It is a directly elected position, votes being cast by popular suffrage of residents of the state.

The governor is responsible for endorsing or vetoing laws passed by the Illinois General Assembly.

[c] The 43rd and current governor is JB Pritzker, a Democrat who took office on January 14, 2019.

Inauguration takes place on the second Monday in January following a gubernatorial election in November.

The governor is also given the use of two official residences on the state fair grounds, located in Springfield and DuQuoin.