2026 Election Schedule

Here's the full set of 2026 Early Voting Locations as published by our county clerk, with hours, whether they have dropboxes, and when the dropboxes are available.  You can download a copy here!

Thursday, September 24th --

• Early voting begins for the 2026 General Election at the McHenry County Election Center, 410 South Eastwood Drive, Woodstock. 
• Vote-By-Mail ballots will be mailed out by the county clerk to voters who have requested them.  Look to receive yours by September 27th.  Call the clerk at 815-334-4242 if you do not receive yours. Sample ballots should be available on the clerk's website, as well.

Monday, October 19th -- Early voting begins at Early Voting Locations around the county (also called "early satellite voting").  

Tuesday, October 20th -- Plan to have your Vote-By-Mail ballot in the mail!  Track your ballot at https://mchenryvbm.ballottrax.net/voter/.  If it is not received by November 2nd, prepare to vote in person in your precinct or at the McHenry County Election Center on Election Day.  Vote a provisional ballot.

Thursday, October 29th -- Last day to request a mail-in ballot -- applications sent by US Mail must be received by the county clerk by this date.

Saturday, October 31st -- Last day to vote early at the following Early Voting Locations. Check open times.

• Huntley Park District
• Algonquin Library
• Cary Park District
• Dunham Township Office (also Dropbox Location)
• Marengo City Hall

Monday, November 2nd -- Last day for early voting at the following Early Voting Centers. Check open times.

• McHenry County Election Center (also Dropbox Location)
• Algonquin Township Garage (also Dropbox Location)
• Crystal Lake Public Library (also Dropbox Location)
• McHenry Township Office (also Dropbox Location)
• Lake in the Hills Village Hall (also Dropbox Location)
• McHenry City Hall
• Nunda Township Office

Tuesday, November 3rd -- General Election Day

• On Election Day, to vote in person, you must vote in your precinct's polling place or at the Election Center, the one universal site on Election Day. 
• The last day to vote a Vote-By-Mail ballot. DO NOT PUT YOUR BALLOT IN A MAILBOX!  Instead:
  • Deposit it in the ballot dropbox in the parking lot at 667 Ware Rd., Woodstock, or 
  • Go to a United States Post Office counter and request a manual postmark, or
  • Take your Vote-By-Mail ballot to your precinct's polling place or the McHenry County Election Center, turn it in, and vote in person.

AND HERE'S THE KEY DATES FOR THE UPCOMING 2027 MUNICIPAL ELECTION.

Monday, November 16th through Monday, November 23rd, 2026 -- Filing period for candidates not going through a primary

Tuesday, April 6th, 2027 -- "Consolidated" (Municipal) Election -- school boards, library boards, park boards, municipal offices, etc.

The Illinois State Board of Elections' full 2026 calendar can be found here.

The Illinois State Board of Elections' abbreviated calendar can be found here.