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, according to a new Illinois law.
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.
Mail-in absentee voting
To obtain an absentee application, registered suburban Cook County voters can:
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.
Because the February 2 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 we receive your application and verify your registration, we will send you a ballot to the address you designate on your application. All absentee voting is done on paper ballots. After making your seletions and completing the form on the back of the envelope, mail or deliver your ballot back to us.
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 our 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.
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.
For the Feb. 2, 2010 Gubernatorial Primary Election, in-person absentee voting will be conducted Jan. 29-Feb. 1 at each of the Clerk's six office locations. The hours are as follows for all locations:
- Friday, January 29 -- 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Saturday, January 30 -- 9 a.m. to noon
- Sunday, January 31 -- 9 a.m. to noon
- Monday, February 1 -- 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
More information about absentee voting: