Important Dates & Information for the Consolidated Election on April 6, 2027

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2027 Consolidated Election Candidate’s Guide

2027 Local Election Officials Handbook

2027 Consolidated Election Calendar

Offices up for Election at the 2027 Consolidated Election

Nomination Paperwork Info:

August 25, 2026 – First day to circulate petitions for candidates seeking election in the 2027 Consolidated Election.

• Candidates should contact their local clerk or secretary for more information and candidate packets.
• School board candidates should contact the Clay County Clerk’s Office for more information and candidate packets.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            November 16 – 23, 2026 – Filing period for nomination papers with local election officials or election authority for the 2027 Consolidated Election.

• Candidate paperwork for all other offices is filed with the local clerk or secretary of such municipality. 
• School board candidate paperwork is filed with the Clay County Clerk’s Office.

**Candidates are strongly advised to obtain legal counsel regarding their legal qualifications for office, the proper method of completing the petition forms with respect to the office, the qualifications of signers and circulators, and other information.

Clay County Voter Registration Information

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In the State of Illinois, a citizen must be a properly registered voter to be eligible to vote, to sign nomination petitions, or to sign petitions for public questions to appear on the ballot. Voter registration prevents fraudulent voting on Election Day by providing a means of identifying voters.

*Requirements to Register to Vote:

• You must be a citizen of the United States.
• You must be 18 years of age on or before the date of the next election.
• 17-year-olds may register to vote in a General Primary Election IF they reach 18 years of age by the following General Election.
• 16-year-olds may pre-register to vote when they are issued their driver’s license, or online through the Illinois State Board of Elections.                    PLEASE NOTE: 16-year-olds will have their application held in abeyance until they reach voting age.
• You must reside in your precinct for at least 30 days before an election.                                                                                                                          PLEASE NOTE: To constitute residence, a permanent abode and dwelling place within the precinct are necessary.
• You may not claim the right to vote anywhere else.
• You must not be serving a sentence of confinement in any penal institution as a result of a conviction.

Registering in Person

To register in person, you must be able to prove who you are and where you live by providing two pieces of identification. Both ID’s must have your name, and at least one ID must show your current residential address.

Acceptable ID’s include, but are not limited to:                                                                                                                                                                                                      – Driver’s License or Illinois State ID Card                                                                                                                                                                                            – Passport                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            – Paystub                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              – Lease or Mortgage Documents                                                                                                                                                                                                        – Utility Bill                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          – Bank Statement                                                                                                                                                                                                                                – Other Government Document

You may register to vote in person at:                                                                                                                                                                                                                    – Clay County Clerk’s Office                                                                                                                                                                                                                – Driver’s License Facility                                                                                                                                                                                                                      – Flora Public Library                                                                                                                                                                                                                            – Flora City Hall                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    – With your Precinct Committeeman

Registration in Clay County is open year-round except during the 28-day period just before an election and 2 days after an election. Any in-person registrations made after the close of in-person registration must be completed as Grace Period Registrations. Grace Period Registration requires you to vote at the time of registering. No exceptions will be made.

Have you changed your name and/or address since the last time you voted? If so, you need to re-register with your new information.

Have you moved outside of Clay County? If so, you need to register within the County you moved to.

Registering Online

To register online, you will need your Driver’s License or Illinois State ID Card & the last four digits of your Social Security Number.

Visit the Illinois State Board of Elections Online Registration

**The registration period for the online voter registration system will close at 11:59 PM on 10/18/2026 and will reopen on 11/05/2026.

Registering by Mail

You may print and complete this mail-in application:

Voter Registration Mail-In Application

• Print using blue or black ink, completing all areas of the application.
• ID Numbers & your written signature are required.
• OPTIONAL: Phone Number and/or Email Address. If given, it helps us communicate with you; However, by law it becomes part of your voter record and can be made available to candidates and political parties at their request.
• Must be postmarked by the Close of Registration date and mailed to: Clay County Clerk, P.O. Box 160, Louisville, IL 62858.

                                                                                                                                                                                       Registering Persons with a Disability

To request the registration of a disabled applicant who is unable to appear at a registration location, contact our office and a registration officer will be sent to take the registration in person.

Any and all pertinent registration information & proof of identification must be provided to the registering officer at the time of registration.

**Registration by Email, Fax and/or Telephone is strictly prohibited in Illinois**

–VOTER REGISTRATION POSTCARDS–

After your registration application is received and processed by our office, a voter registration postcard is sent to the registered voter by mail. The card lists your name and residential address, your polling location, and your voting districts. When you receive your voter registration postcard, please review it to make sure your listed name and address is correct, as well as all spelling. If corrections need made to the printed information, or if you do not receive your card within 30 days, please contact us.

Clay County Voting Districts:  Congressional District: 12  /  Legislative District: 55  /  Representative District: 110

– If there is a change in your districts or polling location at any time, a new card will be mailed to you.                                                                                          – In the summer of odd-numbered years, all voters in the County are mailed new cards. Cards are not sent yearly or prior to each election.                              – Any old voter registration postcards should be discarded when/if a new one is received.

Illinois offers a variety of voting options to serve you best!

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*Polling Place Voting

Registered voters may make application in person to vote at their specific polling place on Election Day. Applicants must qualify under state law and will vote on optical scan ballots. Election Judges will return sealed, processed ballots to the County Clerk’s Office for tabulation after polls close on Election Day.

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*Early Voting

Early voting allows for registered voters to vote in person, in advance of Election Day, without having to provide a reason or an excuse. Early voting starts approximately 40 days prior to Election Day and ends the day before the Election. You may vote early at the Clay County Courthouse. Please note that once a voter casts an early ballot, the vote cast is final and may not be revoked or rescinded and the voter is NOT eligible to cast a vote on Election Day.

Early Voting will begin on Thursday, September 24, 2026, for the General Election to be held on November 3, 2026.

All precincts within the County of Clay will be served during regular office hours at the County Clerk’s Office.

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*Vote By Mail Voting

Mailed ballots will be sent to applicants who qualify under state law, and begins approximately 40 days prior to Election Day. Vote By Mail ballots will be sent to applicants on the same business day an application is received. The last day a voter may make application for a Vote By Mail ballot, and the last day we may mail ballots, is 5 days prior to Election Day. Ballots returned by mail and postmarked by midnight on Election Day will be processed for tabulation in the County Clerk’s Office after the polls close on Election Day. Ballots with a valid postmark date and received within 14 days of the Election will be tabulated.

To apply to vote by mail, please submit the following application: Vote By Mail Application

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*Grace Period Registration & Voting

Any voter who failed to register to update voter registration information (such as change of name and/or address) may do so at the County Clerk’s Office during Grace Period Registration. After updating voter registration information, the voter will immediately vote on optical scan ballots in the County Clerk’s Office. Grace Period voting is available for 27 days before an election. Ballots will be processed and tabulated in the County Clerk’s Office after the polls close on Election Day.

Grace Period Registration & Voting will begin on October 7, 2026, for the General Election to be held on November 3, 2026.

All precincts within the County of Clay will be served during regular office hours at the County Clerk’s Office.

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*Nursing Home Voting

Nursing Home voting will be conducted at approved participation facilities. Voters will vote on optical scan ballots delivered to applicants by a team of election judges who will return sealed ballots to the County Clerk’s Office. Ballots will be processed and tabulated in the County Clerk’s Office after polls close on Election Day.

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*Military Voting

Military and Overseas Voter Empowerment Act
— MOVE ACT —

The Military and Overseas Voter Empowerment Act was enacted in October 2009.  The goal of the MOVE Act is to allow easier ballot access to the men and women in uniform by providing new tools which allow more time to participate in the electoral process.
The Federal Voting Assistance Program also helps uniformed service members and their families in the voting process, but includes U.S. citizens living outside the U.S. as well. Both programs help to assist voters in the electoral process.

Important Dates for the November 3, 2026 General Election:

• , 2026 – First day that Official Vote by Mail Ballots for Military and Overseas Voters can be mailed by the Election Authority.
• , 2026  – Last day an Overseas Voter can register to vote and request an Official Vote by Mail Ballot.
• September 18, 2026 – Last day for Military Members and their Families to request an Official Vote by Mail Ballot and such ballot can be mailed.
• November 3, 2026 – Last day an Official Vote by Mail Ballot can be postmarked to the County Clerk’s Office.
• November 17, 2026 – Last day an Official Vote by Mail Ballot can be received at the County Clerk’s Office to be counted in the General Election.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    How to request your ballot as a Military or Overseas Voter:

• The most secure option is to utilize the Illinois MOVE site. After making an account, voters can register, request a vote by mail ballot, and update their contact info as needed. This site was designed to help ease the burden of members of the Uniformed Services (and their eligible dependents) and overseas voters with their vote by mail ballot application. This site will give you the ability to keep in contact with your local election official and to track the status of your application and ballot. Go to https://move.elections.il.gov to create your account.
• You may also visit the Federal Voting Assistance Program’s website at www.fvap.gov for information on the vote by mail registration and voting process. Ensure that you have applied for your vote by mail ballot using the hard copy or on-line versions of FPCA.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   Requirements:

• Returned ballots must be postmarked no later than midnight of the day of the Election.
• Ballots must be received within 14 days after the Election to be counted.

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*Provisional Voting

Voters who appear at their precinct polling place but who are rejected because of a challenge, because their name does not appear on the precinct rolls or certain 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, but delivered to the County Clerk. Provisional voters have the opportunity to submit additional information to the County Clerk to verify registration status until a certain date. After this date, the County Clerk will determine whether each sealed ballot shall be opened and counted or rejected. 

The following is a list of all current polling locations in Clay County. If you are unsure of your precinct, check your voter registration card.

For approximate directions, locate your precinct from the list and select the corresponding address.

**PLEASE NOTE: By selecting an address below, you will be redirected to Google Maps to begin your travel to the location.

Xenia – 601 Church Street, Xenia, IL 62899

Songer – 987 Shortleaf Rd., Xenia, IL 62899

Oskaloosa – 7345 Kinmundy Rd., Louisville, IL 62858

Larkinsburg – 211 W. Broadway, Iola, IL 62838

Blair – 42 Blair Township Ln., Louisville, IL 62858

Louisville 1 – 435 Chestnut St., Louisville, IL 62858

Louisville 2 – 435 Chestnut St., Louisville, IL 62858

Harter 1 – 202 N. Olive St., Flora, IL 62839

Harter 3 – 202 N. Olive St., Flora, IL 62839

Harter 4 – 202 N. Olive St., Flora, IL 62839

Harter 5 – 202 N. Olive St., Flora, IL 62839

Harter 6 – 4722 Cherrybark Ln., Flora, IL 62839

Harter 7 – 4722 Cherrybark Ln., Flora, IL 62839

Stanford – 14284 Old Highway 50, Clay City, IL 62824

Hoosier – 542 Hoosier Rd., Louisville, IL 62858

Bible Grove – 188 Antioch Ln., Louisville, IL 62858

Clay City – 237 S. 2nd St. SE, Clay City, IL 62824

Pixley – 153 Gold Ln., Ingraham, IL 62434

What is an Election Judge?

An Election Judge is an official responsible for the proper and orderly voting at polling stations. Depending on the country or jurisdiction, election judges may be identified as members of a political party or non-partisan. In Clay County, Election Judges are paid a small stipend for their work. Each polling station is staffed with multiple officials. The duties include signing in registered voters, explaining voting procedures and use of voting equipment, providing ballots, and monitoring the conduct of the election.

— Duties of an Election Judge:

• Responsible for the administration of election procedures in the polling place.
• Ensure the election process is administered fairly and in accordance with the law.
• Open and Close the polls.
• Maintain the chain of custody and integrity of all election materials.
• Ensure only qualified voters are permitted to vote and only vote once.
• Ensure pollwatchers are able to observe the process, and that they adhere to the laws that govern their behavior.
• Ensure all voters are able to mark their ballots privately and cast it in secrecy.
• Give instructions in the method of voting when requested. Give assistance to voters who cannot read or write the English language or who are blind.
• Maintain order in the polling place throughout the day.
• Tally the votes after the polls close and certify the election results in that precinct.
• Ensure compliance in the campaign free zone.

— Qualifications to be an Election Judge:

• Be of good repute and character, and not subject to the registration requirement of the sex offender registration act.
• Be able to speak, read and write the English language.
• Not a candidate for any office in the election and not an elected committeeperson.
• Be a U.S. Citizen
• Reside in and be entitled to vote in the precinct where selected to serve as judge. However, in each precinct one judge of each party may be appointed from outside the precinct.
• Be skilled in the four fundamental rules of math.
• Be of good understanding and capable.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          If you are an individual who meets all of the qualifications listed above and are interested in serving as an Election Judge for Clay County, please complete and return the application below.

Election Judge Application

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In Clay County, Student’s can serve as Election Judges!

In 2023, a program was established to permit a person who is not entitled to vote to serve as an election judge if the individual has the following qualifications:

• Is a U.S. Citizen.
• Is a Junior or Senior in good standing enrolled in a public or private secondary school, or is currently enrolled in a community college or a public or private college or university in Illinois.
• Has the written approval of both the principal and a parent or legal guardian.
• Has a GPA of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.
• Has satisfactorily completed the training course for election judges.
• Meets all other qualifications for appointment and service as an election judge.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          If you are a student who meets all of the qualifications listed above and are interested in serving as an Election Judge for Clay County, please complete one portion of and return the application below.

Student Election Judge Application

Official Results – March 17, 2026

Unofficial Results – March 17, 2026

Official Results – April 1, 2025

Unofficial Results – April 1, 2025

Official Results – November 5, 2024

Unofficial Results – November 5, 2024

Official Results – March 19, 2024

Unofficial Results – March 19, 2024

Official Results – April 4, 2023

Unofficial Results – April 4, 2023

Official Results – November 8, 2022

Unofficial Results – November 8, 2022

Official Results – June 28, 2022