Vote by Mail

Approximately 90 days before each election, anyone may apply for an Election-Specific Vote By Mail ballot. When the applications are available, you can:

  • Submit a Vote By Mail Online Application, OR
  • Print the mail-in form and mail it to our office
  • Call us and we will mail you an Application for Vote by Mail, pre-printed with your voter information on it, OR
  • Come to our office and complete an application in person.

If you are a qualified voter, you may vote by mail. (A qualified voter is registered from the address of current residence with the name currently used): Vote by mail applications are available 90 days before each election.

Persons who register to vote by mail are required to show ID with current name and address the first time they vote in the jurisdiction.

A registered voter may request an application for a Vote By Mail ballot no less than 5 days prior to the date of the election. Upon receipt of the completed and signed application in the office of the election authority, a ballot will be mailed to the address requested. Sufficient time must be allowed for the voter to receive, sign and return the application no later than the Thursday before the election. The ballot must be received, voted and postmarked for return to the Board of Election Commissioners no later than Midnight the day of the election. All ballots postmarked by Midnight; will be counted if received within 14 days of the election. 

 

Apply Online

Apply In Person

Click the link below to download the printable version of the Vote by Mail application form.

If you requested a Vote By Mail ballot, you may still vote in-person. You may vote either at an Early Voting location or on Election Day at your polling place. Please bring your Vote By Mail ballot with you to surrender to the Election Judges when you check-in.

When returning your Vote by Mail ballot, please make sure you:

  1. Sign the certification on the back of the return envelope
  2. Provide the date that you are returning your vote by mail ballot to the office.

This signature and date are used for verification purposes. If you do not sign and date the certification envelope, our office will contact you to proceed with processing your ballot.

The return envelope of your Vote by Mail ballot also has a section on the back flap called the Vote by Mail Ballot Authorization Form. This only needs to be filled out if someone else is hand delivering your ballot. If you are mailing your ballot or using our Vote by Mail drop box, you do not need to fill out this section.

Mailing Your Ballot

If you are mailing your Vote by Mail ballot, a First Class stamp is sufficient. If you are using one of our drop boxes, a stamp is not required.

Can I apply in person?
You can come to our office and complete an application in person, but you may find it more convenient to use Early Voting at our office. Please check Early Voting dates and location schedule to see if that is an option for you.

How and when will vote by mail ballots be counted?
Vote by mail ballots are counted at the election’s office on Election Day. Ballots received before then are securely held.

To be counted, vote by mail ballots must be:

  • Postmarked before midnight on the day of election and arrive by mail in the office within 14 days after the election, OR
  •  Returned in person to the Board of Elections office, any time before the close of polls on election day.
  • Vote by mail ballots are not counted if they are returned late to the Board of Elections office or not postmarked by election day.

I am permanently disabled. Can I vote by mail in every election?
If permanently disabled, a voter may apply to be placed on our Permanent Vote By Mail roster. Please complete one of the application options shown at the top of this page.

***See Illinois State Board of Elections if you are registered/live elsewhere in Illinois for election authority contact information and websites.