Qualifications to be a Registered Voter
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
- 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
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Where/How to Register to Vote
There are various places you may become registered to vote.
- Voter registration is available in-person at the Sangamon County Election Office. We are located at 200 S. 9th Street, Room 105 of the County Building. Office hours are 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., Monday - Friday. Parking is available in the County lot across the street from our building.
Two forms of identification are required to become registered. One must show your name and current address. The second form must show your name.
These forms of identification shall include, but not limited to:
- Driver's License
- Social Security Card
- Birth Certificate
- Checkbook
- Utility Bill
- Bank Statement
- Student I.D. Card
- State I.D. Card
- Credit Card
If you should have any questions as to what is appropriate identification, please contact our office at (217) 753-8683 or by e-mail.
- Mail-in voter registration forms are also available by calling our office at (217) 753-8683, by e-mail or by clicking here. By request, we will send you the form, which you must complete and return no later than 28 days prior to the election.
PLEASE NOTE: Be sure to read the important information section on the mail-in application and that the form is filled out completely.
THIS FORM IS REQUIRED TO BE MAILED OR DELIVERD IN PERSON TO THE ELECTION OFFICE. IT CAN NOT BE SENT ELECTRONICALLY.
- Voter registration is also available through your precinct committeeperson or by a Deputy Registrar. Please contact our office at (217) 753-8683 or by e-mail, to find out how to contact someone in your community who is qualified to register you to vote. Alternatively, you may contact your respective County Central Committee Party Headquarters to obtain the name of a Deputy Registrar in your community.
Democratic County Headquarters
413 E. Adams
Springfield, IL 62701
(217) 544-0808 phone
(217) 528-2429 fax
Democratic Headquarters
Republican County Headquarters
1132 Sangamon avenue
Springfield, IL 62702
(217) 528-6267 phone
(217) 528-1027 fax
Republican Headquarters
- The following agencies are also qualified to register you to vote:
Driver's License Facilities
Department of Healthcare and Family Services
Department of Public Health Office
Department of Mental Health & Developmental Disabilities
Department of Rehabilitation Service Office
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When to Register to Vote
Note: See Grace Period Registration and Voting below for additional registration time frames.
Registration is open year round except:
- During the 27-day period just prior to an election and during the 2-day period after each election.
- For the March 18, 2014 General Primary Election, the last day to become registered is Tuesday, February 18, 2014. Registration will re-open on Thursday, March 20, 2014.
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Grace Period Registration and Voting
Grace period allows for the registration of voters and for change of address during the period from the close of registration until the 3rd day before the election. 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. If a person registers during this specific grace period time frame, they may ONLY vote in person in the Sangamon County Election Office, NOT at the polling place on Election Day. 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.
Grace period registration and voting for the March 18, 2014 General Primary Election will be offered in person in the Sangamon County Election Office, located in Room 105 of the County Building beginning Wednesday, February 19, 2014 through Saturday, March 15, 2014.
The hours for grace period voting will be:
Monday through Friday; 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.*
*Check back later for additional Saturday hours
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How to Report Change of Address
If you are currently registered to vote in Sangamon County and have moved within the 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. If you have misplaced your voter identification card, you may call our office at (217) 753-8683 or e-mail to request a transfer of address form to be mailed to you, which you must complete and return no later than 27 days prior to the election. You may also print out a transfer of address form, complete the required information, and return it to our office.
The form in PDF format and can be filled out electronically. Fill in all blanks EXCEPT for voter’s signature. Print out the completed form, SIGN and then send back to our office at the address below. Please call (217) 753-8683 or e-mail if you have any questions or are having difficulty with the form.
If you are currently registered to vote in Sangamon County and have moved outside the county, you must re-register with the local election authority in your new county of residence. If your new county of residence is in Illinois, please see ILLINOIS ELECTION JURISDICTIONS for more information.
If you have moved and not changed your registration address with our office, you may be eligible to vote for all offices, Federal Offices Only or you may not be allowed to vote, depending on when and where you moved. See below.
If you moved:
- within 27 days of the election in the same precinct you can vote a full ballot at your old polling place after signing an affidavit.
- within 30 days before the election outside your precinct, but still in the State, you can vote a full ballot at your old polling place after completing an affidavit.
- more than 30 days before the election within the county you can vote for Federal Offices Only at your old polling place, after completing an address correction form.
- more than 30 days before the election out of your county, you cannot vote.
How to Report Change of Name
A person who changes his or her name must re-register to vote. Please see Where/How to Register to Vote.
There are two exceptions to this rule.
- A person who changes his or her name and still lives in the same precinct, may vote after completing an affidavit.
- A woman who continues to use her maiden name after marriage may vote without having to complete an affidavit if registered under her maiden name.
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Cancellation of Voter Registration
Once a citizen is registered to vote, his/her name is to remain on the registration roster as long as he/she remains eligible to vote in that election jurisdiction. Removal of a voter's name from the list of registered voters, cancellation of his/her registration, may only be made for the following reasons.
- Request of the Voter 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.
You may call our office at (217) 753-8683 or e-mail to request a cancellation form be mailed to you, or you may also print out a cancellation request , complete the required information, and return it to our office.
- Incarceration
If a voter is incarcerated pursuant to a conviction of a crime, his/her voter registration may be canceled.
- Falsification of Application/Not Qualified
If the voter is convicted of a crime involving a material falsification of his voter registration in regard to age, citizenship, or residence, his/her registration may be canceled.
- Death
If the election authority receives proof of the death of a registered voter, this voter's registration may be canceled.
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