Illinois

Illinois does not have a voter ID law.

Registered voters do not need to provide an ID when they vote in person, except for some first-time voters.

Check the federal ID requirements for first-time voters!

Any registered Illinois voter may apply for a mail-in ballot.

A copy of your ID is not required to vote by mail, with the exception of some first-time voters.

Check the federal ID requirements for first-time voters!

You must file a Request for Name Change and Order for Name Change with your county’s circuit court to change your name in Illinois.

You will be required to publish notice in a local newspaper for three weeks. This requirement can be waived for survivors of domestic violence, stalking, or sexual assault.

If the court approves your name change, you will receive a court order that can be used to update the name on your ID documents.

Submit a request to the Illinois Department of Public Health to correct your birth certificate.

To correct your Illinois birth certificate, you will need to provide:

• notarized Affidavit and Certificate of Correction Request form (PDF)
• Valid government-issued photo ID (list here) 
• Certified copy of name-change court order and/or other required documentation 
• payment of applicable fee(s)

Note: You must update your birth certificate with the state where you were born.

Visit a Secretary of State facility and apply for a corrected Illinois driver’s license or state ID. You must notify the Illinois Secretary of State of a legal name change within 10 days of the name change.

You will need to bring current state-issued ID, acceptable ID, and documentation demonstrating your legal name change.

Submit a request to the Illinois Department of Public Health to correct your birth certificate.

To correct your Illinois birth certificate, you will need to provide:

• notarized Affidavit and Certificate of Correction Request form (PDF)
• Declaration of Gender Transition/Intersex Condition form (PDF) completed by a licensed health care professional*
• valid government-issued photo ID (list here) 
• certified copy of name-change court order (if applicable)
• payment of applicable fee(s)

* Qualified health care professionals include a physician, an advanced practice nurse, a physician assistant, or a mental health professional.

Note: You must update your birth certificate with the state where you were born.

Illinois allows residents to mark M, F, or X on their state-issued IDs. No medical certification is required.

Visit a Secretary of State facility to update the gender marker on your Illinois driver’s license or state ID.

You will need to provide a completed Gender Designation Change Form (PDF), your current state-issued ID, and payment of applicable fee(s).