Vote by Mail
When it comes to convenience, nothing beats Voting By Mail (VBM). Here's everything you need to know.
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.
Showing 3 comments