From Winnebago County Board

WINNEBAGO COUNTY, Ill. – Following Governor J.B. Pritzker’s signing of Illinois Senate Bill 825, election offices across the state are now mandated to send all registered voters a vote-by-mail application. Voters may now apply for Permanent Vote-By-Mail Status and automatically receive a ballot in all subsequent elections. Beginning in August, registered Illinois voters should have received an application in the mail that allows them to choose their preferred way to vote; either through a mail-in ballot or in-person.

A voter remains in a permanent status until the voter requests to be removed or the clerk’s office receives confirmation that the voter has registered to vote in another county. Voters may still register online for Vote-By-Mail Status for a single election.

“We hope all of these options remove any barriers from voting and encourage people to cast their ballots in the upcoming election,” said Winnebago County Clerk Lori Gummow.

Applications must be completed, signed and returned to the County Clerk’s Election Department prior to receiving a ballot. Applications must be sent back via mail (404 Elm St. Rm. 101, Rockford, 61101), email (elections@clerk.wincoil.gov), fax (815-319-4251), online (clerk.wincoil.gov) or in person. Mail-in ballots will start going out to voters who request them on September 29. Those who choose to vote by mail must postmark their ballots by November 8, 2022.

Early in-person voting begins on Thursday, September 29 from 8:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. Winnebago County residents living outside of the city of Rockford limits may vote at the Administration Building, 404 Elm Street, Rockford, Illinois through the day before Election Day.

For more voter information, please visit clerk.wincoil.gov/election-information.