Absentee Voting Requirements

Who Can Absentee Vote?

Any registered voters in Macoupin County is eligible to cast an absentee ballot without specifying a reason they will be absent from the polling place on Election Day. Voters who registered by mail and did not provide sufficient proof of identity will be notified by the County Clerk that their registration is not complete, and they will be ineligible to vote until they provide the required proof of identity at the polling place on Election Day or when requesting an absentee ballot.

In addition, the following unregistered voters are eligible to vote by absentee ballot:

• members of the United States Armed Forces while on active duty, and members of the Merchant Marines, as well as their spouses and dependents
• U.S. citizens temporarily residing outside the U.S.
• U.S. citizens overseas by virtue of employment or accompanying their spouses or dependents
• other U.S. citizens residing outside the U.S.
If you are not a registered voter, you will need to register in-person or by mail. For more details, visit Register to Vote.

How to Absentee Vote by Mail

Step 1
 
Complete and submit an Application and Absentee Ballot Request to the Macoupin County Clerk's office. You can also request an Application for Absentee Ballot via email pete.duncan@macoupincountyil.gov or call the Macoupin County Clerk's Office at (217) 854-3214. The Macoupin County Clerk's Office will need the voter's name, residence address, mailing address and date of birth at the time of request.

A packet which includes a ballot, Instructions for Voting by Absentee Ballot, certificate envelope and a return mailing envelope with prepaid postage will be mailed to the voter. Ballots can not be mailed more than 40 days before or less than five days prior to the election.

Absentee Ballot Application Form

Step 2

Upon receipt of the absentee ballot packet, follow all instructions on how to vote and return the ballot to the County Clerk's Office. Returned absentee ballots by mail must be postmarked by midnight on the day before the election and received within 14 days after the election. Voted ballots personally delivered to the County Clerk's Office by the voter must be received no later than Election Day before 7:00 p.m. There is a limited exception permitting ballot return by a spouse, parent, child, sibling, or a licensed delivery service where the authorization form is completed.

How to Absentee Vote In-Person

Any qualified voter may cast an absentee ballot in person at the Macoupin County Clerk's Office not more than 40 days or less than one day prior to the election.
State law requires that a registered voter show valid photo identification before voting early. Voters casting an early ballot must display a current driver’s license, a state-issued ID card or another government-issued ID with a photograph.

Absentee Ballot Integrity

It is illegal to:
• Make a false statement to obtain an absentee ballot or solicit someone to do so
• Vote an absentee ballot unless you qualify for one
Do not let anyone:
• Mark your absentee ballot, or unduly influence your ballot selections, unless you require assistance. Individuals who cannot assist voters include the Voter’s Employer or Agent of that Employer or Officer or Agent of the Voter’s Union.
• On your behalf sign your name to the Application for Absentee Ballot and/or certificate envelope. By law the Macoupin County Clerk’s Office compares the facsimile signature at registration with the signature provided on the Application for Absentee Ballot and certificate envelope.