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1. Where can I register to vote?

In addition to the Board of Election Commissioners Office, registrations are taken at the Peoria County Courthouse, City Hall-City Clerk's Office, the Driver's License Facility, and any Peoria Public Library. You may also register by mail or online.

2. When can I vote?

• The polls are open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Election Day.
• Check your Voter Card for your Election Day polling place location, or see the Election Schedule page.
• Grace Period Registration allows a resident to register or change their address between the 28th and 4th day prior to an election. Grace Period Registration is only available at the Board of Election Commissioners Office. If a resident who registers or changes their address during this time frame wishes to vote in the upcoming election, he/she must do so at the time of registration or change of address.

3. What if I move and/or change my name?

If you move, you must file a written change of address with the Election Authority. The back of your Voter Registration Card contains a Change of Address Form. If you don't have your card, a handwritten note with your signature is sufficient. If you change your name, you must complete a new voter registration form. Find more information on the Additional Election Information page.

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1. Am I Registered to Vote?

Find out if you're registered to vote in the State of Illinois with the Illinois State Board of Elections registration lookup tool.

https://ova.elections.il.gov/RegistrationLookup.aspx

2. Where can I register to vote?

In addition to the Board of Election Commissioners Office, registrations are taken at the Peoria County Courthouse, City Hall-City Clerk's Office, the Driver's License Facility (only if you have business there), and any Peoria Public Library. You may also register by mail or online.

3. What if I move and/or change my name?

If you move, you must file a written change of address with the Election Authority. The back of your Voter Registration Card contains a Change of Address Form. If you don't have your card, a handwritten note with your signature is sufficient. If you change your name, you must complete a new voter registration form. Find more information on the Additional Election Information page.

4. When can I vote?

• The polls are open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Election Day.
• Check your Voter Card for your Election Day polling place location, or see the Election Schedule page.
• Grace Period Registration allows a resident to register or change their address between the 28th and 4th day prior to an election. Grace Period Registration is only available at the Board of Election Commissioners Office. If a resident who registers or changes their address during this time frame wishes to vote in the upcoming election, he/she must do so at the time of registration or change of address.

5. Where do I vote on Election Day?

Your polling place location is printed in the upper left corner of your Voter Registration Card. If you cannot locate your Voter Registration Card, see the Where to Vote page.

6. Do I need to provide identification at the polling place?

You do not need to provide identification at the polling place on Election Day to vote unless if you registered by mail and have not yet voted since you registered. If so, you will need 2 forms of identification with your current address printed thereon.

7. How do I vote?

Find information about voting at our Voting page.

8. Can I vote by mail?

Contact the Peoria County Board of Election Commissioners to request that a Vote by Mail application be mailed to you. You may do this by mail, telephone. You can also obtain a form online. Anyone can vote by mail, no reason is required.

9. Who can register to vote in Peoria County?

Anyone who is:

1. 18 years old on or before the date of the next scheduled election
2. A citizen of the United States
3. A legal resident of the City of Peoria

10. Who can serve as an Election Judge?

• Any registered voter who can read, write, and speak the English language and can perform simple math.
• In addition, high school juniors and seniors who maintain a 3.0 grade point average are eligible to serve.

To learn more about becoming an Election Judge, see the Election Personnel page.

11. Are Election Judges paid for working during an election?

Election Judges are paid $155 for working on Election Day and $10 per hour for working during early voting. All Election Judges must attend training before each election to be eligible to work.

12. Who do I call to get a ride to the polls?

• Republican County Headquarters: 309-689-8467
• Democrat County Headquarters: 309-676-0380
• CityLift certified customers only, 24-hour notice required: 309-999-3667

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1. What is Provisional Voting?

Your eligibility to vote has been questioned on Election Day. You will be voting a Provisional Ballot. Your ballot will be processed and counted if you are found eligible to vote.

2. Why am I voting a Provisional Ballot?

• If your name does not appear on the Pollbook and you have refused an opportunity to register at the polling place or another registration site;
• Your name does not appear on the Pollbook and you do not have the proper identification to register to vote;
• Your right to vote has been challenged;
• Your registered by mail, did not provide ID and do not have ID with you at the time of voting;
• The Pollbook states you have already voted in this election but you claim you have not;
• You received a vote by mail ballot but did not return it; or
• Voting hours have been extended after 7 p.m. by court order.

3. What can I do after I vote to ensure my vote is counted?

• If you did not bring any identification you can bring that to the Election Office by the Tuesday following the election.
• If you have proof of registration you can bring that to the Election Office by the Tuesday following the election.

4. How do I know if my vote counted?

Call us at 309 324-2300, or visit the Illinois State Board of Elections website to check if your vote counted. You will need the carbon receipt from the polling place to retrieve this information.

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1. Does the system use touchscreens?

Yes. Plain language, step-by-step instructions on the scanning machine and the ballot marking device touchscreens walk you through the entire voting process. The accessible ballot marking device includes ADA-compliant accessibility features such as tactile buttons, audio ballots, and compatibility with common adaptive devices. The scanning machine provides on-screen instructions and controls for voters whose hand-marked ballots contain errors.

2. How do I know my votes are private and there is not a database in the computer somewhere that records how I have voted?

There is no way for the system to connect your vote to you. The process of voting is completely removed from the process of checking in and being qualified to vote. When you vote, no personal identifying information is connected with your ballot. 

3. How do I know the voting system recorded my vote the same way I cast it?

Extensive testing is performed before each election to verify the integrity of installed software and to ensure that the system is recording votes correctly. Additionally, the system uses paper ballots. Every voter uses the scanning machine to cast a paper ballot, regardless of whether the voter hand-marks the ballot or prints it from the ballot marking device. That original paper ballot is retained throughout the process and remains the official record of the vote. 

4. What if I change my mind or make a mistake on my ballot?

Your vote is not officially cast until after you select the Cast ballot button and the machine displays the “Your vote has been recorded” screen. At that point, it is no longer possible for you to make any changes. However, if you change your mind before you cast your ballot, you can change your selections. When using the ballot marking device, a ballot review screen appears before you print your ballot. This screen lists all the choices you have made and lets you know if you missed voting in any race. From this screen, you can return to any contest on the ballot and change your selections, if you wish. If you want to change your ballot selections after you have hand-marked or printed your ballot, you can ask a poll worker to “spoil” the ballot and issue you a new ballot. 

5. What if I don’t want to vote in a particular race?

It is your decision and right to choose not to vote in any race. If you are hand-marking the ballot, simply skip the race(s) you do not wish to vote in. If you are using the ballot marking device, just select the Next button to move forward past any race you want to skip.

6. What if I accidentally vote twice in a race? Will my vote be discarded?

If you are hand-marking your ballot and mark more than the permitted number of votes in a race, the scanning machine will return your ballot, and the touchscreen will display a message indicating any races that have too many choices marked. You may request a new ballot to mark, or touch “Cast the ballot as is.” If you choose “Cast the ballot as is,” your vote will not count in that race. If you are using the ballot marking device, the system does not allow you to select more than the permitted number of votes in a race.

7. How do I know that my vote has been cast and counted?

After you insert the ballot into the scanning machine and the ballot is scanned, the screen will display the American flag and the message “Your vote has been recorded”, and an audible chime sounds. This lets you know your vote has been cast and counted. 

8. If the power fails or if there is some other system failure, will my vote be lost?

No, your vote cannot be lost once you have scanned the ballot with the scanning machine and the machine displays the “Your vote has been recorded” screen. Your vote is stored in three separate places, and all data is protected and cannot be lost in the unlikely event that the system fails. In addition, the voting machine has a built-in battery back-up power, so it will continue to function even if the main power supply fails. 

9. Does this system have paper backup?

Yes. Every voter uses the scanning machine to cast a paper ballot, regardless of whether the voter hand-marks the ballot or prints it from the ballot marking device. That original paper ballot is retained throughout the process and remains the official record of the vote.

10. What if a recount is necessary?

The system provides election officials with images of every vote that was cast on each voting device. Election officials can use these cast vote record images to electronically recount votes and ensure that results are accurate. Officials can also conduct a manual recount of paper ballots.

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1. Am I registered to vote?

You can check your voter registration status online.

2. How do I register to vote?

If you have an Illinois issued Driver’s License of ID card, you may register online.

If you do not have an Illinois issued ID, you can download a mail-in voter registration form, print it and mail into the office at:
542 SW Adams
Peoria, IL 61602

You can also visit any library, township hall or our office. You will need to bring two forms for ID, one of which has you current address.

3. What do I need to do register to vote?

Illinois requires 2 forms of ID, one showing your current residential address. You must also provide the last 4 of your Social Security number and/or your Illinois Driver's License or State Identification number.

4. Where is my polling place?

You can find your polling place online.

5. What do I need to provide when I vote?

Illinois is a no ID state. Election Judges will verify using your signature. You will also be asked to state your full name and residential address and in the case of a primary election your party preference.