Voter Information
Our Candidates Page has complete information on all Democratic candidates on your ballot this November 3rd, anywhere in McHenry County. Click on each candidate's picture to jump to their website. And the downloadable pdf has links to each candidate's website, social media, email, and donate pages.
Here's the full set of 2026 Early Voting Locations as published by our county clerk, with hours, whether they have dropboxes, and when the dropboxes are available. You can download a copy here!
Thursday, September 24th --
- Early voting begins for the 2026 General Election at the McHenry County Election Center, 410 South Eastwood Drive, Woodstock.
- Vote-By-Mail ballots will be mailed out by the county clerk to voters who have requested them. Look to receive yours by September 27th. Call the clerk at 815-334-4242 if you do not receive yours. Sample ballots should be available on the clerk's website, as well.
Monday, October 19th -- Early voting begins at Early Voting Locations around the county (also called "early satellite voting").
Tuesday, October 20th -- Plan to have your Vote-By-Mail ballot in the mail! Track your ballot at https://mchenryvbm.ballottrax.net/voter/. If it is not received by November 2nd, prepare to vote in person in your precinct or at the McHenry County Election Center on Election Day. Vote a provisional ballot.
Thursday, October 29th -- Last day to request a mail-in ballot -- applications sent by US Mail must be received by the county clerk by this date.
Saturday, October 31st -- Last day to vote early at the following Early Voting Locations. Check open times.
- Huntley Park District
- Algonquin Library
- Cary Park District
- Dunham Township Office (also Dropbox Location)
- Marengo City Hall
Monday, November 2nd -- Last day for early voting at the following Early Voting Centers. Check open times.
- McHenry County Election Center (also Dropbox Location)
- Algonquin Township Garage (also Dropbox Location)
- Crystal Lake Public Library (also Dropbox Location)
- McHenry Township Office (also Dropbox Location)
- Lake in the Hills Village Hall (also Dropbox Location)
- McHenry City Hall
- Nunda Township Office
Tuesday, November 3rd -- General Election Day
- On Election Day, to vote in person, you must vote in your precinct's polling place or at the Election Center, the one universal site on Election Day.
- The last day to vote a Vote-By-Mail ballot. DO NOT PUT YOUR BALLOT IN A MAILBOX! Instead:
- Deposit it in the ballot dropbox in the parking lot at 667 Ware Rd., Woodstock, or
- Go to a United States Post Office counter and request a manual postmark, or
- Take your Vote-By-Mail ballot to your precinct's polling place or the McHenry County Election Center, turn it in, and vote in person.
AND HERE'S THE KEY DATES FOR THE UPCOMING 2027 MUNICIPAL ELECTION.
Monday, November 16th through Monday, November 23rd, 2026 -- Filing period for candidates not going through a primary
Tuesday, April 6th, 2027 -- "Consolidated" (Municipal) Election -- school boards, library boards, park boards, municipal offices, etc.
The Illinois State Board of Elections' full 2026 calendar can be found here.
The Illinois State Board of Elections' abbreviated calendar can be found here.
Click here to check your registration or click the image below. The registration period for the online voter registration system may be closed if close or during an active election. If you are registered, the system will return your District information.
Moved? Submit a Voter Registration Change of Address Form to the McHenry County Clerk's office via email at [email protected] or by mail to: McHenry County Clerk, 2200 N Seminary Ave. Woodstock, IL 60098
To register to vote in McHenry County:
- You must be a US citizen
- At least 18 years of age on Election Day. (If you will be 18 on the date of the general election, you can register to vote both in that election and in the earlier primary election.)
- You must live in your precinct in McHenry County at least 30 days before Election Day
- You must not be serving a sentence of confinement in any penal institution due to a conviction, and you may not claim the right to vote anywhere else.
You'll need two forms of ID with at least one showing your current residence address. Most people use their Illinois driver's license, Illinois state ID card, or passport for the first one. See the pamphlet Registering To Vote below.
There are a variety of ways to register to vote in McHenry County:
- online through the Illinois State Board of Elections
- when you obtain or renew your driver's license ("motor voter")
- in-person at our County Clerk's office
- by mail -- click here for the application or call the county clerk at 815-334-4242 to have one mailed to you
- directly by deputy registrars (many of our Democratic Precinct Committeepersons are trained and commissioned deputy registrars.)
- during the early-voting period, at any early-voting location
- on Election Day, at your polling place, or at the new McHenry County Election Center, 410 South Eastwood Drive, Woodstock.
Click the image below to begin the online voter registration process through the Illinois State Board of Elections. You'll need an active Illinois driver's license or Illinois state ID.
Register to vote in person at the Clerk's office, Monday through Friday, 8:00am to 4:30pm. Office of McHenry County Clerk, McHenry County Administration Building, 667 Ware Road, Suite 107, Woodstock IL
During the Early Voting period, voters must register and vote in person at one of the Clerk’s designated Early Voting locations.
Individuals wishing to vote during the Early Voting must bring two pieces of identification to register, one with a current address. Registrants must immediately cast their ballot after registering to vote.
On Election Day, you may register to vote at your home precinct or at the McHenry County Election Center. Voters planning on registering to vote or updating their address on Election Day must bring two pieces of identification to register, one with a current address.
Mail an application to the Clerk's office using the form here:
Moved? Submit a Voter Registration Change of Address Form to the McHenry County Clerk's office via email at [email protected] or by mail to: McHenry County Clerk, 2200 N Seminary Ave. Woodstock, IL 60098
Information for voters on voting registration from the Illinois State Board of Elections - click on the image for the pamphlet.
SPECIAL NOTES (September 11, 2026):
Expect to receive your Vote-By-Mail (VBM) ballot within a few days of September 24th.
Mail Postmark Rules have changed! Mail is first taken to a processing center and postmarked there, which can result in at least a 1-2 day delay. It is important that you mail early or plan to use one of the following options.
Once you've received it, do one of the following:
· VOTE BY DROPBOX - If you have received a Vote-By-Mail ballot, bypass the mailbox and drop it at a ballot dropbox. A drive-up dropbox, which you can use 24/7, is located in the Clerk's office parking lot (667 Ware Rd., Woodstock). Dropboxes will also be available at many Early Voting Locations. See the locations and hours here.
· VOTE AT EARLY VOTING LOCATION - Take your Vote-By-Mail Ballot and all the envelopes to an Early Voting Location, turn it in to the election judge, and vote in person.
· VOTE BY USPS WINDOW - Take your Vote-By-Mail ballot to a Post Office, go to the window, and ask the postal worker to postmark your ballot in front of you.
· VOTE BY MAIL - Affix a first-class stamp and put your Vote-By-Mail ballot in your mailbox as soon as you can after receiving it (ballots will be mailed starting September 24th), but NO LATER THAN October 20th to be sure it is postmarked before the election on November 3rd.
If you mail or use a dropbox, be sure to track it here: TRACK YOUR VOTE-BY-MAIL BALLOT.
If you are sure your ballot has arrived by November 2nd, vote at your precinct or at the McHenry County Election Center on Election Day, November 3rd. You will be required to vote a Provision Ballot, which will be your safeguard in case your ballot was delayed or lost.
All you need to know about Vote-By-Mail:
SIGNING UP FOR VOTE-BY-MAIL
McHenry County registered voters (check your registration!) can sign up to Vote-By-Mail (VBM) right now, either just for this election or permanently ("Permanent-Vote-By-Mail"). Here's the applications for either - click on the link to open it, and then print it:
You can also request a Vote-By-Mail application by calling the County Clerk at 815-334-4242 - they'll mail it to you.
After printing and filling it in, you can either:
- Scan it and email the PDF to [email protected], or
- Mail it to McHenry County Clerk, Attn: Vote By Mail Department, 2200 N Seminary Ave, Woodstock, IL 60098.
Due date: Applications to Vote-By-Mail for this election must be received by the County Clerk by October 29th, 2026. But that's far too late, and you take the chance of not receiving your VBM ballot before election day. If you wish to apply for a mail-in ballot, do it right away, or plan to vote in person at an early voting site.
WHEN TO EXPECT YOUR VOTE-BY-MAIL BALLOT
It can take up to 5 days from the time the clerk receives your application for a VBM ballot for you to receive it in the mail. If you expect to receive your ballot and haven't, call the County Clerk at 815-334-4242 to inquire.
WHAT'S INSIDE?
When your ballot arrives in your mailbox, open the outer envelope, which may be discarded. Inside you'll find (1) the ballot, (2) two envelopes -- an inner Ballot Certification Envelope and a mailing envelope -- and (3) an instruction sheet.
FILLING OUT THE BALLOT IF YOU'RE CHOOSING TO VOTE IT
To vote the ballot, make your choices -- use a BLACK ink pen (not a permanent marker), completely darkening the oval next to the candidate of your choice and the propositions. Don't put any other marks on the ballot itself -- don't sign it and don't initial it.
Then put it in the Ballot Certification Envelope and seal the envelope.
Sign the Ballot Certification Envelope in the signature box, again using a black ink pen, exactly as you did when you registered to vote, and add the date you signed the ballot on the date line. Then put the Ballot Certification Envelope in the mailing envelope and seal it. Add your return address in the upper-left corner of the mailing envelope. If returning the ballot via the US Mail, affix a first-class stamp.
VBM Tips
- Do not initial the ballot!
- It is ok to undervote, which means to leave a question blank or to only vote for one candidate even though you can vote for two. Your ballot will still count. For example, if there is no Democrat running or there is only one Democrat running, only vote for the Democratic candidate.
- Sign your name as you signed it when you registered to vote.
- Make sure your envelope is sealed!
WHAT'S THE DEADLINE FOR VOTING MY MAIL-IN BALLOT?
If you're choosing to vote your Vote-By-Mail ballot, you must either (a) deposit it in one of the ballot dropboxes no later than 7:00 pm on Election Day, Tuesday, November 3rd, or (b) deposit it in the US Mail such that it will be postmarked no later than Tuesday, November 3rd.
As explained above, because of recent changes in postal service procedures, mail deposited in ordinary mailboxes may not be postmarked for several days. If using the US Mail and it's within a week of Election Day, be sure to bring the ballot to the window at the post office, and have it postmarked by hand right then and there.
WHAT IF I LOST MY MAIL-IN BALLOT OR NEVER RECEIVED IT?
If you've lost your Vote-By-Mail ballot, or you've never received it, you can still vote -- just go to the polling place and tell the Election Judge.
WHAT IF I GET MY VOTE-BY-MAIL BALLOT AND THEN DECIDE I WANT TO VOTE IN PERSON
Easy! You can do vote in person either at early voting locations, or at your polling place on election day, or at the McHenry County Election Center.
Take the ballot and all the interior envelopes with you to the polling place. When it's your turn, surrender your Vote-By-Mail ballot to the election judge and you will be given a new ballot to vote in person.
This is our preferred plan. Be signed up for permanent vote-by-mail, and as soon as the ballot has arrived, surrender it and vote early in-person. Remember we need your vote!
TRACKING YOUR MAIL-IN BALLOT
If you've voted your Vote-By-Mail ballot, we highly recommend using this link to TRACK YOUR VOTE-BY-MAIL BALLOT on our county clerk's website. It's quick and easy and you can make sure your ballot has been received and counted. You can sign up for automated texts, emails or phone calls to be notified whenever the status of your ballot changes.
Check the details to make sure your ballot has been received and counted. If you see a yellow caution signal together with a message to call the county at 815-334-4242, it means there was a problem with your ballot.
WHAT IF THERE'S A PROBLEM WITH MY MAIL-IN BALLOT?
When your Vote-By-Mail ballot is received by our county clerk, it is opened and processed by two Election Judges (one from each major party.) There's various reasons why it might be rejected, including that the judges who reviewed your signature believed it didn't match your signature on file.
If your ballot was rejected, the county clerk is required by law to notify you within 48 hours. In addition to seeing a problem with your ballot on the ballot-tracking site, the Clerk will mail you a letter to that effect.
You'll need to visit the County Clerk's office at 667 Ware Road in Woodstock during normal business hours to "cure" the problem with your ballot, whatever it may be. Bring your ID, and bring the letter if you've already received it.
WHAT IF I REQUESTED A VOTE-BY-MAIL BALLOT BUT HAVEN'T RECEIVED IT BY ELECTION DAY?
Go to your polling place on Election Day. Ask to fill out an affidavit stating that you never received the VBM ballot. You can then vote.
WHAT IF I RETURNED MY VOTE-BY-MAIL BALLOT TO THE CLERK BUT THEY HAVE NOT RECEIVED IT BY ELECTION DAY?
Go to your polling place on Election Day. Tell the election judge that you returned the VBM ballot and the election authority did not receive it. You will vote a provisional ballot. If your Vote-By-Mail ballot is not received in time, the in-person ballot will automatically be counted.
What if I still have questions about VBM?
You can email the Democratic Party of McHenry County at [email protected] or call us at 847-906-1559.
- Election Day is Tuesday, November 3rd, 2026.
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The polls open at 6:00 am and close at 7:00 pm. If there's a line when the polls are closing, as long as you're in line by 7:00, you'll still be able to vote.
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If voting in person on Election Day, you must vote at the polling place for your precinct, or at the McHenry County Election Center at 410 South Eastwood Drive, Woodstock (turn in at the Taco Bell.) (The Election Center is the one place on Election Day where any resident of McHenry County can vote.)
- Look up your polling place -- here's the full list by precinct. You can also find your polling place with the polling place locator or when you check your registration.
What to expect when voting:
When it's your turn to vote, step right up to the Election Judge and tell them your name and address. They'll look you up in their "Electronic Poll Book" system, and ask you to sign your name. Sign your name as you did when you registered. There should be both a Democratic and a Republican election judge checking your signature.
Illinois law does not require you to present your ID to the Election Judges, and normally the Election Judges will only ask to see your ID if one of the judges thinks your signature doesn't match. If they do ask for your ID, your driver's license or Illinois State ID is best. You don't need to bring your voter card.
Illinois has same-day registration, so if you're not registered by Election Day but still eligible to vote, you can still register and vote. Go to your polling place and bring two forms of ID. One form is your Illinois driver's license, Illinois state ID, or passport. The second is a piece of mail with your address on it.
The Illinois Voter Protection Hotline is 244-990-2200.
The McHenry County Clerk publishes sample ballots for elections at this website. In addition to the sample ballot for an specific address, you can also see your Election Day polling place.
When using the sample ballot and polling place locator, make sure to follow exactly the directions at the top of the screen. For example, we strongly recommend that if your address is 123 S. Main St, Woodstock, IL, enter "123" in the address number field and "main" in the street name field and nothing else. Less is more when using the sample ballot locator. If you are having trouble retrieving your sample ballot, please email us at [email protected].
Get the info you need here: https://www.mchenrydems.org/poll_workers