County Clerk's Office

Registration Requirements:
In order to register to vote, you must meet the following criteria:

• Must be a U.S. Citizen;
• Must be at least 18 years of age by election day;
• Must have been a resident of the precinct at least 30 days prior to election day.
• Must have two (2) forms of identification. One form of identification must show your name and one form of identification must show your name and permanent residence address. The following are suggested forms of identification that may be used:
  • Bank Statement
  • Birth Certificate
  • Bus Pass
  • Car Registration
  • Checkbook with name and address imprinted
  • Credit Card
  • Gun Permit
  • Hospital/Clinic Card
  • Illinois Driver's License
  • Insurance/Medicare Card
  • Lease
  • Library Card
  • Rent Receipt
  • Selective Service Card
  • Social Security Card
  • State I.D. Card
  • Student I.D. Card
  • Utility Bill

If you should have any questions regarding what is acceptable identification, please contact our office at (309) 786-VOTE or (309) 786-8683.
 

Registering to Vote:
You can register to vote in-person or by mail, both methods are explained below:

• In-Person
• You may register to vote in-person, at the Rock Island County Clerk's Office. We are located in the County Office Building at 1504 - Third Avenue in Rock Island, Illinois. Office hours are from 8:00 A.M. until 4:30 P.M. - Monday thru Friday. Parking is available in the front of the building. Please do not park in the lot at the rear of the building, as this lot is reserved.
   
• Voter registration is available through your precinct committeeperson or by a Deputy Registrar. Please contact our office at (309) 786-VOTE or (309) 786-8683 to find out how to contact someone in your community who is qualified to register you to vote. You may also contact the County Democratic or Republican Party Headquarters listed below:
   

  Democratic County Headquarters LuAnn Kerr, Chairperson 1800 - Third Avenue, Rm. 203 P. O. Box 3128 Rock Island IL 61204-3128 (309) 786-8337

  Republican County Headquarters Susan J. Carpentier, Chairperson 1721 - Fifth Avenue, Suite 100 Moline IL 61265 (309) 764-6262

  
   
• The following agencies and locations are also qualified to register you to vote:
  • Driver's License Facilities
  • Department of Public Aid Office
  • Department of Public Health Offices
  • City and Village Offices
  • Township Offices
  • Major public libraries
    • East Moline
    • Moline
    • Rock Island
    • Silvis

• By Mail:
• Click here to download the "Illinois Voter Registration Application".  In addition to the form, you will need to send a copy of two (2) forms of acceptable identification. One form of identification must show your name and one form of identification must show your name and permanent residence address. Click here to see a list of acceptable forms of identification.

  NOTE: If the proper identification is not sent in with your application or if one or both forms of identification are not legible, you will be required to vote in-person the first time you vote with the new voter's registration card.

  You will need to complete the form, making sure you follow all instructions. Send in the completed form, along with your two (2) copies of identification to:

  Rock Island County Clerk's Office Voter Registration 1504 - Third Avenue Rock Island IL 61201 (309) 786-VOTE or (309) 786-8683

  
   
• You may fill out the change of address form on the rear of your voter's registration card and send it to:

  Rock Island County Clerk's Office Voter Registration 1504 - Third Avenue Rock Island IL 61201 (309) 786-VOTE or (309) 786-8683

Physically Disabled Voters
If you have a permanent physical disability that prevents you from registering to vote at a public location, you may arrange for voter registration at your residence. Contact the Rock Island County Clerk's Office at (309) 558-VOTE or (309) 558-8683 for details.

Foreign-born Citizens
If you are a naturalized citizen, you must provide information regarding your naturalization, including the court and city where you were naturalized, and the date of naturalization.

Persons born of U.S. citizens who resided outside the United States at the time of the birth are U.S. citizens. Those born in Puerto Rico, Guam or the Virgin Islands derived United States citizenship at birth and need not be naturalized. For more information, contact the Rock Island County Clerk's Office at (309) 558-VOTE or (309) 558-8683 for details.

Registration Period:
Registration is open year round, except:

• During the 27-day period just prior to an election;
• During the two (2) days after such election.

Change of Address:
If you are currently registered to vote and have moved, you may change your voter registration address if you moved:

• within 27 days of the election within the same precinct. You can vote a full ballot at your old polling place after signing an affidavit;
• within 30 days before the election outside of your precinct, but still in the State of Illinois, and did not transfer your registration, you can vote a full ballot at your old polling place after completing an affadavit;
• more than 30 days prior to the election within your county you cannot vote. (Exception: In even year elections, you can vote for Federal Offices Only, after completing an affadavit for "change of address";
• more than 30 days prior to the election outside of your county, you cannot vote.

In addition to the Application or Identification Card, you will need to copy two (2) forms of acceptable identification. One form of identification must show your name and one form of identification must show your name and permanent residence address. Click here to see a list of acceptable forms of identification.

Send in the change of address information no later than 28 days prior to the election to:

Change of Name:
In order to report a change in your name, you must re-register to vote. Click here to go to the "Registering to Vote" Section of this page. There are two (2) exceptions to this rule and they are:

1. A person who changes his or her name within 27 days of the election, and still lives within the same precinct, may vote after completing an affidavit.
2. A woman who continues to use her maiden name after marriage may vote without having to complete an affidavit if registered to vote under her maiden name.

If you are currently registered to vote in Rock Island County and would like to request a name change, you may click here to download the "Illinois Voter Registration Application".  In addition to the form, you will need to copy two (2) forms of acceptable identification. One form of identification must show your name and one form of identification must show your name and permanent residence address. Click here to see a list of acceptable forms of identification.

You will need to complete the form, making sure you follow all instructions and indicate that you wish to change your name by checking the "change your name" checkbox. Send in the form and include copies of two (2) forms of identification to:

Registration Cancellation:
Once you have registered to vote in Rock Island County, your name will remain in our database as long as you remain eligible to vote (name and address are correct) within Rock Island County. Requesting that your name be removed from the Rock Island County Voter's Registration database or having your Voter's Registration cancelled, may only be made for the following reasons:

• Death
• The election authority will cancel a Voter's Registration upon receiving a proof of death for a registered voter.
• Falsification of Application
• If a voter registered within Rock Island County is convicted of a crime involving a material falsification of his/her Voter Registration, with regards to age, citizenship, or residence, his/her registration may be cancelled.
• Incarceration
• If a registered voter has been incarcerated following the conviction of a crime, his/her registration may be suspended.
• Request of Voter
• A registered voter may request, in writing, that their name be removed from the Rock Island County Voter's Registration database. The registered voter will not be required to state a reason for such cancellation.

  If you are registered to vote in Rock Island County and no longer reside within the election jurisdiction of Rock Island County, you may also request, in writing, that your name be removed.

  If a person is registered to vote in Rock Island County and attempts to vote in another election jurisdiction, it will be considered a request by that voter to cancel or remove their name from the Rock Island County Voter's Registration database.

If you would like more information about voter registration, please call the Rock Island County Clerk's office at (309) 786-VOTE or (309) 786-8683, Monday through Friday between 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.