Absentee Voting Information
If you have any questions, or need further assistance, you can email us at mail@champaigncountyclerk.com or call us at (217)384-3724.
Thank You
Champaign County Clerk Staff
Information for Absentee Voting in person for the March General Primary Election
Dates & Times:
Thursday, February 9, 2012 through Friday, March 16, 2012
Monday through Friday - 8:00am to 4:30pm, Saturday and Sunday - 9:00am to 12:00pm
Saturday, March 17, 2012 - 8:30am to 12:00pm
Monday, March 19, 2012 - 8:00am to 5:00pm
Location:
Office of the Champaign County Clerk
1776 East Washington Street, Urbana
Map
Absentee voting by mail for the April Consolidated Election
Thursday, February 9, 2012 - The first day to receive an application for an absentee ballot through the mail.
Tuesday, March 13, 2012 - The last day to request an application for an absentee ballot by mail.
Thursday, March 15, 2012 - The last day that absentee ballots may be mailed out is 5 days prior to the election. This is also the last day that we may receive an application by mail from anyone who has requested an absentee ballot by mail.
The return address for ballots is:
Champaign County Clerk
PO Box 17127
Urbana IL 61803
The FedEx delivery address for ballots is:
Champaign County Clerk
1776 E Washington St
Urbana IL 61802
To be counted, a ballot must be postmarked on or before March 19, 2012 and arrive in our office by April 3, 2012.
Absentee Voter Laws and Information (.pdf)
Map to our office
Important Notes
Follow this link to the online absentee application request form
State law allows anyone to vote absentee without excuse, either in person at the Champaign County Clerk’s Office or through the mail. Here are the options for voting absentee in Champaign County.
Absentee by Phone, Mail or Email
Military and Overseas Absentee Voting
Incapacitated Absentee Voter Program
Champaign County offers voters a chance to get an application and ballot in a secure and easy step on our website.
1. Go to the Order an Absentee Ballot On Line page on our website.
2. Type in your personal information that ensures us that we are mailing an application to you and not someone else.
3. For Primary Election, when your name appears, select a single party by clicking on the box next to the party you wish to vote for.
4. Make sure you give us the correct address that you would like your application sent to.
5. We will mail your application within a single business day to the address you provide.
6. Carefully read the instructions that come with your application. Failure to comply with all the statutory requirements of completing your application may result in it being rejected. For Primary Elections you must circle the party that you want to vote.
7. Mail the application back to the Champaign County Clerk. We must receive it by the Thursday prior to Election Day in order to send you a ballot.
8. Within a business day of receiving your application, the County Clerk’s Office will mail your ballot to you.
9. Once again, carefully read the instructions that come with your ballot. Failure to comply with all the statutory requirements of casting your ballot may result in it being rejected.
10. Insert the voted ballot into the certification envelope and seal and sign the certification envelope. Mail the ballot back to the Champaign County Clerk in the envelope provided. It must be postmarked by the day before the election. Election judges of both parties will confirm the signature on your application with the signature on your voter registration record, much like what is done on Election Day.
Absentee by Phone, Mail or Email
Voters who don’t wish to provide their personal information to our website and those voters for whom we have incomplete information, can still receive an application for an absentee ballot. This requires an additional step for voters.
1. Call our office at 217-384-3724, or email us at absentee@champaigncountyclerk.com, or fax us at 217-384-1241 and ask for an absentee ballot application.
2. Tell us what address you would like your absentee application to be sent to.
3. We will mail your application within a single business day to the address you provide.
4. Carefully read the instructions that come with your application. Failure to comply with all the statutory requirements of completing your application may result in it being rejected. For Primary Elections you must circle the party that you want to vote.
5. Mail the application back to the Champaign County Clerk. We must receive it by the Thursday prior to Election Day in order to send you a ballot.
6. Within a business day of receiving your application, the County Clerk’s Office will mail your ballot to you.
7. Once again, carefully read the instructions that come with your ballot. Failure to comply with all the statutory requirements of casting your ballot may result in it being rejected.
8. Insert the voted ballot into the certification envelope and seal and sign the certification envelope. Mail the ballot back to the Champaign County Clerk in the envelope provided. It must be postmarked by the day before the election. Election judges of both parties will confirm the signature on your application with the signature on your voter registration record, much like what is done on Election Day.
Voting Absentee At The County Clerk's Office
You may stop by our office located at 1776 E. Washington in Urbana between the hours of 8:00 A.M. and 4:30 P.M. The easiest location to park is in the northeast parking lot that is accessible from Lierman Avenue. During the absentee voting period, there is parking set aside and posted for absentee voters.
An absentee applicant's identity must be verified by presentation of an IL driver's license, IL ID card, or another government issued ID containing the applicant's photograph. If the person is a first time voter required to show ID, the acceptable forms of ID include: a current and valid photo ID, a current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck, a student ID along with a lease or other government document that shows name and address. A voter registration card is not acceptable identification.
Military and Overseas Absentee Voting
If you are in the military or overseas the best way for you to request an absentee ballot is online through the Illinois Military and Overseas Voter Empowerment website by clicking here.
Or fill out a FPCA form which serves as a request for absentee ballot. If you are in the military you can ask your commanding officer for the form. If you are overseas you may request a FPCA form from the U.S. Embassy or Consulate. If you are unable to obtain the FPCA form please notify our office, by clicking here, as soon as you can so we can mail you an application for absentee voting.
Permanently Incapacitated Voter Program
This program is for those people who are permanently incapacitated.
To be placed on this program you need to fill in the form available here on line or by contacting the County Clerk's Office. There is a section that has to be filled out by (or for) the incapacitated voter and a section that must be completed by their doctor.
This program will then allow the County Clerk's Office to automatically send the person an application and absentee ballot before every election (that they qualify to vote in) for a five year period. After that the form must be renewed. If you move or wish to change party affiliation you must notify our office.
If you have questions regarding any of these programs or about absentee ballots, please contact us by any of the methods listed above in the Requesting an Absentee Ballot by Mail Section.
Many first time voters who have registered to vote by mail must vote in person, either in person absentee voting (at the County Clerk's Office), as a hospitalized or nursing home voter, or at the precinct polling place.
If a first time voter requests absentee voting by mail or email, an application will be sent to them which they return with a copy of their photo ID. After verification, a ballot would then be sent to them.
The first day to receive an application for absentee ballot through the mail or to vote in person at the County Clerk's Office is approximately 40 days prior to the election. If you are not sure if absentee voting is taking place please call our office at (217) 384-3724.
