Voter Information

The 2026 Primary Election is coming up on Tuesday, March 17th, 2026.  

• Beginning on Thursday, February 5th, early voting begins at the McHenry County Election Center, 410 South Eastwood Drive, in Woodstock.
  
  
• On Monday March 2nd, early voting begins at locations around the county.  You can vote early at any of the early voting locations.
  
  
• Early voting continues through Monday March 16th, the day before Election Day.  There's even early voting on the weekends on Saturday March 7th and Saturday and Sunday March 15th and 16th.
  
  
• Polls open at 6:00 am and close at 7:00 pm on Election Day, Tuesday March 17th.

Here's the full list of early voting locations, or click on this graphic:

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Wednesday December 17th, 2025 -- first day to apply for a mail-in ballot for the upcoming primary election (either just for this election or for all subsequent elections until cancelled, which is called "permanent vote by mail").

Thursday January 15th, 2026 -- Last day to file signed and notarized "declaration of intent to be a write-in candidate" for the upcoming primary election.

Thursday February 5th, 2026 -- Early voting begins for the 2026 Primary Election at the McHenry County Election Center, 410 South Eastwood Drive, Woodstock.  This is also the first day on which our county clerk will begin mailing mail-in ballots to voters who have requested same, and is also typically when sample ballots will be available online.

Monday March 2nd, 2026 -- Early voting for the primary begins at convenient locations around the county (also called "early satellite voting")

Wednesday March 12th, 2026 -- last day to request a mail-in ballot for the primary -- applications must be received by our county clerk by this date

Friday March 14th, 2026 -- last day to vote early at "temporary" early voting sites

Monday March 16th, 2026 -- Last day for early voting at "permanent" early voting sites, including the Election Center

Tuesday March 17th, 2026 -- Primary Election Day -- on Election Day, to vote in person you must vote in the polling place for your precinct, or at the Election Center, the one universal site on Election Day.  Also, the last day to vote a mail-in ballot, either by depositing it in a ballot dropbox before the close of  business, or by depositing it in the US mail (it must be postmarked Tuesday.)

Tuesday November 3rd, 2026 -- General Election Day

The Illinois State Board of Elections' full calendar can be found here.

The Illinois State Board of Elections' abbreviated calendar can be found here.

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].

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.  Remember, Districts changed in 2022 when districts were remapped.

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.

February 5th, 2026 is the first date on which you can vote a mail-in ballot for the upcoming March 17th, 2026 primary election.  As explained below, you can choose to vote it, or you can bring it to a polling place, surrender it, and vote in person.  But if you do choose to vote it, be sure to track it here: TRACK YOUR VOTE-BY-MAIL BALLOT. Scroll down for more information about tracking your ballot.

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:

• Application for Vote By Mail - single election or permanent

     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 the upcoming primary election must be received by the County Clerk by Thursday, March 12th, 2026.  Don't wait - apply immediately.  If mailing the application, it's a good idea to keep a copy.

Thursday February 5th, 2026, is the first day for the Clerk's office to mail VBM ballots for the upcoming primary election. The Clerk requests allowing 5 days for the USPS to deliver your ballot.  If you expect to receive your ballot and haven't, call the County Clerk at 815-334-4242 to inquire.

What to do with your Vote-By-Mail ballot

• When your ballot comes, open and discard the outer envelope.  Inside you'll find (1) the ballot, (2) two envelopes -- an inner Ballot Certification Envelope and a mailing envelope, and (3) an instruction sheet.
  
  
• 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.  Then put it in the Ballot Certification Envelope, 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.  You can now either (a) add a first class stamp and pop the sealed mailing envelope in any US mailbox (taking it to the post office is best), or (b) deposit the ballot in any McHenry County ballot dropbox, or at the Clerk's office.

What’s the deadline for dropping off or mailing my ballot?

Vote-by-mail ballots for the upcoming primary election must be returned or postmarked no later than election day, Tuesday, March 17th, 2026. VBM ballots can be returned by either the voter or any person authorized by the voter, or by a licensed delivery company. Ballots can be delivered to a drop box or to the Clerk's office prior to the polls closing at 7 pm.  If mailed, they must be postmarked by March 17th.

Special Note:  because of a recent change in USPS policy, ballots deposited in mailboxes prior to the final collection time of the day, might not be postmarked on that day.  If you wish to vote your VBM ballot and it's getting close to Election Day, we recommend either (a) being sure to use one of the dropboxes, or (b) going to the post office window and ensuring that the envelope will have the postmark hand-stamped.

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 a VBM ballot and then decide I want to vote in person?

Easy. Just bring your VBM ballot and envelope to your polling place once in-person voting begins, return them to an election judge, and request a regular ballot to vote then and there. Having the VBM ballot in hand before the polls are open for in-person voting, ensures that if you’d rather not leave home, you can still vote. Remember we need your vote!

Where are the ballot dropboxes?

You can use any convenient dropbox.

There's a 24X7 ballot dropbox in the parking lot of the McHenry County Administration Building, directly across from the building entrance, at 667 Ware Road in Woodstock, immediately north of the courthouse.

Additionally, there are drop boxes available inside the voting room of the following early voting locations.  Note: NOT ALL EARLY VOTING LOCATIONS WILL HAVE A DROPBOX FOR VBM BALLOTS!  Please see the Q&A "EARLY VOTING" for exact locations and hours.  Dropboxes are typically available at the following locations during early voting hours at:

• Algonquin Township Office
• Crystal Lake Public Library
• Lake in the Hills Village Hall
• McHenry Township Office

What if there's a problem with my VBM ballot when the county clerk receives it?

The county clerk is required to notify you of any problems with your ballot within 48 hours of receiving it.

What if I requested a VBM ballot but don't receive 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. REFUSE TO VOTE PROVISIONALLY.

What if I returned a VBM ballot to the Clerk but they have not received it by Election Day?

Go to your polling place on Election Day.  Ask to fill out an affidavit stating that you returned the VBM ballot and the election authority did not receive it. You can then vote.  REFUSE TO VOTE PROVISIONALLY.

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.

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!

IMPORTANT - 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.  Maybe the election judges who reviewed your signature believed it didn't match your signature on file.  If so, you will receive a letter from the clerk and will need to bring that letter together with ID to the clerk's office at 667 Ware Road in Woodstock to "cure" the problem with your ballot.  If you have any concerns about your vote-by-mail ballot, please email [email protected].

The "Illinois student scholarship ballot question" in the March 2026 primary asks if voters want Illinois to join a federal tax-credit scholarship program, allowing private donations for K-12 tuition, books, tutoring, etc., for public, private, and homeschool students.  This advisory vote only appears in some counties (around one-third, including McHenry County) and aims to gauge support for opting into the federal Educational Choice for Children Act (ECCA).

Although we haven't seen the exact wording yet, it should look something like this:

Should Illinois opt into a federal program that would provide public K-12, private school, and homeschool students with privately-donated funds for academic needs, such as tutoring and test preparation, educational therapies for students with disabilities, tuition, books, exam fees, or for other specified academic needs?

This program was created as part of the “One Big Ugly Bill,” creating a federal voucher program in the form of a tax credit scholarship program. Each state can choose to opt in or opt out of the voucher program. Illinois has not opted in as of yet. Counties around the state have chosen to place this referendum on the ballot, including our county. It is only on the ballot in about 1/3 of the counties. In some counties, such as Cook and Lake, it appears in only a few townships. The program will start in 2027.

Who can use these vouchers?  Any child whose family makes less than 300% of their area’s median income. In the Chicago metro area, the limit would be just under $360,000/year for a family of four! This is not money going to low-income families. About 90% of US children will qualify.

How's it work?  Taxpayers would contribute to a third-party scholarship-granting organization (SGO). The SGO then pays the private school costs for students who have applied to them for “scholarships,” aka vouchers. Taxpayers then receive a credit on their income tax bill for their contribution. It's a one-to-one tax credit off their federal income tax bill up to $1,700.  There is no information about who sits on the SGO and reviews the scholarship applications or makes the decisions on how to distribute the money.

This funding stream is not the same as using voluntary, private charitable contributions to pay for scholarships. The tax credit of up to $1,700 is much more generous than the tax deduction for donating to any other type of non-profit, which is usually around 30%

Why use SGOs to distribute vouchers instead of a government agency? Most private schools are religious organizations. By creating a legal middleman, voucher supporters attempt to cover up the use of tax dollars for religious purposes.

Every tax dollar diverted to private and religious schools is a dollar that can’t be used to increase public school funding. Illinois’ public schools are currently underfunded by more than $3 billion. The majority of schools in our state are still not adequately funded under the state’s own funding formula. The federal government is likely to further cut funds for K-12 education in the coming year. The US House recently voted to cut Title I funds for schools serving low-income students by more than 25%.

If voucher dollars follow students, isn't this budget-neutral for public schools? No, public schools have high fixed costs, but federal and state funding is tied to student enrollment.  If students leave public school, public schools lose funding, and because their fixed costs can’t change as quickly as their variable costs, that means a loss to public school budgets. That extra loss to our public schools in Illinois—if even just 5% of current public school students left and started using a voucher to attend private school—could be $1 billion or more, according to the Economic Policy Institute.

Why is using tax dollars to fund private schools a bad idea?  Private schools can discriminate - they do not need to take every student that applies, and federal and state anti-discrimination laws do not protect students in religious schools. On the other hand, public schools are responsible for educating all students, including those who need extra resources and support, e.g., students learning English, students with disabilities, and students from low-income households.

Unfortunately, if Illinois does not opt in, Illinois taxpayers can still take the tax credit, but Illinois students will not receive the scholarships; students in other states will get the money. Another reason to vote for Democratic Congressional candidates!  Let's repeal this giveaway to wealthy taxpayers to fund private schools.

We believe parents should have the choice to send their children to private schools.  However, we also think taxpayers should not be subsidizing private, religious schools. Let's instead fund public schools adequately, so they can provide the excellent education our kids deserve.

Don't be fooled. As we know, there are a lot of bad ideas in the Big Ugly Bill, and this is one of those. Get the information and make a wise choice for the school children of Illinois.

We thank Illinois Families fo Public Schools for this breakdown of the advisory referendum.  The above was taken from their information sheet, which you can download here.