What is the abbreviation for Illinois, and what region is it in?

Illinois's two-letter postal abbreviation is IL. The U.S. Census Bureau places it in the Midwest region, in the East North Central division, and about 12.8 million people lived there in the 2020 census.

When did Illinois become a state, and what number state was it?

Illinois became the 21st state on December 3, 1818. Its land was part of the Northwest Territory, then the Indiana Territory, and became the Illinois Territory in 1809. Before statehood, territorial delegate Nathaniel Pope persuaded Congress to move the planned northern border about 41 miles north, which put the future site of Chicago inside Illinois.

Where does the name Illinois come from?

The name comes from the French spelling of the name of the Illinois Confederation, a group of Native American peoples who lived along the Illinois and Mississippi rivers. Linguists trace it to a Miami-Illinois word meaning roughly "he speaks the ordinary way."

What is the capital of Illinois, and has it always been the capital?

Springfield has been the capital since 1839. The first capital was Kaskaskia, from 1818 to 1820, followed by Vandalia from 1820 to 1839. Abraham Lincoln, then a young state legislator, was one of the lawmakers who pushed to move the capital to Springfield, and the current State Capitol was completed in 1888.

What states border Illinois?

Illinois borders Wisconsin to the north, Indiana to the east, Kentucky to the southeast across the Ohio River, and Missouri and Iowa to the west across the Mississippi River. In the northeast it has a shoreline on Lake Michigan, across which lies the state of Michigan.

Why is Illinois called the Land of Lincoln?

Abraham Lincoln lived in Illinois from 1830 until he left Springfield for Washington in 1861, and he is buried in Springfield. "Land of Lincoln" is the state's official slogan and appears on its license plates, while "The Prairie State" is its traditional nickname.

What are Illinois's state motto and symbols?

Illinois's motto is "State Sovereignty, National Union." Its state bird is the northern cardinal, its flower is the violet, its tree is the white oak, and its insect is the monarch butterfly.

How many representatives and electoral votes does Illinois have?

Based on the 2020 census, Illinois lost a seat and now has 17 in the U.S. House of Representatives, which gives it 19 votes in the Electoral College.

Which presidents came from Illinois?

Ronald Reagan, born in Tampico in 1911, is the only president born in Illinois. Abraham Lincoln, Ulysses S. Grant, and Barack Obama were born elsewhere but built their careers in Illinois before reaching the White House.

State Guide21st StateEst. 1818

Illinois IL

"The Prairie State"

Home to one of the world's great cities, the Land of Lincoln, the birthplace of the skyscraper, and the global center of futures trading. Illinois is a state of enormous contrasts, towering lakefront skylines and flat prairie farmland, world-class cultural institutions and a political corruption legacy that is genuinely unrivaled. Few states have shaped American history, culture, and commerce more deeply.

State Debt - FY2024

$43.4 billion

Total state government debt outstanding at the close of fiscal 2024, including long-term bonds and short-term borrowing across state agencies and public universities.

Tax Revenue - FY2024

$67.7 billion

Total Illinois state tax collections in fiscal 2024, led by the individual income tax ($23B) and the general sales tax ($16B).

Borrowing

Illinois is the lowest-rated state and a heavy borrower, issuing general obligation bonds, including pension obligation bonds, and Build Illinois sales-tax revenue bonds. All are sold to investors in the municipal market, at interest rates that carry a penalty over higher-rated states. The state reported about $2.5 billion in interest on its debt in fiscal 2024.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2024 Annual Survey of State Government Finances.

21st

State admitted to the Union

12.5M

Population, 6th largest state

3rd

Largest city in America (Chicago)

Nuclear power-producing state

Illinois's 2026 Midterm Election: Who and What Is on Your Ballot

Hey there, Illinois. On Tuesday, November 3, 2026, you're choosing a governor and lieutenant governor, a U.S. senator for an open seat, your member of the U.S. House, the other statewide offices, and your state legislators. There are no statewide ballot questions this year.

This is a midterm election, halfway through the president's term, and nationally it decides who controls Congress for the next two years. The governor's race is a rematch: Gov. J.B. Pritzker faces Darren Bailey, whom he beat in 2022.

Dick Durbin is retiring after five terms, so Illinois is picking a new U.S. senator for the first time since 2016. And five U.S. House seats have no incumbent running.

The key dates and how voting works are right below. Use the buttons above to open each race. Facts first; the decision is yours.

Checked against official sources on October 4, 2026

Key Dates

Key Dates
Early voting and mail ballots began	Thursday, September 24
Last day to register online (you can still register in person through Election Day)	Sunday, October 18
Last day to request a mail ballot	Thursday, October 29
Last day of early voting	Monday, November 2
Election Day: polls open 6 a.m. to 7 p.m.; mail ballots must be postmarked by today	Tuesday, November 3

How Voting Works in Illinois

Not registered? Register online through October 18. After that, you can still register and vote the same day (grace period registration) during early voting and on Election Day at locations your county or city election authority sets; bring two IDs, one showing your current address.

Early voting started September 24 at your election authority's office and expands to more sites as Election Day nears; it runs through November 2. On Election Day, polls are open 6 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Any voter can vote by mail. Request a ballot by October 29 and mail it back postmarked by November 3, or drop it in an official drop box; it counts if it arrives within 14 days after the election.

You generally don't need ID to vote in person if you're already registered. Look up your polling place and sample ballot with your county clerk or the State Board of Elections.

Sources & Further Reading

…

Illinois's 2026 Midterm Election: Who and What Is on Your Ballot

Dick Durbin is retiring after five terms, so Illinois is picking a new U.S. senator for the first time since 2016. And five U.S. House seats have no incumbent running.

The key dates and how voting works are right below. Use the buttons above to open each race. Facts first; the decision is yours.

Checked against official sources on October 4, 2026

Key Dates

Early voting and mail ballots began

Thursday, September 24

Last day to register online (you can still register in person through Election Day)

Sunday, October 18

Last day to request a mail ballot

Thursday, October 29

Last day of early voting

Monday, November 2

Election Day: polls open 6 a.m. to 7 p.m.; mail ballots must be postmarked by today

Tuesday, November 3

How Voting Works in Illinois

Early voting started September 24 at your election authority's office and expands to more sites as Election Day nears; it runs through November 2. On Election Day, polls are open 6 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Any voter can vote by mail. Request a ballot by October 29 and mail it back postmarked by November 3, or drop it in an official drop box; it counts if it arrives within 14 days after the election.

You generally don't need ID to vote in person if you're already registered. Look up your polling place and sample ballot with your county clerk or the State Board of Elections.

Illinois's 2026 Midterm Election: Who and What Is on Your Ballot

Key Dates

How Voting Works in Illinois

📚 Sources & Further Reading

Illinois's 2026 Midterm Election: Who and What Is on Your Ballot

Key Dates

How Voting Works in Illinois

📚 Sources & Further Reading

Sources & Further Reading

Sources & Further Reading