What to expect in Illinois on Election Day

CHICAGO - The race for president tops the list of federal, state and local contests in Illinois, where voters have supported the Democratic presidential nominee for decades but lower-ballot contests are more competitive.

Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris, Republican former President Donald Trump and Robert Kennedy are on the presidential ballot. The last Republican presidential candidate to win in Illinois was George H.W. Bush in 1988.

In the U.S. House, incumbents are running for reelection in all 17 districts. That includes Democratic freshman Eric Sorensen, whose 17th Congressional District stretches from Rockford through central Illinois. He faces Republican Joe McGraw in the state's most competitive congressional race.

Voters will also weigh in on three advisory questions, which are non-binding, including one that asks voters whether health insurance plans that provide coverage for pregnancy benefits should also cover reproductive treatments such as in vitro fertilization.

CHICAGO, UNITED STATES - FEBRUARY 28: "I Voted" sticker is seen as people cast their votes at a polling station during the election of mayor of Chicago and city council members in Chicago, United States on February 28, 2023. (Photo by Jacek Boczarski

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Chicago is holding its first school board elections, a key step as the city transitions from a mayor-appointed school board to one elected by voters. That transition has been rife with conflict. Mayor Brandon Johnson named an entirely new board in October after all seven members resigned.

The Associated Press doesn't make projections and will declare a winner only when it has determined there is no scenario that would allow the trailing candidates to close the gap. If a race hasn't been called, the AP will continue to cover any newsworthy developments, like candidate concessions or declarations of victory. In doing so, the AP will make clear it hasn't declared a winner and explain why.

Here's a look at what to expect in the 2024 election in Illinois:

Election Day

Nov. 5

Poll closing time

7 p.m. CT

Presidential electoral votes

19 awarded to the statewide winner

Key races and candidates

President: Harris (D) vs. Trump (R) vs. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. (Independent)

17th Congressional District: Sorensen (D) vs. McGraw (R)

Ballot measures: Advisory Question 1 (civil penalties for election worker interference), Advisory Question 2 (create new tax bracket), Advisory Question 3 (expand reproductive health coverage)