Voter Information

The City Clerk is Evanston's local election official. The office works closely with the office of Cook County Clerk David Orr, Election Division, to determine accessible polling places; staff function as deputy registrars to register voters, process absentee ballot applications prior to each election and certify results from all referenda and local elections.

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Locate your Polling Place

Voter qualifications

To register to vote, you must be:

  • A U.S. citizen
  • At least 18 years old by Election Day
  • A resident of your precinct at least 30 days prior to Election Day

You also must display two pieces of identification. Neither needs to be a photo ID, but one must include your current address.

Acceptable forms of ID include:

  • Illinois driver's license
  • Illinois state ID
  • Employee or student ID
  • Credit card
  • Social security card
  • Birth certificate
  • Utility bill in applicant's name
  • Mail postmarked to the applicant
  • Valid U.S. passport
  • Public aid ID card
  • Lease or rental contract

In Illinois, you do not declare affiliation with a political party when you register to vote. In primary elections, you may choose to vote a specific political party ballot on Election Day.

Absentee Voting

Absentee voting by mail is a convenient way to cast your ballot if you are unable to get to your polling place on Election Day or to cast your ballot during Early Voting at a designated Early Voting site.

Any registered suburban Cook County voter may apply for an absentee ballot. It is no longer necessary to provide a reason.

Please note: The information on this site pertains to suburban Cook County voters only. If you live in the City of Chicago, visit www.chicagoelections.com or call (312) 269-7900.

If you have already requested or mailed an absentee ballot, you can track your status here.
Registered voters can cast absentee ballots by mail or in person before Election Day.

To obtain an absentee application, registered suburban Cook County voters can:

Download and print the application, or:
Call the Clerk's office at (312) 603-0946 to request that we mail you an application, or
Pick one up at any of the Clerk's six office locations.
The last day to apply for a mail-in absentee ballot is five days before the election.

NOTE: Applications must be submitted by mail, certified courier or in person. Applications cannot be accepted by email or fax.

If the election is a primary election, you must indicate your party preference (Democratic, Green Party, Republican, or non-partisan) on your application. A non-partisan ballot does not have contests for party nominations. It only lists referenda/public questions, if any. If you wish to vote for candidates running to represent their party in the next general election, you must request a Democratic, Green Party, or Republican ballot.

Once the Cook County Clerk's Office receives your application and verify your registration, they will send you a ballot to the address you designate on your application. All absentee voting is done on paper ballots. After making your selections and completing the form on the back of the envelope and signing it, mail or deliver your ballot back to them.

Absentee ballots must be postmarked by the day before Election Day and received in the County Clerk's office within 14 days after the election in order to be counted. Absentee ballots are processed and counted at their central office.

Early Voting

Early Voting is another way to vote before Election Day. It must be done in person at a designated Early Voting site.

For those residents of Suburban Cook County who would like to beat the crowds for the upcoming March 20, 2012 Elections, you will find some good news just below.
 

Starting Monday, February 27, 2012 and continuing through Thursday, March 15, 2012 you can cast your vote early.
 

Where:       Lorraine H. Morton Civic Center, 2100 Ridge Ave. Room 2200 (second floor)
When:         Monday through Sunday (7 days a week)
Time:           9:00 am until 5:00 pm (Monday - Saturday)
                     9:00 am until 3:00 pm (Sunday)


You must bring with you one of the following:
1. a picture ID with your current address
2. your voter's registration card
3. a copy of your registration from the Clerk's Office
4. a utility bill with your address (only if your picture ID does not have the current address listed)

In-person absentee voting
Any voter needing or wishing to vote by absentee in the final four days prior to the election may vote an in-person absentee ballot.

Voter Registration

Your registration is permanent unless you move or change your name. If you have moved within suburban Cook County, you must transfer your registration by re-registering. You may choose to write your new address on the back of your voter identification card and mail it to the County Clerk's downtown Chicago office (69 W. Washington St., 5th Floor, Chicago, IL 60602).

You must re-register with the local election authority or county clerk if you move to an address outside suburban Cook County.

By Illinois law, voter registration closes 28 days preceding an election and re-opens two days after Election Day.

 

Where to Register to Vote

Come to the Clerk’s office at the Lorraine H. Morton Civic Center, 2100 Ridge Ave.

Room 1200, Evanston, Monday - Friday between 8:30 am to 5:00 pm. You will need a picture I.D. and something showing your current name and address (utility bill, bank statement, lease, etc.). You must be a United States citizen and 18 years of age or older by the next election.