Palos Township, Illinois

Township Clerk Jane Nolan says that registering to vote allows you to participate in the electoral process and gives you the power to make a difference in deciding who will serve in elective office.

Registering to vote has never been easier or more convenient.  You can register in person or you can download registration forms and register through the mail.

Also, a new law called "grace period registration and voting" extends the regular registration deadline by 21 days, allowing voters to register to vote up to one week before an election.  However, guidelines limit when and where grace period registrants can vote.

Voter Qualifications

To register to vote you must be:

1. A US citizen
2. At least 18 years old by election day
3. A resident of your precinct at least 30 days prior to Election Day.

You also must display two pieces of identification.  Neither needs to be a photo ID, but one must include your current address.  Acceptable forms of ID include:

• Illinois Drivers License
• Illinois state ID
• Employee or student ID
• Credit card
• Social Security card
• Birth Certificate
• Utility bill in applicant's name
• Mail postmarked to the applicant
• Valid US passport
• Public aid ID card
• Lease or rental contract

In Illinois, you do not declare affiliation with a political party when you register to vote.  You may choose to vote a specific political party on Primary Election Day.

In-Person registering with a certified registrar

Elegible voters can register to vote in person by going to:

• One of the Cook County Clerk's six locations
• A Township, city or village clerk
• An Illinois Secretary of State driver's license facility (you can register to vote when you obtain or renew your driver's license or state identification card at any of the license facilities.

Early Voting

For the March 20, 2012 Presidential Primary Election, Early Voting will take place from February 27, 2012 to March 15, 2012.  Check back as the electoin approaches for times and locations, and remember to bring a government issued photo ID such as a passport, driver's license or military ID.  All early voting is conducted on touch screens that store every ballot style in the county, permitting any voter in suburban Cook County to vote at any location.  Your ballot will remain secret and securely stored.

Voters do not need to provide and excuse or reason why they canot make it to the polls on Election Day.  You need only fill out an application at the Early Voting site.  Voters who participate in early voting must vote in person.

Election Dates

The Palos Township Clerk, Jane Nolan announces the election dates and offices for the March 20, 2012, Presidential Primary Election.
They are as follows:

March 20, 2012 Presidential Primary Key Dates

Voter Registration, Early Voting and Absentee Voting