Naperville Voters: What to Know Before Polls Open Tuesday

Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026, and Naperville is one of the few Illinois cities where a voter's ballot depends on which side of a county line they call home. The city spans DuPage and Will counties, and the election for each Naperville household is run by that voter's own county clerk — the DuPage County Clerk for voters on the DuPage side, the Will County Clerk for voters on the Will side.

Polls are open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Tuesday. Anyone who is in line by 7 p.m. may vote, so arriving near closing time is not a problem as long as you are in line before the hour strikes. Voters will be deciding federal, state and local races on the general election ballot.

One question comes up every cycle: do you need identification? Registered voters generally do not need to show ID to vote in Illinois. There are exceptions. ID can be required for first-time voters who registered by mail without providing proof of identity, for voters registering on the same day they vote — same-day registration requires two forms of ID, one showing a current address — and in cases where a voter's eligibility is challenged.

If you voted by mail, the deadline that matters is the postmark: mail ballots must be postmarked by Election Day. A ballot dropped in a mailbox after the last collection on Tuesday risks missing that mark, so voters holding a mail ballot on Election Day should pay attention to collection times.

Not sure where to vote? Polling places are assigned by address, and the reliable way to find yours is through the Illinois State Board of Elections or your county clerk — DuPage or Will, depending on where you live. Check before you leave home on Tuesday morning, and Naperville Riverwalk News will publish results coverage Tuesday night.