Voter Registration FAQ's
- Who can register to vote?
- When can I register to vote?
- Where can I register to vote?
- How do I know if I am registered to vote?
- What if I am not registered 27 days before an Election?
- Can I register to vote on Election Day?
- Can I register by mail?
- What identification do I need to register to vote?
- Do I ever have to re-register to vote? Does my voter registration expire?
- What if I have moved since I registered to vote?
- What if I have had a name change since I registered to vote?
- If I renewed my driver’s license, does that mean I am registered to vote?
- What if I lost/misplaced my voter’s identification card?
- How do I cancel my voter registration?
Voting FAQ's
- Where do I vote?
- When do I vote?
- How do I vote?
- How/When do I vote by mail?
- What is early voting and how can I do it?
- When and Where can I vote early?
- Do I need identification to vote?
- What if I am told at the polling place I am not eligible to vote, but I believe I am?
- What offices can I vote on?
- How can I find out who the candidates are for the next election?
- Do I have to declare my party affiliation to vote?
Candidate Related FAQ's
- What do I have to do to be a candidate?
- How can I find election results?
- How do I become a pollwatcher?
- How can I obtain lists or other information about registered voters?
- How can I find out if I need to file campaign disclosure documents?
Election FAQ's
- How can I find out what jurisdictions/voting districts I reside in?
- Who are my elected officials?
- When are elections held?
Voter Registration FAQ's
Who can register to vote?
In order to be qualified to register to vote:
- You MUST be a US citizen
- You MUST be at least 18 years of age by the date of the next election EXCEPTION: For a General Primary, Consolidated Primary or Caucus, 17 year olds may register and vote if they will be 18 as of the following Election (Per PA 98-51 and PA 99-722)
- You MUST reside in the precinct 30 days prior to the next election
- You MUST not be convicted AND in jail.
- You MUST not claim the right to vote anywhere else
When can I register to vote?
Registration is open year round except during the 27 days preceding an election and reopens the second day following an election. There is also a special registration period called Grace period, which allows for the registration of voters and for change of address during the period from the close of registration through election day. During this period, an unregistered elector may register to vote or submit a change of address ONLY in person in the Sangamon County Election Office or on Election Day at their polling place. After the registration process, the voter will then cast their ballot. Please note that once a voter casts a grace period ballot, the vote cast is final and may not be revoked and the voter is not eligible to cast a vote on Election Day.
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Where can I register to vote?
There are various places you may become registered to vote.
How do I know if I am registered to vote?
You may check to see if you are registered to vote through the State Board of Elections website. When you register to vote in Sangamon county, a voter identification card is mailed to every voter once their registration is completed by our office. This card serves as your proof that you are a registered voter and includes information such as your polling place, precinct and all jurisdictions in which you are entitled to vote. If you have misplaced your card or are not sure if you ever received one, you may call the Election Office at (217) 753-8683 to request a replacement card or click here to request one on-line.
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What if I am not registered 27 days before an Election?
Grace period allows for the registration of voters and for change of address during the period from the close of registration through election day. During this period, an unregistered elector may register to vote or submit a change of address ONLY in person in the Sangamon County Election Office or on Election Day at the polling place. After the registration process, the voter will then cast their ballot. Please note that once a voter casts a grace period ballot, the vote cast is final and may not be revoked and the voter is not eligible to cast a vote on Election Day.
Can I register to vote on Election Day?
Yes, voters may register at their polling place or in the Election Office on Election Day.
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Can I register by mail?
Yes. Citizens may apply to register to vote by mailing in an application. When you apply for registration using the mail-in form, it must be postmarked prior to the close of registration. For a mail-in registration form, click here.
What identification do I need to register to vote?
Two forms of identification are required. One must show your name and current address. The second form must show your name.
If you register by mail, sufficient proof of identity is required by submission of your driver's license number or State identification card number. If you don't have either of those, verification by the last 4 digits of your social security number, a copy of a current and valid photo identification, or a copy of a current utility bill, bank statement, paycheck, government check or other government document that shows your name and address will be required. A person may also demonstrate sufficient proof of identity by submission of a photo identification issued by a college or university accompanied by either a copy of the applicant's contract or lease for a residence or any postmarked mail delivered to the applicant at his or her current residence.
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Do I ever have to re-register to vote? Does my voter registration expire?
No. You only need to re-register if you have had a name or address change.
What if I have moved since I registered to vote?
If you moved within Sangamon County, you may change your voter registration address by completing the information on the reverse side of your voter identification card and returning it to our office or by requesting a transfer of address form. If you moved outside of Sangamon County, you must re-register with the local election authority in your new county of residence. Also, see Grace Period Registration and Voting.
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What if I have had a name change since I registered to vote?
A person who changes their name must re-register to vote.
If I renewed my driver’s license, does that mean I am registered to vote?
No. However, you will be given the opportunity to register to vote at that time. Be sure to retain your receipt until your voter identification card is mailed to you.
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What if I lost/misplaced my voter’s identification card?
If you have misplaced your card, please call our office for a replacement at (217) 753-8683 or alternatively, you may apply on-line for a replacement voter identification card.
How do I cancel my voter registration?
A voter may request in writing that their name be removed from the voter registration file (does not require that a reason be given), or a voter may acknowledge in writing that he/she no longer is a resident of the election jurisdiction. Similarly, an attempt by the voter to register to vote in another election jurisdiction is deemed to be a request to cancel all previous voter registrations. For a cancellation form, click here.
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Voting FAQ's
Where do I vote?
Your polling place location is printed on your voter’s identification card you receive by mail after registering to vote. Alternatively, you can go to the “Locate my Precinct, Polling Place and Voting Districts” section of our website to look up your polling place.
You may also vote early during the 40th day through the day prior to the election only at specific locations determined by the Election Authority. Currently, early voting is located in the County Election Office, 200 S. 9th, 1st Floor, Springfield. If you have any questions, please call the office at (217) 753-8683.
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When do I vote?
Polling places are open from 6:00 a.m. until 7:00 p.m. on Election Day. Alternatively, you may also vote early during the 40th day through the day prior to the election. Currently, early voting is located in the County Election Office, 200 S. 9th, 1st Floor, Springfield. If you have any questions, please call the office at (217) 753-8683.
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How do I vote?
Click here for a visual guide.
- Step 1 – Receive Your Ballot
Enter your polling place and give your name and address to the election judge. You will then be asked to verify and sign the pre-printed application. Upon verification, the election judge will give you:
- a paper ballot
- a privacy sleeve
- Step 2 - Enter the Voting Booth and Mark Your Ballot
Enter the next available voting booth. To vote the optical scan ballot, completely darken the oval to the left of the candidate or public question of your choice with the pen provided. Be sure to mark both sides of your ballot. If you make a mistake marking your ballot, return it to the election judge to receive a new ballot. After voting your ballot, place it in the privacy sleeve provided. Exit the voting booth and take ballot within the privacy sleeve to the optical scan ballot counter. For voters with disabilities and other special needs ask the Election Judges about voting with the ExpressVote ballot-marking system.
- Step 3 - Vote!
Insert your ballot into the ballot tabulator. The ballot is read by the optical scanner and dropped into the metal ballot bin. This Optical Scan System complies with the Help America Vote Act (HAVA) to provide voters an opportunity to check and correct ballot errors (for example, casting more votes for an office than allowed results in an overvote). If an error is detected, the system will gently beep and give you the option to accept the ballot as is (the overvoted office will not count) or you may return the ballot to an election judge and receive another one. When the polls close, the tabulator prints the results of all votes cast.
How/When do I vote by mail?
Click here for information on how to vote by mail
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What is early voting and how can I do it?
Click here for early voting information
When and Where can I vote early?
Click here for early voting information
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Do I need identification to vote?
No, you are not required to show identification at the polling place if you are registered to vote from the address where you reside.
What if I am told at the polling place I am not eligible to vote, but I believe I am?
If your eligibility to vote is in question, request a Provisional Ballot from the Election Judges. (The Judges should notify you of this right) A provisional ballot is a regular ballot that is issued to a person who’s right to vote is in question, BUT the ballot is NOT DEPOSITED IN THE BALLOT BOX, rather it is kept in a separate, securable container. The Election Office will then verify all provisional ballots within two weeks of the election and if determined it is valid, the ballot will be counted and added to the official results. For more on Provisional Voting, click here.
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What offices can I vote on?
The voting districts in which you reside are printed on your voter’s identification card which you receive by mail after registering to vote. Alternatively, you can go to the “Where do I Vote?/What Districts Do I Live In/View a Sample Ballot” section of our website to look up your polling place. Specimen ballots are also available prior to each election by calling the election office at 753-8683.
How can I find out who the candidates are for the next election?
Candidate listings are posted on our website after each filing period. Also, specimen ballots are available prior to each election on-line or by calling the election office at 753-8683. To view sample ballots on-line click on “Where do I Vote?/What Districts Do I Live In/View a Sample Ballot”
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Do I have to declare my party affiliation to vote?
The only election which requires a voter to declare their party affiliation is a Primary election, when political parties nominate candidates for the General election. The Primary election is currently held the third Tuesday in March of even years.
Candidate Related FAQ's
What do I have to do to be a candidate?
Depending on the election, candidates are required to file office specific nomination papers and/or be nominated at a party caucus. Prior to each filing period, candidate filing information is available on our website. Also, the State Board of Elections publishes a Candidate’s Guide that includes most of the required filing forms.
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How can I find election results?
Election results can be obtained election night, as soon as they are available, on our website. Also, past election results from 1998 to present are also posted on our website. Results prior to 1998 can be obtained by contacting our office at (217) 753-8683.
How do I become a pollwatcher?
Click here for Pollwatcher information
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How can I obtain lists or other information about registered voters?
The election office provides a variety of printed and electronic information to candidates including: Precinct Lists, Labels, Count Reports, Past Election Results and more. You may call the office at 753-8683 or click here to request information on-line.
How can I find out if I need to file campaign disclosure documents?
The Illinois Campaign Disclosure Act applies to all candidates for public office, groups of candidates or political action committees (PACs) 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 the committee to file campaign disclosure documents with the State Board of Elections. Specific questions about campaign disclosure should be directed to the State Board of Elections, Campaign Disclosure Department at (217) 782-4141. Additional important information regarding Campaign Disclosure can be found in the State Board of Election's "A Guide to Campaign Disclosure".
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Election FAQ's (General)
How can I find out what jurisdictions/voting districts I reside in?
Your voter’s identification card includes a section listing all jurisdictions in which you reside and are entitled to vote upon. Alternatively, you can go to the “Where Do I Vote?/What Districts Do I Live In?/View a Sample Ballot” section of our website to obtain this information.
Who are my elected officials?
All Federal, State and Local elected officials are listed on our website here.
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When are elections held?
Primary Elections – Held on the 3rd Tuesday in March of even years. (Must declare party affiliation)
General Elections – Held on the 1st Tuesday after the 1st Monday in November of even years.
Consolidated Primary Elections – Held on the last Tuesday in February of odd years (election not always required)
Consolidated General Elections – Held on the 1st Tuesday in April of odd years.
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