Frequently Asked Questions

You can register to vote in-person or by mail. Read details on Registering to Vote.

Yes. Any person who requests public assistance will be given an opportunity to register to vote. If you are already registered, there will be no need to register again unless you change your name or move.

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. Learn more about registering by mail.

No, not unless you:

• Move to a different address
• Change your name

Each newly registered voter will receive a voter identification card in the mail within a few weeks of registering. It is not necessary to bring the card with you on Election Day.

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 three weeks after you have registered, call your County Clerk's Office.

You must be:

• A U.S. Citizen
• At least 18 years of age by the next General Election day
• Must have been a resident of the precinct at least 30 days prior to election day

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. See a list of acceptable forms of identification.

The Election Judge must call the County Clerk's Office to verify whether you are eligible to vote and to get further instructions. These instructions will depend on the circumstances of why you are not listed.

Registration is open year-round except:

• During the 27-day period just prior to an election
• During the 2 days after such election

You must register to vote no later than 28 days before an election.

Exception: Grace Period Registration

New legislation provides for in-person voter registration, or execution of a change of address for an already registered voter, during the period of the 27th to the 3rd day before an election. normally, voter registration closes 28 days prior to election day. However, this new legislation provides a "grace period" whereby a person may register at the office of the election authority only during the 25-day period following the normal close of registration. Anyone registering during this period will be required to vote in person at the time of registering. All "grace period" ballots will then be counted in the office of the election authority and not transmitted or counted in the vote center. Grace period voters cannot cancel their ballot and vote in the vote center on election day.

You can register to vote at:

• The County Clerk's Office
  1504 Third Avenue
  Rock Island, IL
• Any Township, City or Village Clerk's Office
• Any major public library:
  • Rock Island
  • Moline
  • East Moline
  • Silvis
• Your precinct committeeperson

View more details regarding voter registration locations.

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.

If you changed your name and moved outside the precinct before the election and did not re-register, you cannot vote. A person who changed his or her name before the election, and still lives in the same precinct and is otherwise qualified and did not re-register, 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. See more details on voter registration.

It depends on when you move.

• If you moved within 27 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 and did not transfer your registration, you cannot vote (Exception: In even-year elections you can vote for federal offices only, after completing an affidavit for "change of address").
• 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.