In Person Absentee Voting - Applicants must qualify under sate law and sate reason for absentee voting. (Expects to be out of town on Election Day, college student, physically incapacitated, etc.) Voters will vote on optical scan ballots that will be sealed and processed in the voter’s home precinct by election judges on Election Day.

Early Voting – Any voter may vote without excuse or reason, and must present a valid photo ID showing their voter registration address. Voters will vote on optical scan ballots that will be sealed and processed in the voters’ home precinct by election judges on Election Day.

Grace Period Registration & Voting – Any voter who failed to register or update voter registration information (such as change of name or address) may do so only at the County Clerk’s office during the Grace Period Registration period. After updating voter registration information, voter will vote on optical scan ballots in County Clerk’s office.

Nursing Home In-Person Absentee Voting – Will be conducted on-site at approved participating facilities on the day of Monday, March 20th, 2006. Voters will vote on optical scan ballots delivered to applicants by a team of election judges who will return the sealed ballots. Ballots will be delivered to the proper precincts to be processed after the polls close on Election Day.

Mail-Out Absentee Voting – Mailing ballots will be sent to applicants who qualify under state law and state their reason for voting absentee. Mail-out ballots will be sent to applicants on the same business day and application is received between Thursday, February 9 and Thursday, March 16. No ballots will be mailed after March 16th. Voters will vote on optical scan ballots. Ballots received by or on Election Day will be delivered to the proper precincts to be processed by Election Judges after the polls close on Election Day. Any mailed ballots postmarked no later than March 20, 2006 but received by the County Clerk through April 4, 2006 will be processed and tabulated in the County Clerk’s office on April 4, 2006.

Provisional Voting – Voters who appear at their precincts’ polling place but who are rejected because of a challenge, because their name does not appear on the precinct rolls or other qualifying criteria may vote provisionally. Voters may vote their usual ballot, complete a special application and seal both inside a secure envelope. The sealed ballot is not counted on Election Day, buy delivered to the County Clerk. Provisional voters have the opportunity to submit additional information to the County Clerk to verify registration status until Thursday, March 23. After this date, the County Clerk will determine whether each sealed ballot shall be opened and counted or rejected. Ballots to be counted will be unsealed and tabulated on or before April 4, 2006.

      The office of County Clerk Sandy Leitheiser is located on the first floor of the Historic Courthouse, Hillsboro. The phone number is (217) 532-9530 and fax is (217) 532-9581. Mailing address is: P.O. Box 595, Hillsboro, IL 62049. Our email address is: sandyleitheiser@hotmail.com.