October 4, 2012 • News & Features
McHenry and Kane counties offer similar services for early and absentee voters
By Mason Souza
SUN CITY – As some Sun Citians plan to fly south this winter to more favorable weather conditions, the country will heat up with political buzz over the 2012 presidential elections.
Those who wish to cast their vote despite not being in town come election day have a couple of ways to do so.
McHenry County Clerk’s office
McHenry County Government Center
2200 North Seminary Ave
Woodstock, IL 60098
co.mchenry.il.us/departments/countyclerk/Pages/Elections
Kane County Clerk’s office
719 S. Batavia Ave., Bldg. B
Geneva, IL 60134
630-232-5990
kanecountyelections.org
First, residents in McHenry County can vote early by visiting the Huntley Park District REC Center, located at 12015 Mill St.
Early voting at this site begins on October 22 and runs through November 3 on Mondays through Fridays. Early voting is also open for two Saturdays: October 27 and November 3. Voting is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. during all open days.
Kane County residents can vote early in Prairie Lodge from October 29 – 31 on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
For both counties, voters only need to bring a valid, government-issued photo ID, like a driver’s license or state ID card.
“They would go to the site, [the] application is filled out and signed there; all of our equipment at our early voting sites are the touch screen units,” Katherine Schultz, McHenry County Clerk, said. “They vote right there, verify their ballot, cast it, and then it is retained both on a paper format and also on an electronic format.”
The second option for snowbirds is mailing in an absentee ballot. First, the voter must request a ballot from the McHenry County Clerk’s office, either by mail or by downloading one online. Voters then fill out the ballot, sign it, add a note as to which polling location the ballot should be sent, and send it to the McHenry County Clerk’s office.
Absentee ballots should be postmarked prior to election day and received at the clerk’s office no later than 14 days after election day. Ballots can be sent from home before a resident leaves Sun City or after heading south.
In Kane County, voters can request ballots by mail or phone from the Kane County Clerk’s Office. Ballots can also be downloaded on the office’s website. Completed ballots must be sent by November 5 to the office and postmarked no later than midnight on that day.
