It’s almost Election Day. Here’s everything you need to know if you still need to vote.

Long-awaited Election Day is just around the corner. If you haven’t voted yet, it’s not too late — but here are some things you should know as you make your voting plan.

Is it too late register to vote?

If you’re behind on your plans and still not registered to vote, you’re in luck — it’s not too late.

While online voter registration is now closed for this election, you can still register or change your address and cast a ballot in person at an early voting site or at designated sites on Election Day, as long as you’ve lived in your current location for 30 days before the election. You’ll just need two forms of ID, including one with your current address. That can include first-class mail, such as a utility bill, bank statement or letter from a government agency.

Can I still vote early?

Yes. The early voting period extends to Monday with Election Day on Tuesday. Here’s a list of all the early voting locations in the city and the suburbs.

Hours and dates vary by county and location. When making a plan to vote, it’s worth checking on a location in advance.

What do I need to know about voting in-person?

Whether you’re a longtime voter or new to the process, voting can be confusing. Here’s what you need to know when casting your vote in-person this year.

Is it too late to mail in my ballot?

The short answer is yes, but if you still want to vote by mail, there is something you can do.

Go to your local county clerk’s office or election authority to request a mail-in ballot in person. The deadline to do that is Monday (tomorrow). Just be sure to complete your ballot and place it in the mail or a designated drop box, or return it to your local election office by the next day.

Ballots returned by mail and postmarked by Election Day should be counted as long as they’re received by Nov. 17.

Where can I go to drop off my mail-in ballot?

Secured drop boxes are installed around the Chicago metropolitan area where voters can drop off their completed mail-in ballots within their jurisdiction — offering an alternative to mailing them — but the placement of these drop boxes will vary depending on county. Here’s a map to find the location closest to you.

Story continues

What do I do if I misplaced my mail-in ballot?

You can sign an affidavit at an early voting site or Election Day polling place and will be allowed to cast a provisional ballot, which will be counted once it’s confirmed that your ballot was not returned by mail.

What if I decide to vote in person after receiving a mail-in ballot?

You’re allowed to vote in person only if you haven’t yet cast your ballot by mail. If you decide you’d rather vote in person, you’ll need to bring your mail-in ballot to an early voting site or your election precinct polling place and surrender it to an election judge. The election judge should then give you a standard ballot, which you can fill out to vote in person.

Keep in mind it’s illegal to vote more than once in an election, so only choose one method. In Illinois, knowingly voting more than once or attempting to do so is a class 3 felony.

Can I vote if I’m in the hospital?

Many have been anticipating this election. But what happens if you are hospitalized just before you planned to vote?

In this situation, voters have an option. In Illinois, patients hospitalized within the 14 days before an election can arrange to have a ballot delivered to the hospital. Here’s how.

———

©2020 the Chicago Tribune

Visit the Chicago Tribune at www.chicagotribune.com

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.