County Clerk: Frequently Asked Questions
What if I registered by mail on the Federal Registration form?
If I applied for an absentee ballot, may I still vote in person?
What if I make a mistake on my ballot?
May I vote for a write-in candidate?
My next door neighbor is listed in a different precinct. Did I make a mistake?
What if I am incapacitated and unable to make it to the polling place?
May I use a cell phone in the polling place?
Voting Questions
What if I registered by mail on the Federal Registration form?
Voters who registered by mail on the Federal Registration form, must vote in person the first time they vote. These voters may not vote absentee by mail.
If I applied for an absentee ballot, may I still vote in person?
No, if you apply for an absentee ballot you cannot change your mind and vote on election day.
What if I make a mistake on my ballot?
The new voting system allows a voter to change their vote multiple times. The equipment does not allow an overvote (an overvote is when a voter votes for more choices than allowed in a contest) and shows a summary screen to help alert a voter if they didn't vote in a particular contest. Because the new voting system is all electronic, missmarks or stray pencil marks will no longer be an issue.
May I vote for a write-in candidate?
Write-in votes will count only for candidates who have filed a Declaration of Intent to be a Write-In Candidate by 5:00 p.m. on the Tuesday before the election.
My next door neighbor is listed in a different precinct. Did I make a mistake?
Your ballot may be different than your closest neighbor’s. Precinct boundaries and units of government do not necessarily coincide. Ballot styles are specific to those candidates and issues for which you are entitled to vote.
What if I am incapacitated and unable to make it to the polling place?
If you are incapacitated, you may vote by absentee ballot or request curbside voting on election day. Call the County Clerk's office at 672-6070 for more information.
May I use a cell phone in the polling place?
Cellular telephones should not be brought into the polling place. Using a cellular telephone in the polling place may constitute electioneering.
Must I declare a party?
Illinois does not have a party registration system. You are only required to declare a party if you wish to vote on party nomination ballots during a primary.