Carl Sandburg College supports our students' right to vote and is dedicated to providing accessible resources and assisting students with voter registration in the state of Illinois.
How to register to vote
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Visit the Illinois State Board of Elections website to learn about voting in Illinois and complete an Illinois Online Voter Registration Form.
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Download a printable, mail-in Illinois Voter Registration Form to be mailed to the election authority district in which the student lives (e.g., Knoxville residents send to the Knox County Clerk office, etc.). To learn which Illinois election authority district you reside in, visit the election authorities website.
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Visit your local county clerk or board of elections office to complete a paper voter registration form in person, or pick up a form from any Sandburg campus location. Contact the Office of Student Life at 309.341.5332 or gstevens@sandburg.edu to learn more.
Students need to submit only one voter registration form to the state of Illinois. Check your registration status before submitting a new voter registration form by visiting the Registration and Polling Place Information website. Once your form has been processed, you will receive your voter registration card in the mail at the address indicated on your form.
The deadline to register to vote in the state of Illinois is 27 days prior to an election. Individuals who miss the deadline may register or transfer their registration at their local office of the election authority under the guidelines of grace period registration
What do I need to register to vote?
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Be a citizen of the United States on the day you register to vote.
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Be 18 years old on or before the day of the next election.
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Be a resident of the precinct for at least 30 days on or before the date of the next election.
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Present two pieces of identification listed below at the time of registration:
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Both pieces of identification must contain the applicant’s name.
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One piece of identification must contain the current address from which the applicant is registering.
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The two pieces of identification must be from two different sources (e.g., two different credit cards from two different companies; two bills from different utility companies such as a gas bill and an electric bill; a school identification card and a social security card, etc.).
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A letter delivered to the applicant through the U.S. postal system from a state, federal or city agency, a utility company, an employer or school, a credit company, or a civic, union or professional association may be accepted as one of the pieces of identification.
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Identification cannot be self-generated, for example, a handwritten or typed wallet identification card.
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Acceptable identification may include, but is not limited to:
1. Driver’s license
2. Social Security card
3. Utility bill
4. Employer or student identification card
5. Credit card
6. Civic, union or professional association membership card
7. Birth certificate
8. Public assistance identification card
9. Library card
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A residence is a permanent abode, a place where a person actually lives. No one may register from a place of business or office unless the person lives there and it is his or her permanent abode.
Already registered to vote?
Check your registration status and polling place online!
Moved or need to change your information?
To update the name or address on your voter registration, you must re-submit the voter registration form to your local county clerk or board of elections office. Visit the Election Authorities website to locate your local office information.
If you changed your name more than 27 days before the election but have not re-submitted a voter registration form, you cannot vote unless you're still living in the same precinct. If you are living in the same county, you must sign an affidavit at your polling place confirming your identity.
More resources
For more information or questions about voter registration, please contact Genny Stevens, coordinator of student life at 309.341.5332 or gstevens@sandburg.edu.