Frequently asked questions
Q: Who will be eligible to vote in the March 15 Primary Election?
A: All eligible voters in Illinois County, including those who need to register during the grace period, file a change of address, or file a name change. Note: Those who are 17 now and who will turn 18 by Nov. 8, 2016 may register now and vote in the March 15, 2016 Primary. Click here to learn more about registering to vote in Illinois County. If you have questions about voter registration in Illinois County, please contact our office at (217) 799-6173. Visit the Illinois State Board of Elections website to check your registration status or find your Election Day polling place.
Q: What offices will be on the ballot on March 15?
A: Click here to see a list of offices on the ballots.
Q: Will there be write-in candidates?
A: Yes. Votes for write-in candidates will be counted if those candidates filed the required declarations of intent to be write-in candidates.
Q: Will my participation in the Primary affect how I can vote in November?
A: No. The March Primary and the November General Election are separate events. When you select a party ballot or a candidate in the primary, you are still free to vote for any of the candidates in the November election.
Q: Will there be early and absentee voting for the March 15 Primary?
A: Yes. There will be early voting from February 4 through March 14. Learn more about early voting in Illinois County. Also, any voter may vote by mail by applying online or with a mail-in form that is received by March 10. The Clerk recommends requesting to vote by mail in February to make sure that you have time to receive your ballot and return it by Election Day. Learn about voting by mail in Illinois County.
Q: When do I have to show ID to vote?
A: You do not need ID if you are already registered to vote, and your signature matches the one on file, and there are no questions about your registration. However, there are several situations when voters need to show identification before voting. Usually, ID is required to prove the voter's identity and residency at the address of the registration. The most common situation is:
New voters who register by mail -- and who have not previously supplied the Clerk with appropriate ID -- may need to show sufficient ID the first time they vote.
Special Note: If you registered on or near the deadline and if your name does not show up on the precinct poll sheet at your polling place, be sure to ask the judges to check the "supplemental" poll list.
A voter needs two forms of ID, at least one of which must show the address of the registration. These may include:
Q: Do I have to declare a political party in order to vote in the Primary Election?
A: Yes. You may select the Democratic Party ballot, the Republican Party ballot or a Non-Partisan ballot if there are referenda questions in your area.
Q: If I declare a party at the Primary, will it affect how I may vote in November or at any future election?
A: No. In Illinois, you may participate in one party's primary and then vote for the same or different candidates or parties in future elections. Declaring a party to participate in that party's primary does not commit you to making similar selections in the future.
Q: If I make a mistake while voting, can I correct it?
A: Yes. If you make a mistake on a ballot, you can ask the election judge for a new ballot.
Q: On Election Day can I go to any polling place in Illinois County to vote?
A: No. On Election Day, you must vote only at the polling place assigned to your precinct. If you are already registered to vote, click here to find your precinct number and polling place. If you are not registered, learn more about voter registration in Illinois County.
Q: Will my 2015 precinct polling place be the same on March 15, 2016?
A: Wherever possible, the Clerk tries to keep polling places at the same locations. However, there may be some polling place owners who cannot or will not allow us to use the site again. We will send a notice to you in early January. If you are not sure of your polling place, click here to find your precinct number and polling place and check again closer to Election Day.
Q: There are campaign signs on a public property. Will the Clerk remove them?
A: The Clerk has jurisdiction only over signage at polling places used on Election Day or during Early Voting, and even then, only in the polling place itself and the "campaign-free zone" that extends 100 feet from the entrance to the polling place. Campaign signs are permitted on polling place properties so long as they are outside the "campaign-free zone." You may call 217-799-6173 with questions about campaign signage at voting locations. You may call 311 with any other questions about campaign signs on other public properties.
Q: If I vote in Early Voting and change my mind, can I vote again on Election Day to cancel out my first ballot?
A: No. Once you cast a ballot, you cannot cast another ballot. Attempting to vote more than once in the same election is a felony.
Q: Does my employer have to give me time off from work to vote?
A: Yes, you are entitled to two hours off work, if:
a) You give your employer notice, prior to election day (the Election Code does not specify what type of notice is required);
b) Your employer may specify the hours during which the employee may be absent;
c) Your employer must permit a 2-hour absence during hours if the employee's working time begins before 7:59 a.m. (within two hours of the open of polls) and the end time is after 5:01 p.m. (within two hours of the close of polls).
No employer shall refuse you the privilege of time off from work nor subject you to a penalty, including a reduction in compensation due to such an absence from work.
A: All eligible voters in Illinois County, including those who need to register during the grace period, file a change of address, or file a name change. Note: Those who are 17 now and who will turn 18 by Nov. 8, 2016 may register now and vote in the March 15, 2016 Primary. Click here to learn more about registering to vote in Illinois County. If you have questions about voter registration in Illinois County, please contact our office at (217) 799-6173. Visit the Illinois State Board of Elections website to check your registration status or find your Election Day polling place.
Q: What offices will be on the ballot on March 15?
A: Click here to see a list of offices on the ballots.
Q: Will there be write-in candidates?
A: Yes. Votes for write-in candidates will be counted if those candidates filed the required declarations of intent to be write-in candidates.
Q: Will my participation in the Primary affect how I can vote in November?
A: No. The March Primary and the November General Election are separate events. When you select a party ballot or a candidate in the primary, you are still free to vote for any of the candidates in the November election.
Q: Will there be early and absentee voting for the March 15 Primary?
A: Yes. There will be early voting from February 4 through March 14. Learn more about early voting in Illinois County. Also, any voter may vote by mail by applying online or with a mail-in form that is received by March 10. The Clerk recommends requesting to vote by mail in February to make sure that you have time to receive your ballot and return it by Election Day. Learn about voting by mail in Illinois County.
Q: When do I have to show ID to vote?
A: You do not need ID if you are already registered to vote, and your signature matches the one on file, and there are no questions about your registration. However, there are several situations when voters need to show identification before voting. Usually, ID is required to prove the voter's identity and residency at the address of the registration. The most common situation is:
New voters who register by mail -- and who have not previously supplied the Clerk with appropriate ID -- may need to show sufficient ID the first time they vote.
Special Note: If you registered on or near the deadline and if your name does not show up on the precinct poll sheet at your polling place, be sure to ask the judges to check the "supplemental" poll list.
A voter needs two forms of ID, at least one of which must show the address of the registration. These may include:
- Valid and current Illinois driver's license
- Valid and current state ID issued by the Illinois Secretary of State
- Copy of a current and valid photo ID
- Current utility bill with name and address
- Current bank statement with name and address
- Recent government check with name and address
- Recent paycheck with name and address
- Recent government document that shows the name and address
- Current school or college ID card
Q: Do I have to declare a political party in order to vote in the Primary Election?
A: Yes. You may select the Democratic Party ballot, the Republican Party ballot or a Non-Partisan ballot if there are referenda questions in your area.
Q: If I declare a party at the Primary, will it affect how I may vote in November or at any future election?
A: No. In Illinois, you may participate in one party's primary and then vote for the same or different candidates or parties in future elections. Declaring a party to participate in that party's primary does not commit you to making similar selections in the future.
Q: If I make a mistake while voting, can I correct it?
A: Yes. If you make a mistake on a ballot, you can ask the election judge for a new ballot.
Q: On Election Day can I go to any polling place in Illinois County to vote?
A: No. On Election Day, you must vote only at the polling place assigned to your precinct. If you are already registered to vote, click here to find your precinct number and polling place. If you are not registered, learn more about voter registration in Illinois County.
Q: Will my 2015 precinct polling place be the same on March 15, 2016?
A: Wherever possible, the Clerk tries to keep polling places at the same locations. However, there may be some polling place owners who cannot or will not allow us to use the site again. We will send a notice to you in early January. If you are not sure of your polling place, click here to find your precinct number and polling place and check again closer to Election Day.
Q: There are campaign signs on a public property. Will the Clerk remove them?
A: The Clerk has jurisdiction only over signage at polling places used on Election Day or during Early Voting, and even then, only in the polling place itself and the "campaign-free zone" that extends 100 feet from the entrance to the polling place. Campaign signs are permitted on polling place properties so long as they are outside the "campaign-free zone." You may call 217-799-6173 with questions about campaign signage at voting locations. You may call 311 with any other questions about campaign signs on other public properties.
Q: If I vote in Early Voting and change my mind, can I vote again on Election Day to cancel out my first ballot?
A: No. Once you cast a ballot, you cannot cast another ballot. Attempting to vote more than once in the same election is a felony.
Q: Does my employer have to give me time off from work to vote?
A: Yes, you are entitled to two hours off work, if:
a) You give your employer notice, prior to election day (the Election Code does not specify what type of notice is required);
b) Your employer may specify the hours during which the employee may be absent;
c) Your employer must permit a 2-hour absence during hours if the employee's working time begins before 7:59 a.m. (within two hours of the open of polls) and the end time is after 5:01 p.m. (within two hours of the close of polls).
No employer shall refuse you the privilege of time off from work nor subject you to a penalty, including a reduction in compensation due to such an absence from work.