Voters Can Enroll To Permanently Receive Vote-By-Mail Ballots

Press release from the County Clerk’s Office:

Sept. 19, 2022

McHenry County voters have the opportunity to vote by mail permanently if they so wish under a new state law.

County voters will receive a mailer in the coming days that includes an application form – voters who fill out and return the form will receive a ballot by mail for all future elections. Enrolled voters will stay on the permanent vote-by-mail list until they request to be removed or move outside the county; voters who wish to receive vote-by-mail ballots for primary elections must specify a party preference.

“Even if you don’t intend to vote by mail, requesting the ballot serves as a reminder to vote,” County Clerk Joe Tirio said. “You can always choose to vote in person by simply bringing your vote-by-mail ballot with you and surrendering it to the poll worker.”

If you do not wish to enroll, you can destroy the mailing, and no further action is needed. The state law that created the permanent vote-by-mail program requires county clerk’s offices statewide to mail the application form to all eligible voters.

Vote-by-mail ballots for the upcoming Nov. 8 election will be sent out on Sept. 29 – the same day that early voting opens at the County Clerk’s Office. Early voting will expand to 10 additional locations across McHenry County starting Oct. 24 – a complete list of locations, and their dates and hours of operation, can be found on the voter information page of the County Clerk’s website at www.mchenrycountyclerkil.gov.

For more information, contact the County Clerk’s Office at 815-334-4242.

This press release was produced by the County Clerk’s Office. The views expressed here are the author's own.