Ward Service Office
1447 W. Morse Ave
Chicago, IL 60626
Information on the 2023 Municipal
Run-Off Election
The April 4 Municipal Run-Off Election is just around the corner. This year, the Board of Elections has consolidated polling places, so please check its website for your voting location.
Voting early is easier than ever either at an early voting location or by mail for those looking to vote ahead of Election Day. Below are the resources to help you participate in the democratic process.
Early Voting Begins March 20 in All 50 Wards
Early voting for the 2023 Municipal Run-Off Election begins on Monday, March 30, in all 50 wards. Chicago voters may vote at any Early Voting location through April 4.
Any voter who needs to register to vote for the first time or file an address update or name change must show two forms of ID, one of which reflects the voter's current address. A list of acceptable forms of ID is available on the Board of Election's website.
In the 49th Ward, voters can vote early at Willye B. White Park, 1610 W. Howard. A full list of early voting locations is available on the Chicago Board of Election's website.
Early voting hours are:
Weekdays: 9 am - 6 pm
Saturday: 9 am - 5 pm
Sunday: 10 am - 4 pm
Election Day (April 4): 6 am - 7 pm
Voters are allowed to bring in notes with them to a polling place when casting their ballot.
Apply to Vote by Mail by March 30
Any Chicago voter can file an online application to vote by mail for the 2023 Municipal Run-Off Election. A voter does not need a reason or an excuse to vote by mail.
Thanks to a new Illinois law, voters now have the option to join a permanent vote-by-mail roster to have their ballots sent directly to their preferred mailing address ahead of every election. Voters can opt into this option when applying for a Vote by Mail ballot online. Please note that unless you are already on the Permanent Vote By Mail Roster, you will not automatically receive a mail ballot for the April 4 Run-Off Election. If you want a mail ballot, you will need to apply again.
Voters will receive a ballot in the mail with instructions on how to fill it out and return it. Any ballot that is postmarked Wednesday, April 5, or later cannot be counted by law. If a voter places a ballot envelope in a mail drop box on April 4 in the afternoon or evening, they risk the chance of the envelope being postmarked on April 5 and, therefore, being considered ineligible to be counted.
Voters may also return their mailed ballot to a Secured Drop Box at any Chicago Early Voting location before Election Day. Mail ballots may also be delivered personally to the Election Board at 69 W. Washington, Sixth Floor.
Voters who request a mail ballot but would prefer to vote in person can surrender their mail ballot at any early voting location or their polling place on Election Day to opt for an in-person ballot instead. Voters are NOT allowed to vote by mail and at an in-person location; they must choose only one method of voting.
If a person requests a mail ballot and it is not received by Election Day, voters will still have the opportunity to cast their ballot. Voters who do not receive or lose their mail ballot may complete an affidavit at their polling place on Election Day saying that the ballot was never received or that it was lost.
For more information and to complete the vote-by-mail application, visit the Board of Elections website here. The deadline to apply for a mail ballot is Thursday, March 30, at 5 pm.
Find Your Polling Place on Election Day
Voters who want to vote at their polling place on Election Day can find their polling location by entering their information on the Board of Election's website. The 49th Ward office has also created an interactive map of the voting precinct and polling places that residents may access by clicking here.
Precinct polling locations will be open from 6 am to 7 pm on Election Day, April 4, only. Voters may also vote at any early voting location in the city on Election Day.
You may register to vote at your polling place on Election Day. To do so, you must provide two forms of identification, one of which must show a current address. A list of acceptable forms of ID is available to view on the Chicago Board of Election's website.
Voters are allowed to bring in notes with them to the polling place when casting their ballot.
How to Pull a Sample Ballot
Voters wanting to view a sample ballot ahead of casting their vote may obtain one on the Chicago Board of Election's website.
Simply input your information on the Board of Election's "Your Voter Information" page and click on "Search." From there, a new page will appear with information containing your polling place, ward, precinct, and more. From there, you will want to click on the second tab located at the top of the box that reads "Sample Ballot." This tab will contain the sample ballots for your address.