City Clerk's Office
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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.
2009 Consolidated Election, Tuesday, April 7, 2009
For individuals who seek information on next year's municipal election in which the Mayor, Aldermen, City Clerk, Township Supervisor and Township Assessor will be elected, go here for key dates.
Further details will also be available soon on the Illinois State Board of Elections website.
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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 an election
Illinois voters do not need to register by political party or declare a political party membership or preference.
Registering to vote
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.
You must re-register with the local election authority or county clerk if you move to an address outside suburban Cook County.
Voters who legally change their name, but not their address, do not have to re-register. If you have changed your name, you can vote after updating your information at the polls.
The Evanston City Clerk's office will process voter registerations Monday-Friday, from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at the Civic Center, 2100 Ridge Ave., in Room 1200. Additionally, the City Clerk's office will be open for voter registration on three Saturdays: September 20 and 27, and October 4, from 9:00 a.m. to noon in the same location.
Other voter registration locations...
By Illinois law, voter registration closes 28 days preceding an election (Tuesday, October 7) for the Tuesday, November 4, 2008 Presidential General Election. Voter registration re-opens two days after election day or Thursday, November 6.
If you register before the regular registration deadline, you may vote early.
Any registered voter may cast a ballot at one of the Clerk's early voting sites from Tuesday, October 14, 2008, through Thursday, October 30, 2008. Otherwise, you can vote at your polling place on Election Day.
Grace-period registration and voting
Wednesday, October 08, 2008 - Tuesday, October 21, 2008
At the Cook County Clerk's main office:
There is only one way and one place to register during the 14-day grace period. Unregistered voters must sign up to vote in person at the County Clerk's downtown Chicago office: 69 W. Washington St., Room 500. You must show two pieces of identification to register.
Grace-period voters must vote absentee. You may: 1) vote in-person at the Clerk's downtown office immediately after signing up to vote; or 2) receive an absentee ballot by mail that you can complete at home and return to the Clerk's office before Election Day.
Grace-period registrants are not allowed to vote at the polls on Election Day or vote at any early voting site.
Early Voting
Illinois voters may cast their ballots before Election Day at designated locations without having to provide a reason or excuse. Casting your ballot before Election Day makes voting more convenient, especially for the elderly and voters with busy schedules.
Prior to the Tuesday, November 4, 2008 Presidential General Election, Early Voting will take place Monday, October 13, through Thursday, October 30, 2008. The location is the Evanston Civic Center, 2100 Ridge Avenue, Room 1700 (1st floor). Voting hours will be Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m to 5:00 p.m. and Saturdays, October 18 and 25, from 9:00 a.m. to noon.
Voters do not need to provide an excuse or reason why they cannot make it to the polls on Election Day. You need only to fill out an application at the early voting site. State law requires early voters to display valid identification to an election official before receiving a ballot to vote early. Valid forms of ID include: a current driver’s license, state-issued ID card or another government-issued ID with a photo.
Absentee Voting
To vote absentee, you must, by law, have a reason why you cannot make it to your polling place on Election Day. In most cases, voters vote absentee if they will be out of town during the election or if they are physically disabled.
Mail-in absentee voting
After you complete the absentee ballot application, the Cook County Clerk's office will determine if you are eligible to receive a mail-in absentee ballot. If so, the County Clerk's office will send you a mail-in absentee ballot. All absentee voters who vote by mail will cast optical scan ballots. After making your selections, mail or deliver the ballot to the County, which will forward it to your polling place to be counted on Election Day.
In-person absentee voting
You may also vote absentee in person at one of the County Clerk's offices (the regional courthouse mini-centers or 69 W. Washington in downtown Chicago) from Friday, October 31, 2008 to Monday, November 3, 2008, if you have a conflict with Election Day. Voting hours are from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Monday and Friday, and 9 a.m. to noon Saturday and Sunday.
General Election Day
On Tuesday, November 4, polling places will open at 6:00 a.m. and close at 7:00 p.m. Use the link at the top of this page to determine where you vote.
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City Clerk
Voter Information