Wednesday, 9 March 2016

Vote By Mail


Any registered suburban Cook County voter may request a mail ballot using the online application found at www.cookcountyclerk.com.





Once your registration is verified and your application is processed, the Cook County Clerk’s office will send a paper ballot to the mailing address you designate in your application. The deadline to apply, including email verification, is five days before an election.








To complete an online mail ballot application, you will need:
  • an email address
  • your driver’s license or state identification number
  • the last four digits of your Social Security Number
  • and the address where you would like your ballot mailed
 
 
 
If your driver's license/state ID or your Social Security number is not on file, you will not be able to complete this application online unless you update your voter registration by calling 312.603.0946. Incomplete registrations are most common for voters who have been registered at the same address for 20 years or more.





Ballot Integrity: Unless you require assistance, do not let anyone else mark your ballot; do not let anyone force or coerce you into voting for any candidate; and do not let anyone, other than a close relative or authorized messenger, mail, deliver or handle your voted ballot.





Please note: Making a false statement to obtain a mail ballot or soliciting someone to do so is considered vote fraud, a criminal offense punishable by up to five years in prison. Call 312.603.0909 to report vote fraud.




Download a Mail Ballot Application
If you do not have one of the online application requirements, or if you prefer to apply on paper, you may download, print and sign a mail ballot application and send it to the Cook County Clerk's office.


For more information:
 
Apply as early as possible to make sure you receive your ballot in time to vote. Your ballot must be postmarked no later than Election Day and received at the Cook County Clerk's office within 14 days after Election Day.





If you apply using a paper form, the Clerk's office will verify your eligibility and compare the signature on your application against the signature on your voter registration record before issuing a ballot.


If you apply online, the system verifies your eligibility with the data you provide. Regardless of how you apply, the signature on your ballot will be compared against the signature in your voter file before your ballot is counted.