Absentee Voting Is EASY!

Important Absentee Voting Dates:

Absentee ballot must be requested at least 5 days prior to the election.

Voted ballots must be received by 7:00 pm on April 17, 2007 or by the 14th day following the election if postmarked by April 16, 2007.

Last day to vote absentee in person at the County Clerks office is April 16, 2007.

Military and overseas ballots: Election official must receive request for absentee ballot not later than 10 days before the election. The voted ballot must be received by 7:00 pm on April 17, 2007 or by the 14th day following the election if postmarked by April 16, 2007.

Eligibility:

Persons registered to vote are eligible to cast an absentee ballot from your county if you are expecting to be absent from the county, away at college, serving as an election judge, serving on jury duty, physically incapacitated or hospitalized, or a member of the Armed Forces or Merchant Marines. 

* Persons who have registered by mail and will be voting for the first time are not eligible to vote absentee by mail.  They may vote absentee in person at their county clerk's office or at a proper election authority.

The process:

1. Request the ballot by phone, letter, e-mail or fax
2. The county will send you an absentee ballot application
3. You will fill out the application and return it to your county clerk's office
4. The clerk's office will mail you an absentee ballot
5. You vote on the ballot and mail it back to the clerk's office in enough time to ensure that it arrives prior to Election Day

To request an absentee ballot from Kane County:

http://www.kanecountyelections.org/absentee/absvoting.htm

To request an absentee ballot from Mchenry County:

 http://www.co.mchenry.il.us/CountyDpt/countyclerk/PressRelease/CtyClkAbsentee.asp

** Persons who have registered to vote by mail and will be voting for the first time are not eligible to vote absentee by mail. They may, however, vote absentee in person at a proper election authority.

** Once you are issued an absentee ballot, you may NOT vote at the polls on Election Day regardless of whether you voted on that absentee ballot or not!

General Absentee Voting Information

A preferred method for absentee voting is to simply go to your county clerk's office anytime beginning 40 days prior to an election. Simply walk into your county clerk's office and tell them you would like to vote absentee. Bring your voter card or a photo I.D. and verification of your address with you.

You may vote absentee in person at the County Clerk's office or one of many municipal offices in your county.  You may also apply for an absentee ballot by mail or calling your County Clerk.

Kane County

County Clerk Office
Election Department
719 S. Batavia Avenue, Bldg. B
Geneva, IL 60134
630-232-5990
Hours of Operation: Mon, Tues, Thurs, Fri: 8:30 to 4:30, Weds: 8:30 to 8:00 P.M.

Village of Carpentersville
1200 Besinger Dr.
Carpentersville, IL 60110

Village of Gilberts
87 Galligan Rd.
Gilberts, IL 60136

Village of West Dundee
102 S. Second St.
West Dundee, IL 60118

McHenry County

County Clerk
2200 N. Seminary Avenue
Woodstock, Illinois 60098
815-334-4242
Hours of Operation: Mon. through Fri: 8:00 to 4:30

County Elections Office
McHenry County Administration Building
667 Ware Rd., Rm 107
Woodstock, IL  60098

Algonquin Township Office
3702 Northwest Hwy.
Crystal Lake, IL  60014

Questions about absentee voting

I will be out of town on election day.  Can I vote before that date?
Yes.  You can obtain an absentee ballot and vote anytime between between now and April 17, 2007..

How do I obtain an absentee ballot and how do I qualify?
Absentee voting is EASY and is strongly urged for anyone who travels for their job or who has very young children at home.  Registered voters are eligible to cast an absentee ballot from your county if your are expecting to be absent from the county, away at college, serving as an election judge, serving on jury duty, physically incapacitated or hospitalized, or a member of the Armed Forces or Merchant Marines.  People who have registered to vote by mail and will be voting for the first time are NOT eligible to vote absentee by mail, but they can vote absentee in person at their county clerk's office or at another proper election authority.

You may vote absentee in person at your county clerk's office or at one of many municipal offices in your county.  You may also apply for an absentee ballot by mail or by calling your county clerk.

Kane County: 630-232-5990                               
McHenry County: 815-332-4242

I will be voting for the first time.  Can I vote absentee?
Only people who registered to vote on line must vote in person their first time so that an official signature can be obtained by election judges.  If you registered to vote on-line, you can vote absentee at your county clerk's office or at any other official voting location in your municipality.  If you registered to vote anywhere else and you put your signature on the registration application, you may vote absentee in any election.  If you are not sure if your signature is on file, call your county clerk to find out.