Illinois now offers qualified registered voters the opportunity to be placed on a Permanent Vote by Mail list for all future elections or only General Elections. As mandated in June of 2021 by Public Act 102-0015, County Clerk Don Gray has mailed a paper application to all registered voters of Sangamon County to officially sign up for Permanent Vote by Mail status.

Upon receipt of the Permanent Vote by Mail application by the Sangamon County Election Office, registered voters will receive a ballot by mail for all future elections.

Voters can decide whether they’d like to receive ballots for all elections including partisan Primary Elections or if they’d prefer only mail ballots for General Elections, which do not require a party designation. Any change of address or name, requires the Permanent Vote by Mail voter to re-apply for Permanent Vote by Mail status.

The application is optional and is not required to be filled out and returned.

If a voter would like to be on the Permanent Vote by Mail list, they need to complete the application and either mail or hand deliver it to the Election Office or submit an online application via the County Clerk’s website at countyclerk.sangamonil.gov and click on
the link, “Permanent Vote By Mail Application” which is in the Sangamon County Clerk News box.

“As pre-election day voter services continue to evolve post pandemic and as a continued convenience to voters, the opportunity for voters to be placed on a Permanent Vote by Mail list is an additional service to increase voter participation while maintaining the security and integrity of the process,” said Clerk Gray.

“Regardless of your preferred manner to cast a ballot, voters are encouraged to cast a ballot and vote!”

Registered voters are still able to submit a Vote by Mail application for the November election without signing up to be on the Permanent Vote by Mail list.

A paper application can be requested by calling the Election Office at 217-753-8583 or filled out electronically at countyclerk.sangamonil.gov, and in the QUICK LINKS box click on Online Vote by Mail Application.

November 8th General Election beginning September 29th, which is also the first day of early voting.

The deadline for applying for a mail ballot is November 3rd. Ballots must be postmarked no later than November 8th and returned to the Election Office no later than the 14th day following Election Day to be formally accepted and added to the official tabulated and final results.

The Sangamon County Election Office is located at 200 S. Ninth Street, Room 105, Springfield, IL. If questions, please call the office at (217) 753-8683 or email
elections@sangamonil.gov.