2026 Nominations and Voting InformationHere’s a breakdown of the key dates and how to participate:Nominations: Readers nominate their favorite people, places and things in more than 200 categories. Start Date: Aug. 6 at 1 a.m.Aug. 6 at 1 a.m. End Date: Aug. 17 at 11:59 p.m.Aug. 17 at 11:59 p.m. How to Nominate: Online: You’ll need to log in or register with a valid email address. Paper Ballots: Available in the Aug. 6 and Aug. 13 issues of Illinois Times. Start Date: Sept. 10 at 1 a.m.Sept. 10 at 1 a.m. End Date: Sept. 21 at 11:59 p.m. Results Announced:Illinois Times – Oct. 29 print issueBest of Springfield Party – Thursday, October 29, at BOS Center.