Information for Voters
WHO SHOULD REGISTER TO VOTE?
Winnebago County residents who are not registered to vote and who
meet the following Illinois voter qualifications should register:
- Must be a citizen of the United States
- Must be at least 18 years old
- Must be a resident of the State for at least 30 days
WHEN CAN I REGISTER?
You can register at any Election Authority during their normal
office hours. The only time you cannot register is during a period
from 28 days prior to an election until the 2nd day after the election
is held.
WHAT INFORMATION DO I NEED TO REGISTER?
You need to present two (2) forms of I.D. One needs to have your
current address listed with you name and the second form can be
anything with just your name on it. Example: A current Drivers License
and your Social Security Card.
WHAT DO I DO WHEN I HAVE MOVED AND CHANGED MY ADDRESS?
If you have your voter registration card from your previous address,
you can turn it over and on the space provided on the back, put
your new address. Please remember to sign and put a phone number
in case there are any questions.
WHAT IF I GET MARRIED OR CHANGE MY NAME?
Women who change their last name need to register at any Election
Authority. When you change your Drivers License into your different
name, you can also change your Voters Registration at that time.
Even if you hyphenate your last name, you still need to re-register.
ABSENTEE VOTING
WHO MAY VOTE BY ABSENTEE BALLOT?
Persons who are registered in Winnebago County are eligible to
cast an absentee ballot only if they meet one of these conditions:
- Persons expecting to be absent from Winnebago County on election
day
- College or university students temporarily residing away from
their home precinct
- Persons who will be serving as election judges outside their
precinct or election officials employed by the County Clerk or
a law enforcement agency
- Persons physically incapacitated or hospitalized
- Persons serving on jury duty on election day
- Persons who are observing a religious holiday
- Persons in jail as pre-trial detainees not serving jail sentences
In addition, the following unregistered voters are eligible to
vote by absentee ballot:
- Members of the Uniformed Service or merchant marine on active
duty, or eligible spouses or dependents
- U.S. citizens temporarily residing outside the U.S.
- U.S. citizens overseas by virtue of employment or accompanying
their spouses or dependents
- Other U.S. citizens residing outside the U.S.
ABSENTEE VOTING BY MAIL
Voters need to obtain an application for an absentee ballot. To
obtain an application, the voter would need to either call the County
Clerk’s office at 987-3088 or write to our office requesting
the application. Complete the application, including your signature
and if the ballot is to be mailed to a different address other than
your home address, you would need to include that. Return the application
to the County Clerk’s office in person or by mail. Your ballot
will be mailed to you within 2 days. PLEASE REMEMBER: By state law,
our office may not mail ballots more than 40 days nor less than
five days prior to the election.
Once you have received your absentee ballot, follow all enclosed
instructions to vote the ballot and return it to the County Clerk’s
office by Election Day. Voted ballots may be returned by mail or
may be returned in person.
ABSENTEE VOTING IN PERSON
Any qualified voter may cast an absentee ballot in person at the
Winnebago County Clerk’s office not more than 40 days or less
than one day prior to the election.
HOW TO BECOME AN ELECTION JUDGE
In order to become an election judge, registered voters need to
be of one party affiliation or another. You determine your party
affiliation when you vote in the primaries and declare a party.
Election judges are responsible for the proper and lawful conduct
of the election in the polling place. Election judges are commissioned
as officers of the Circuit Court and are required to take an oath
to uphold the constitutions of the United States and the State
of Illinois.
Interested voters can contact the Election Dept. of the County
Clerk’s office at 987-3088.
CAMPAIGN DISCLOSURE INFORMATION
The Illinois Campaign Disclosure Act applies to all candidates
for public office, groups of candidates or political action committees
(PAC) who have accepted contributions or made expenditures in excess
of $3,000 within a 12-month period, in support of or in opposition
to (1) a candidate or candidates for public office, or (2) any question
of public policy to be submitted to the voters. Once the threshold
has been reached, the Act requires that the committee file campaign
disclosure documents with the State Board of Elections and, if applicable,
the county clerk. Find more information at www.elections.state.il.us.
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