You must be a United States Citizen. You must be at least 18 years old. But for a Primary Election, you may be 17 years old as long as you will turn 18 by the date of the General or Consolidated Election (16 year olds may preregister to vote). You must live in your election precinct at least 30 days prior to Election Day. You must not be serving a sentence of confinement in any penal institution as a result of a conviction. You may not claim the right to vote anywhere else. ____________ Incarcerated Voters & Returning Citizens: In Illinois, you only lose your right to vote if you are currently incarcerated for a misdemeanor or felony conviction. If you lost your voting rights because of a conviction, you could register to vote immediately after release. Your voting rights are not restricted by pretrial detention, misdemeanors, probation, or parole.