With the General Election a little more than a month away, Whiteside County Clerk Dana Nelson said that it is time to turn attention to voting–more specifically, absentee voting. Illinois election law provides that 40 days before an election, qualified voters can request an application for an absentee ballot from their local County Clerk.
In the past a voter needed a reason to cast an absentee ballot. A voter no longer needs to specify a reason for casting an absentee ballot. The voter needs to contact Nelson’s office, and she will send an application that needs to be filled out and returned to her office. Once the application has been received, the ballot will be mailed to the voter. You can also come into her office and vote in person.
Absentee voting will be offered during regular office hours between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. In-person absentee voting will also be offered on Saturday, October 25, and November 1, from 9:00 a.m. to 12 noon. The last day to vote in-person absentee is Monday, November 3, 2014.
A registered voter may also vote an absentee ballot by mail. Nelson noted that mail applications for absentee ballot must be received by the election authority no later than Thursday, October 30.
To request an absentee ballot call the County Clerk’s office at 815-772-5189.