticJames Buchanan11 EV
  • 1852DemocraticFranklin Pierce11 EV
  • 1848DemocraticLewis Cass9 EV
  • 1844DemocraticJames K. Polk9 EV
  • 1840DemocraticMartin Van Buren5 EV
  • 1836DemocraticMartin Van Buren5 EV
  • 1832DemocraticAndrew Jackson5 EV
  • 1828DemocraticAndrew Jackson3 EV
  • 1824Democratic-RepublicanAndrew Jackson3 EV
  • 1820Democratic-RepublicanJames Monroe3 EV

Timeline

2020s

2024
Election
Democratic
major

2024 Presidential Election

Kamala Harris won IL with 19 electoral votes

2020
Election
Democratic
major

2020 Presidential Election

Joe Biden won IL with 20 electoral votes

2010s

2018
Rule Change
Auto Registration
moderate

Automatic Voter Registration

Automatic registration at DMV

2016
Rule Change
Mail Voting
major

No-Excuse Absentee

Any voter can request mail ballot

2016
Election
Democratic
major

2016 Presidential Election

Hillary Clinton won IL with 20 electoral votes

2014
Rule Change
Same-Day Registration
moderate

Same-Day Registration

Register and vote on Election Day

2012
Election
Democratic
major

2012 Presidential Election

Barack Obama won IL with 20 electoral votes

2000s

2008
Election
Democratic
major

2008 Presidential Election

Barack Obama won IL with 21 electoral votes

2006
Rule Change
Early Voting
moderate

40 Days Early Voting

Early voting begins 40 days before election

1970s

1975
Rule Change
Voter ID
major

No ID Required

ID not required to vote

1920s

1920
Election
Republican
major

1920 Presidential Election

Warren G. Harding won IL with 29 electoral votes

1910s

1916
Election
Republican
major

1916 Presidential Election

Charles Evans Hughes won IL with 29 electoral votes

1912
Election
Progressive
major

1912 Presidential Election

Theodore Roosevelt won IL with 29 electoral votes

1900s

1908
Election
Republican
major

1908 Presidential Election

William Howard Taft won IL with 27 electoral votes

1904
Election
Republican
major

1904 Presidential Election

Theodore Roosevelt won IL with 27 electoral votes

1900
Election
Republican
major

1900 Presidential Election

William McKinley won IL with 24 electoral votes

1890s

1896
Election
Republican
major

1896 Presidential Election

William McKinley won IL with 24 electoral votes

1892
Election
Democratic
major

1892 Presidential Election

Grover Cleveland won IL with 24 electoral votes

1880s

1888
Election
Republican
major

1888 Presidential Election

Benjamin Harrison won IL with 22 electoral votes

1884
Election
Republican
major

1884 Presidential Election

James G. Blaine won IL with 22 electoral votes

1880
Election
Republican
major

1880 Presidential Election

James A. Garfield won IL with 21 electoral votes

1870s

1876
Election
Republican
major

1876 Presidential Election

Rutherford B. Hayes won IL with 21 electoral votes

1872
Election
Republican
major

1872 Presidential Election

Ulysses S. Grant won IL with 21 electoral votes

1860s

1868
Election
Republican
major

1868 Presidential Election

Ulysses S. Grant won IL with 16 electoral votes

1864
Election
Republican
major

1864 Presidential Election

Abraham Lincoln won IL with 16 electoral votes

1860
Election
Republican
major

1860 Presidential Election

Abraham Lincoln won IL with 11 electoral votes

1850s

1856
Election
Democratic
major

1856 Presidential Election

James Buchanan won IL with 11 electoral votes

1852
Election
Democratic
major

1852 Presidential Election

Franklin Pierce won IL with 11 electoral votes

1840s

1848
Election
Democratic
major

1848 Presidential Election

Lewis Cass won IL with 9 electoral votes

1844
Election
Democratic
major

1844 Presidential Election

James K. Polk won IL with 9 electoral votes

1840
Election
Democratic
major

1840 Presidential Election

Martin Van Buren won IL with 5 electoral votes

1830s

1836
Election
Democratic
major

1836 Presidential Election

Martin Van Buren won IL with 5 electoral votes

1832
Election
Democratic
major

1832 Presidential Election

Andrew Jackson won IL with 5 electoral votes

1820s

1828
Election
Democratic
major

1828 Presidential Election

Andrew Jackson won IL with 3 electoral votes

1824
Election
Democratic-Republican
major

1824 Presidential Election

Andrew Jackson won IL with 3 electoral votes

1820
Election
Democratic-Republican
major

1820 Presidential Election

James Monroe won IL with 3 electoral votes

This site explains the structure and history of U.S. federal elections and is not an official government resource. All data shown is for educational purposes only.