Vote-by-Mail

Many registered voters in Illinois are unable to vote in person at the polling place on Election Day. Download the Application for a Vote-by-Mail ballot (PDF). See the rest of this page for general information regarding the correct procedures to follow in order to Vote-by-Mail.

You do not need a reason or an I.D.

  • The first day to make an application to vote by mail is January 4, 2023.
  • The last day we can receive an application to get the ballot mailed in time is March 30, 2023.
  • Ballots will be mailed starting March 10, 2023, and each day thereafter.
  • Return postage for the ballots will be paid by the County within the United States.
  • Print off an application (PDF) or call the County Clerk's Office at 309-786-8683.

How to Register to Vote by Mail

  1. Download the Application for a Vote-by-Mail ballot (PDF), or pick up the application in person at the County Clerk's Office, or call 309-786-8683 to have the application mailed to you.
  2. Upon receipt, complete the application. Make certain to include your name, home address, address where you want the ballot to be mailed, date of birth, phone number, email address, and be sure to sign and date the application. In primary elections, you must state your party affiliation.
  3. After completing the application, mail it, deliver it or place it in the drop box at: Rock Island County Clerk, 1504 3rd Avenue, Rock Island, IL 61201. If the application is properly completed and signed, a ballot will be mailed to you.
  4. After receiving your ballot, vote the ballot, then seal it in the certification envelope provided. Complete and sign the certification envelope, place it in the large postage paid Return Envelope. The ballot can be mailed to the Rock Island County Clerk's Office, hand-delivered to the office, or placed in the blue drop box in front of the building at 1504 3rd Avenue, Rock Island IL 61201. The ballot must be postmarked or dropped off no later than Election Day to be counted.

Note: Early Voting and Grace Period Voting must be done in person only, at the Rock Island County Clerk's Office or any of the four Early Voting Site Locations throughout the county.

Vote-by-Mail Voting: Downloadable Documents

Admitted to the Hospital, Nursing Home or Rehabilitation Center

If admitted to the hospital, nursing home or rehabilitation center not more than 14 days before an election:

  1. Obtain an "Application for a ballot for Qualified Voter Admitted to Hospital, Nursing Home or Rehabilitation Center not more than 14 days before the Election".
  2. You must complete the application and your physician must complete and sign the "Certificate of Attending Physician" section of the application.
  3. After the form is completed and signed by you and your physician, a registered voter from your precinct or your relative can then hand deliver the application to your election authority's office (the county clerk is the election authority for Rock Island County).
  4. After signing an affidavit, the precinct voter or your relative may personally hand deliver the Vote-by-Mail ballot to you in the hospital.
  5. When you receive the ballot, vote the ballot and sign and date the certification envelope.
  6. After placing your voted ballot in the certification envelope, securely seal it and give the envelope to the precinct voter or to your relative who must hand deliver it to the election authority's office before 7 pm on Election Day.

Remember that only those persons who are admitted to a hospital not more than 14 days before an election are entitled to personal delivery of a ballot. If you were hospitalized more than 14 days before the election, see "Vote-by-Mail" procedures".

For more information, contact the Election Department at 309-786-8683.

Early Voting at the County Clerk's Office

Any voter may cast a ballot and needs no excuse, reason or ID. Persons voting early do not get to cancel their ballot and vote at the polls on Election Day.

Consolidated General Election: April 4, 2023

Early voting in County Clerk's Office:
March 10 through April 3
Monday through Friday
8 am to 4:30 pm
During normal business hours
March 25 and April 1
Saturday
8 :00 am to Noon

The law prohibits a person who voted during the early voting period from voting at their regular vote center on Election Day. The votes cast during the early voting time period will be counted on Election Day.

For more information about early voting or voting locations, contact the Rock Island County Clerk's Election Department at 309-786-8683.

Early Voting at Site Locations Throughout the County

Any voter may cast a ballot and needs no excuse, reason, or ID, at any Early Voting Site Location. Use them for convenience if they're close to your home, work, or school! Persons voting early do not get to cancel their ballot and vote at the polls on election day. Persons who need to register to vote or re-register with a new address or name may do so at any Early Voting site Location.

Not Available this election.

The law prohibits a person who voted during the early voting period from voting at their regular vote center on Election Day. The votes cast during the early voting time period will be counted on Election Day.

For more information about early voting or voting locations, contact the Rock Island County Clerk's Election Department at 309-786-8683.

Grace Period Registration / Voting

The Illinois Election Code provides for in-person voter registration, or execution of a change of address for an already registered voter. Normally, voter registration closes 28 days prior to Election Day. During the "grace period" whereby a person may register during the period following the normal close of registration.

Voter must bring 2 forms of ID showing current name and address.

Anyone registering during this period will be required to vote in-person at that time. Persons voting early do not get to cancel their ballot and vote at the polls on Election Day.

Note: Grace Period Voting must be done in person at any of the Early Voting Site Locations.

Consolidated General Election: April 4, 2023

Grace Period Registration/Voting at County Clerk's Office:
March 10 through April 3
Monday through Friday
8 am to 4:30 pm
During normal business hours.
March 25 and April 1
Saturday
8:00am to Noon

For more information about grace period/registration voting or voting locations, contact the Rock Island County Clerk's Election Department at 309-786-8683.

Same-Day Voter Registration

Consolidated General Election: April 4, 2023

Election Day: You can register or make changes to your registration by bringing in 2 forms of ID showing your current name and address. You must vote at that time.
April 4, 2023
Tuesday, 6 am to 7 pm

Voter Assistance

Assistance is the actual casting of votes for a voter in accordance with the voter's wishes. Assistance can be given by a friend or relative, but cannot be given by an officer or agent of the voter's employer or the voter's union. A candidate whose name appears on the ballot is also prohibited from assisting a physically incapacitated Vote-by-Mail voter unless the candidate is the spouse, parent, child, brother or sister of the incapacitated Vote-by-Mail voter. This would prohibit precinct committeeperson from giving assistance in a Primary Election. If assistance is given, the name and address of the person giving assistance must be provided on the certification envelope.

For additional information about voting while being hospitalized, contact the Rock Island County Clerk's Election Department at 309-786-8683.