What is the minimum age to vote in Illinois?

In Illinois, the minimum age to vote is 18 years old. This aligns with federal voting laws as well, which were established through the 26th Amendment to the United States Constitution. The amendment was ratified in 1971 and mandated that citizens who are 18 years or older cannot be denied the right to vote based on age. Therefore, individuals must reach their 18th birthday by the time of an election in order to participate in voting. While individuals as young as 17 may preregister to vote, they must be 18 by the time of the election to cast their ballot. This reinforces the importance of reaching the age of majority, which is recognized as a fundamental requirement for voting.