Election Office FAQ's
Voter Registration FAQ's
Voting FAQ's
Candidate Related FAQ's
Election FAQ's
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
- 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 until the 7th 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. The hours for grace period voting will be Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. and on Saturdays, 8:30 a.m. – Noon.
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Where can I register to vote?
There are various places you may become registered to vote.
- In-person at the Sangamon County Election Office
- Submit a mail-in voter registration application
- In person with a Deputy Registrar/Precinct Committeeperson
- Several State Agencies, such as: Driver’s License Facilities, Dept. Healthcare and Family Services, Dept. of Public Health, Dept. of Mental Health & Developmental Disabilities, Dept. of Rehabilitation Service Office
- Local Municipal or Township Office
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) 753-6740 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 until the 7th 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. The hours for grace period voting will be Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. and on Saturdays, 8:30 a.m. - Noon.
Can I register to vote on Election Day?
No, you cannot register to vote on Election Day. Registration closes on the 28th day prior to an election.
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Can I register by mail?
Yes. If you register by mail, you must send a copy of a current and valid photo identification or a copy of a current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck or other government document that shows your current name and address. If you do not provide the identification, then you will be required to provide the information the first time you vote. 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, you must send a copy of a current and valid photo identification or a copy of a current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck or other government document that shows your current name and address. If you do not provide the identification, then you will be required to provide the information the first time you vote.
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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?
You may not be eligible to vote, depending when and where you moved. 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.
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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) 753-6740 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 22nd day through the 5th 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, Room 105, Springfield.
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 22nd day through the 5th 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, Room 105, Springfield. Office hours for early voting are Monday thru Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. and on Saturday’s 8:30 a.m. until Noon.
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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 AutoMARK™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 absentee?
How to Apply:
The first step in securing an absentee ballot is to request an application for absent voter's ballot from the Sangamon County Election Office. This application may be obtained in person at our office, located in Room 105 of the County Building, 200 S. 9th Street, Springfield, by calling our office at (217) 753-6740 or by printing out the request for application for absent voter's ballot filling it out, signing and then mailing back to the Sangamon County Election Office, 200 S. Ninth Street, Room 105, Springfield, IL 62701. Please note that only the applicant is authorized to hand deliver the application to the Election Office.
When to Apply:
Applications for absentee ballots can only be made during a specific time period prior to each election. For an absentee ballot by mail, applications can be submitted not more than 40 days nor less than 5 days prior to the election. For an in person absentee ballot, applications can be submitted not more than 40 days nor less than 1 day prior to the election.
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What is early voting and how can I do it?
Early voting refers to a procedure implemented in Illinois for the first time at the 2006 General Primary Election which allows for registered voters to vote in advance of Election Day without having to provide a reason or an excuse, as is required with the absentee voting process. Registered voters can vote early during the 22nd day through the 5th day prior to the election only at specific locations determined by the Election Authority. Early voters are required to present a valid Illinois Driver’s License, an Illinois identification card issued by the Secretary of State, or any other government-issued identification document containing their photograph, name and address. Please note that once a voter casts an early ballot, the vote cast is final and may not be revoked and the voter is not eligible to cast a vote on Election Day.
When and Where can I vote early?
Early voting is available during the 22nd day through the 5th 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, Room 105, Springfield. Office hours for early voting are Monday thru Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. and on Saturday’s 8:30 a.m. until Noon.
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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. However, if you registered by sending in a mail-in application and have never voted before, you may be required to provide identification the first time you vote.
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 “Locate my Precinct, Polling Place and Voting Districts” 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 753-6740.
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 by calling the election office at 753-6740.
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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 first Tuesday in February 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) 753-6740.
How do I become a pollwatcher?
Pollwatchers must be registered to vote in the State of Illinois and possess valid credentials (signed by appropriate appointing authority). Every pollwatcher must surrender his credentials to the judges when he enters the polling place.
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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 753-6740 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 and/or the County Clerk. 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 “Locate my Precinct, Polling Place and Voting Districts” 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 1st Tuesday in February 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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