Absentee voting available in McHenry County

Katherine C. Schultz, McHenry County Clerk has announced that voters may apply for an absentee ballot for the Feb. 5 primary election.

The county clerk's office is open from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. The last day for the county clerk's office to receive applications by mail is Jan. 31. Voters may vote, in person, in the clerk's office up to 4:30 p.m. Feb. 4.

Absentee ballots mailed to individuals must be voted, post marked prior to Election Day and received in the county clerk's office within 14 days, from the date of election to be counted. The county clerk's office will be open from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

"In person" absentee voting will be conducted at:

• The County Clerk's office: County Administration Building, 667 Ware Road, Woodstock is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; it also will be open from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Feb. 2.

• Algonquin Township: The Algonquin Township Office, 3702 Northwest Hwy., Crystal Lake from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Feb. 1; 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Feb. 2; and 8:30 to 4 p.m. Feb. 4 .

• Huntley Park District: 12015 Mill St., Huntley, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Feb. 1; 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Feb. 2; and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Feb. 4.

• McHenry Township: McHenry Township Office, 3703 N. Richmond Road, McHenry, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Feb. 1; 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Feb. 2; and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Feb. 4.

• Nunda Township: Nunda Township Office (Annex), 3510 Bay Road, Crystal Lake, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Feb. 1; 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Feb. 2; and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Feb. 4.

People can apply for an absentee ballot by mail or in person at the election authority's office at the McHenry County Administration Building, 667 Ware Road, Room 107, Woodstock. Applications for absentee voting may be obtained by calling (815) 334-4242 or writing to the office of County Clerk, 2200 N. Seminary Ave., Woodstock, IL 60098.

Not all people qualify to vote by absentee ballot.

To vote by absentee ballot in Illinois a person must be a registered voter and unable to vote in person at the polls on Election Day for one of the following reasons:

• You expect to be absent from the county on Election Day If you have questions regarding this category please contact the election authority's office.

• Physically incapable of going to the polling place.

• Observing a religious holiday.

• Certain election duties such as judge of election outside of home precinct.

• Serving as a sequestered juror.

If you have any questions regarding the above qualifications, call the election authority's office at (815) 334-4242. As a safeguard to absentee voting the following provisions are in effect:

"A candidate whose name is on the ballot is prohibited from assisting a physically disabled absentee voter unless the candidate is the spouse, parent, brother or sister of the voter," Schultz said.

"Also, no one other than the absentee voter, a parent, spouse, brother, sister or delivery service may deposit the absentee ballot in the mail," she added.

A voter who has requested an absentee ballot, by mail, may vote in the precinct on election day if: he submits his absentee ballot to the election judges for cancellation; if he submits a portion of the absentee ballot (if it was torn or mutilated); or if he signs an affidavit specifying that he never received such ballot.

Schultz noted that individuals who register to vote by mail must provide sufficient proof of identity. Any person, who registered to vote by mail, who has never voted in McHenry County before, and is requesting an absentee ballot, through the mail, must provide sufficient proof of identity, to allow the election authority to verify the voter's identity, prior to the mailing of an absentee ballot; or the absentee voter may vote "in person" at the office of the McHenry County Election Authority, the Algonquin Township Office, the Huntley Park District in Grafton Township, the McHenry Township Office or the Nunda Township Office with one exception: any voter who is voting under the provisions of the uniformed and overseas citizens absentee voting act who registered by mail may vote absentee by mail, without identification.

Details may be obtained by calling (815) 334-4242 or the Illinois State Board of Election at (217) 782-4141 in Springfield or (312) 814-6440 in Chicago.