Questions and Answers for March 2024 Primary Election
Below are questions and answers on Registration, Election Security and Integrity, Voting in Person, Vote by Mail and Election Judges. If you prefer, there's a downloadable pdf at the end of each section. And, if you'd like the all questions in one document, it's available at the end of this page.
Registration Questions & Answers
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Do I have to register for each election?
No, as long as you are registered to vote at your current address. But if you’ve changed your name, even if you haven’t changed your address, you need to re-register. If you’re unsure whether you’re registered at your current address or if you believe your voting status may be inactive, you can check the County Clerk’s My Voting Information webpage. Source: Office of Champaign County Clerk Website: champaigncountyclerkil.gov/elections/my-voting-information Where can I register to vote? You have many ways to register to vote in Champaign County:
Source: Office of Champaign County Clerk Website: https://champaigncountyclerkil.gov/elections/register-vote How do I change my party affiliation? In every Illinois primary, you have the opportunity to choose which party’s ballot you want to vote. Voter registration in Illinois doesn’t record party membership, so there’s no form to change party affiliation. Source: Office of Champaign County Clerk What do I have to do to activate or reactivate my voter status? You’ll need to follow the procedures in the Register to Vote section of the County Clerk’s website. You can do this online, in person, or by completing a paper registration form. If you were inadvertently put on the inactive voter list and show up to vote in person, an election judge can reinstate you at the polling place if you show an ID and proof of current address. Source: Office of Champaign County Clerk Website: https://champaigncountyclerkil.gov/elections/register-vote Can individuals with felony convictions vote in Illinois? Yes, they can. The only people prohibited from voting in Illinois are those currently serving a sentence in a state or federal prison or serving a sentence in a county jail. Individuals in jail awaiting trial are eligible to vote, and voting by mail is an option. Individuals released on parole are eligible to vote. Registration requirements are the same as for any voter. Source: Office of Champaign County Clerk |
| qa_2023_registration.pdf |
Voting Security & Integrity
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I live here part of the year and somewhere else part of the year. Can I vote in both places?
I live here part of the year and somewhere else part of the year. Can I vote in both places? Source: Office of Champaign County Clerk Website: https://champaigncountyclerkil.gov/elections/many-ways-vote/frequently-asked-questions How does verification by signature work if people’s signatures change over time so that a voter’s signature on record doesn’t match up well with a signature on the mail ballot return envelope? In Champaign County, signature verification software presents election judges with images of the voter’s signature from the mail ballot return envelope and the current signature from the voter registration database. A strict reading of the Election Code requires one judge for signature verification on mail ballots. The Clerk’s office is committed to using two judges, one from each party, for all mail ballot signature verification. If a mail ballot is set aside because of signature concerns, the County Clerk’s office contacts the voter, giving the voter 14 days from election day to resolve the issue. Source: Office of Champaign County Clerk How secure are permanent drop boxes? Permanent drop boxes in Champaign County are secured to the ground and anchored in concrete. The boxes are quarter-inch-thick steel with a narrow slit that allows for the insertion of ballots but nothing larger. The boxes are opened once mail ballots are mailed to voters and closed at 7 pm on election night as at a regular polling place. Drop boxes are intentionally placed in high-traffic, visible locations for security. Source: Office of Champaign County Clerk How secure is the processing of mail ballots at the County Clerk’s office? Processing of mail ballots has the same requirements as ballots cast in person. Vote by mail uses the same machines for ballot printing, tabulation, voter verification, and checking in as in-person voting. All machines are developed and governed by strict federal rules. The entire process requires judges from both parties. There is extensive documentation as the ballot moves through the intake, verification, and casting process. The voter is immediately alerted by the Clerk’s office if there are any issues with their ballot. In the last four elections, over 40,000 mail ballots have been processed by the County Clerk’s office. In a recent survey, 94% of respondents said they would use vote by mail in Champaign County again Source: Office of Champaign County Clerk How secure is the transfer of mail ballots from drop boxes to the County Clerk’s office? The process is thoroughly documented and requires judges from both parties at all times. One Republican and one Democratic election judge are designated to retrieve ballots and must follow predetermined routes. For transport, ballots are weighed, secured, and sealed in tamper-proof drop box bags. Upon arrival at the Clerk’s office, the ballots are again weighed and seal numbers are verified. Similar security measures are used by the US Postal Service. Election mail is a priority and sorted accordingly by the USPS; it is never left unattended and is locked and secured during transit. Source: Office of Champaign County Clerk How are voter rolls kept current in Illinois? Voter rolls are reviewed regularly for accuracy. Names are removed if a person
Source: Office of Champaign County Clerk What prevents you from submitting a mail ballot and then voting in person, so voting twice? Champaign County’s voter registration system instantly records when a voter has voted, in person or by mail. This data is immediately synced across all voter polling locations for all election judges in Champaign County to see. As soon as a voter requests a mail ballot, the request is added to their record. If they attempted to vote in person, the election judge would not be able to check them in. If they completed multiple ballots and mailed them in, the software program would reject all ballots after the first one is accepted. During early voting, the number of ballots received versus number of voters who voted is audited daily. Any issues are addressed immediately. Mail ballots travel through a highly controlled chain of custody and must constantly be accounted for as one ballot per voter. After the election, there is a complete audit of all ballots and how many people voted. This is reconciled with the state voter system and with data from multiple states. Source: Office of Champaign County Clerk How do we know that votes aren't being cast on behalf of dead people? State and federal law prohibits voter impersonation or casting a ballot on behalf of a deceased person. Election officials regularly remove deceased voters’ names from the rolls based on records from state agencies. Another safeguard is that election judges from both parties verify each voter’s signature and address on the application to vote Source: Office of Champaign County Clerk |
| qa_2023_voting_security_and_integrity.pdf |
Vote by Mail Questions & Answers
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What if I requested a mail ballot but l never received it?
Give the Clerk’s office a call at 217-384-3724 so they can verify your address and status of your request. If the election is less than 48 hours away, it’s likely best to vote in person at your regular precinct or any of the universal voting locations. At the voting location, the election judge will ask you to complete an affidavit certifying you never received a mail ballot. You’ll then be issued a ballot to vote in person. If your mail ballot arrives after you have voted but on or before Election Day, discard the mail ballot. Do not attempt to vote your mail ballot after you have voted in person. Doing so is a Class 3 felony—and the voting system will not allow more than one vote per voter, so your mail ballot will be rejected. Source: Office of Champaign County Clerk Can I pick up my mail ballot in person? No, that would defeat the safety benefits of utilizing vote by mail. Once you request your ballot, you will be able to track its progress to you and if you don’t want to mail it back, you can use a drop box location to return it. Source: Office of Champaign County Clerk Website: https://champaigncountycl erkil.gov/elections/many- ways-vote/frequently- asked-questions What if I requested and received a mail ballot but lost it? If you received your mail ballot but lost it, you can request a new one by contacting the Clerk’s office or vote in person provisionally. The provisional voting process holds your ballot for 14 days after election day to make sure your mail ballot is not also cast. Once it’s confirmed your mail ballot hasn’t been cast, your provisional ballot will be. Source: Office of Champaign County Clerk I don't think the mail ballot I received is correct. What should I do? Give the County Clerk’s office a call and they can verify your address and ballot style. You can reach the office at 217-384- 3724. Source: Office of Champaign County Clerk Website: https://champaigncountycl erkil.gov/elections/many- ways-vote/frequently- asked-questions I received a mail ballot application from a third party. DoI have to use it? No, you do not have to use that application. You can if you want. We encourage you to request your vote by mail application on the Champaign County Clerk's website: https://champaigncountyclerkil.gov/elections/my-voting- information/vote-mail-ballot-request Source: Office of Champaign County Clerk If I requested a mail ballot and received it but now want to vote in person, what do I do? The process is simple but you need to follow these steps. When you get ready to vote in person, bring your mail ballot, envelope, and inserts with you to the early voting site or election-day voting location and give them to the election judge. You will complete an affidavit, and the election judge Source: Office of Champaign County Clerk Can I help a friend or family member complete their mail ballot? Yes, you can. Just complete the “Did You Get Help?” section on the return envelope. Source: Office of Champaign County Clerk Website: https://champaigncountyclerkil.gov/elections/many-ways-vote/frequently-asked-questions How many drop boxes for returning mail ballots are in Champaign County, and when are they open? There are 12 mail ballot drop boxes available throughout the county. Mail ballots are mailed out starting May 19. After that, drop boxes are open 24/7 through 7 pm June 28. Drop box locations are listed on the County Clerk’s website. Source: Office of Champaign County Clerk Website: https://champaigncountyclerkil.gov/elections/many-ways-vote/vote-mail-information |
| qa_2023_vote_by_mail.pdf |
Voting in Person Questions & Answers
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How do I find out when and where I can vote in person in Champaign County?
The County Clerk’s website is the best source for current information about in-person voting in Champaign County. The website’s Many Ways to Vote section provides a quick link to early voting information: dates, times, locations. Another quick link takes you to My Voting Information, where you can confirm your election-day polling location. Source: Office of Champaign County Clerk Website: https://champaigncountyclerkil.gov/elections/many-ways-vote What are my options for voting in person? You can vote early or on election day. All eligible voters can vote early at ANY of the universal early voting locations. Early voting opens 40 days before election day at the Brookens Center gym. Other early voting sites throughout the county open 14 days before the election, with additional sites opening 3 days before and 1 day before the election. There are a total of 30 early voting sites for the 2022 Primary Election. On election day you can vote at your home precinct or at any universal location. Polls are open 6 am-7 pm. Find your home precinct or check your voter registration on the Clerk’s website at My Voting Information. Source: Office of Champaign County Clerk Website: https://champaigncountyclerkil.gov/elections/many-ways-vote/ If I haven’t changed my address, can I still vote at my old polling place? It’s good practice to check if your polling place is still active. Go to the secure portal on the Champaign County Clerk’s website under “My Voting Information.” Source: Office of Champaign County Clerk Website: https://champaigncountyclerkil.gov/elections/my-voting-information Can I register the day of the election? What should I bring? Yes. You can register and vote at the same time during what’s known as grace period, the 14 days before an election and on election day. Bring an ID and a piece of mail no older than 30 days with your current address. Find examples of acceptable ID and mail on the Clerk’s website. To register you must be a US citizen, be 18 years old on or before the date of the next general election, and be a resident of your precinct 30 days before election day. Source: Office of Champaign County Clerk Website: https://champaigncountyclerkil.gov/elections/register-vote/acceptable-forms-id-address-verification Are guns allowed in polling places? When being used as a polling place, the site functions as an extension of the Clerk’s office, which is a government body, so therefore firearms are prohibited. Source: Office of Champaign County Clerk Can I bring my children with me into the voting booth? Yes, you can bring one or more children under the age of 18 into the voting booth. Introduce your children early to the privilege and responsibility of voting! Source: Office of Champaign County Clerk Can I wear my MAGA hat or my RBG shirt in the polling place? Wearing a hat or clothing that shows support of a candidate, a cause, or a political viewpoint is not allowed in a polling place or within 100 feet of a polling place. That’s considered electioneering just as much as wearing a candidate’s button would be. You’ll be asked to remove the item before being processed to vote. Source: Office of Champaign County Clerk |
| qa_2023_voting_in_person.pdf |
Election Judges Questions & Answers
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How do I become an election judge in Champaign County? What are the qualifications?
The first step is to fill out an application online or request one from the County Clerk’s office: elections@champaigncountyclerkil.gov or 217-384-3724. The qualifications are listed below but by far the most important qualification to be an election judge is flexibility and adaptability. The training provided is extensive and detailed, but judges still need to think on their feet, troubleshoot technology, and adapt to the circumstances.
Source: Office of Champaign County Clerk Website: https://champaigncountyclerkil.gov/elections/work-election-judge Can high school students serve as election judges? Yes. Juniors and seniors in high school with a grade point average of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale, with the permission of their parent or guardian and their principal, can serve as election judges. They must also attend the training classes and are paid $200 for working on election day. Source: Office of Champaign County Clerk Website: https://champaigncountyclerkil.gov/elections/work-election-judge What are the duties of an election judge at voting locations?
https://champaigncountyclerkil.gov/elections/work-election-judge |
| qa_2023_election_judges.pdf |
All Questions & Answers in One PDF
| qa_2023_all_categories_formatted_for_web.pdf |
