           St. Clair County Clerk's Office #10 Public Square, 2nd Floor Belleville, IL 62220 618-277-6600 x2380 |
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What are the Election Judge Requirements for High School Seniors?
WHO CAN VOTE? To qualify to register to vote a person must:
WHEN MAY I REGISTER TO VOTE? Registration is open year round except: During the 28-day period just prior to an election and during the 2-day period after each election (1 day after in Chicago). WHERE CAN I REGISTER TO VOTE?
WHAT FORMS OF IDENTIFICATION MAY BE NEEDED WHEN I REGISTER TO VOTE? Two forms of identification with one showing your current residence address. If you register by mail, you must vote in person the first time you vote. DO I EVER HAVE TO RE-REGISTER? No, not unless you:
WILL I AUTOMATICALLY BE REGISTERED TO VOTE WHEN I RENEW MY DRIVER'S LICENSE? No. But you will be given the opportunity to register to vote. If you are already registered to vote, there is no need to register again unless you change your name or move. SO CAN I REGISTER TO VOTE BY MAILING AN APPLICATION TO MY ELECTION OFFICE? Yes. Under federal law, citizens may apply to register to vote by mailing in an application. The applications are available at some public and private facilities where you live. When you register by mail your mail-in form must be postmarked prior to the close of registration. Contact your local election office to learn more about registering by mail. IF I MAIL IN AN APPLICATION TO VOTE, CAN I VOTE BY ABSENTEE BALLOT? Unless disabled or in the military, persons who register by mail must vote in-person at the polling place or by in-person absentee voting the first time they vote. CAN I REGISTER AT A PUBLIC ASSISTANCE OFFICE? Yes. Any person who requests public assistance will be given an opportunity to register to vote. Again, if you are already registered, there will be no need to register again unless you change your name or move. WHEN CAN I CONSIDER MYSELF OFFICIALLY REGISTERED TO VOTE? As soon as you receive a voter ID card in the mail, you can consider yourself registered. If you do not receive an ID card within 3 weeks after you registered, call your elections office. WHAT IF I CHANGE MY NAME AFTER BEING REGISTERED? If you changed your name more than 28 days before the election and did not re-register, you cannot vote. A person who changes his or her name within 28 days of the election, and still lives in the same precinct, may vote after completing an affidavit. A woman who continues to use her maiden name after marriage may vote without having to complete an affidavit if registered under her maiden name. WHAT IF I MOVE, CAN I STILL VOTE? It depends on when you move. If you moved within 28 days of the election in the same precinct you can vote a full ballot by signing an affidavit. If you moved more than 30 days before the election within the county or municipality under a board of election commissioners, and did not transfer your registration, you can vote on a ballot for federal offices only after completing an address correction form. If you moved within 30 days before the election outside of your precinct, but you still live in the State, and did not transfer your registration, you can vote a full ballot in your old polling place after completing an affidavit. If you moved more than 30 days before the election out of your county or municipality under a board of election commissioners and did not transfer your registration, you cannot vote. WHO MAY VOTE BY ABSENTEE BALLOT? Many registered voters in Illinois are unable to vote in person at the polling place on election day. This FAQ general information regarding the correct procedures to follow in order to vote by absentee ballot. WHEN CAN APPLICATIONS FOR ABSENTEE BALLOTS BE MADE? (Be certain to apply within the following time frames) By mail - Not more than 40 days nor less than 5 days prior to the election In person - Not more than 40 days nor less than1 day prior to the election Some voters, primarily those, who are temporarily out of the country, may make application for an absentee ballot not less than 10 days prior to the election. Such request shall entitle the applicant to an absentee ballot for every election in one calendar year in which Federal offices are filled. Contact your election authority EARLY for specific details if you plan to be out of the country. Absent members of the armed forces while on active duty may apply for an absentee ballot by fax machine. Step 1 – Obtain the proper application for absentee ballot, either by mail or in person, from your election authority (county clerk or board of election commissioners). Step 2 – Upon receipt, complete the application. Make certain to include your name, home address, the address where you want the ballot to be mailed, and be sure to sign the application. (In primary elections you must state your party affiliation.) Step 3 – After completing the application, either mail it or deliver it yourself to your election authority. If you return the application in person or complete the application in the election authority's office, you may immediately vote your absentee ballot in the election authority's office. If you mail the application and it is properly completed, the election authority will mail your absentee ballot to you. Step 4 – After receiving your ballot, VOTE THE BALLOT IN SECRET. Insert the ballot into the envelope provided, seal it, complete and sign the certification on the back and PERSONALLY return it or mail it. (The absentee voter may authorize [in writing] a spouse, parent, child, brother, sister, or a licensed motor carrier, to deliver to the election authority the completed absentee ballot in sufficient time to be delivered to the polling place on election day.) DID YOU KNOW? Absentee voters have the same obligations as those who vote in the polling place on election day. They must complete an application and vote their absentee ballot in complete secrecy. The affidavits on the application and the ballot envelope must be signed. These affidavits attest to the accuracy of the information provided on the application. The affidavit on the envelope attests that the absentee voter is voting his own ballot in secret. If the voter receives assistance in voting his absentee ballot, the name and address of the person giving the assistance must be placed on the ballot certification envelope. Remember that a candidate is NOT allowed to assist an absentee voter, unless the candidate is a spouse, parent, child, or sibling of the absentee voter. IMPORTANT Knowingly giving, lending, or promising to give or lend any money or other valuable consideration to any other person to influence another person to vote for or against any candidate or public question is a Class 3 felony. It is also a Class 3 felony for any person to intimidate or unduly influence another person to intimidate or unduly influence another person to cast an absentee ballot inconsistent with the voter's intent or who marks or tampers with an absentee ballot of another person. WHAT ARE JUDGES OF ELECTION? WE WELCOME AND NEED JUDGES, PLEASE CALL THE COUNTY CLERK'S OFFICE AT 277-6600 X2380 IF YOU ARE INTERESTED. YOU WILL BE PAID FOR YOUR SERVICES. Election Judges help to guarantee that the rights of voters are protected on election day. Following are the qualifications necessary to become an election judge and also some of their important duties and responsibilities. Judges of election are responsible for the administration of election procedures in the polling place on election day. They are in the position of ensuring that the election process is administered fairly and in accordance with our laws. WHAT ARE THE QUALIFICATIONS NECESSARY TO BE AN ELECTION JUDGE?
HOW ARE JUDGES SELECTED? In national, state, county, township and municipal elections, judges of election are selected by the county board, or if appropriate, the board of election commissioners, from lists furnished by the chairmen of the county central committees of the two leading political parties. For each polling place three judges are appointed from one party and two from another. In precincts under the jurisdiction of the county clerk, the party which cast the highest average number of votes at the most recent three gubernatorial elections in the precinct shall be represented by three judges; the party which casts the second highest number of votes at the most recent gubernatorial elections in the precinct shall be represented by two judges. HOW ARE ELECTION JUDGES TRAINED? In each precinct all judges representing each political party must be certified as having satisfactorily completed, within the preceding six months, a training course and examination for judges of election. This required course covers the duties and responsibilities of election judges and consists of at least four hours of instruction and examination which tests reading skills, ability to work with poll lists, ability to add and knowledge of election laws governing the operation of polling places. HOW MAY I BECOME AN ELECTION JUDGE? Contact the chairman of the party of your choice or your County Clerk's office and express you interest in serving as a Judge of Election. Election judges are vital to the conduct of efficient and honest elections to which voters are entitled. WHAT ARE SOME OF THE DUTIES OF THE JUDGES OF ELECTION?
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