Apr 13

2023 Consolidated Election Re-Tabulation

Posted on April 13, 2023 at 10:10 AM by Robert Watson

On Tuesday, April 18 at 1:00 p.m. in the Community Room of the Government Center, 115 E. Washington Street, Bloomington, Illinois, McLean County Clerk’s office will perform the Illinois State Board of Elections re-tabulation for randomly selected precincts within McLean County.

The precincts selected by the Illinois State Board of Elections for re-tabulation are:

  • Office Early Vote 01
  • Empire 01
  • Old Town 01
  • Funks Grove
  • Normal 13

These precincts will be re-tabulated as directed by the Illinois State Board of Elections.  The re-tabulation does not change vote counts.

View the official 2023 Consolidated Election Re-Tab Notice

What is a retabulation?

As mandated in 10 ILCS 5/24B-15 and 5/24C-15, each Election Authority shall re-tabulate (re-tab) the election results after each election and before the official canvass of results. The Illinois State Board of Elections (ILSBE) randomly selects 5% of your precincts and Early Voting equipment to be re-tabulated.

As part of such re-tabulation, the election authority shall test the computer program in the selected precincts and on the selected early voting devices. Such test shall be conducted by processing a pre-audited group of ballots so punched so as to record a predetermined number of valid votes for each candidate and on each public question and shall include for each office one or more ballots which have votes in excess of the number allowed by law in order to test the ability of the equipment to reject such votes.

If any error is detected, the cause therefor shall be ascertained and corrected, and an errorless count shall be made prior to the official canvass and proclamation of election results.

Illinois Statutes

Apr 11

Vote By Mail Applications are Live for 2024 Primary

Posted on April 11, 2023 at 9:28 PM by Robert Watson

Vote by mail applications are now available for the March 19, 2024 General Primary Election. Our Vote by Mail web page offers two ways to submit your application - one version to print and mail in, the other to complete and submit online. View the Election calendar to see deadlines.

The vote by mail application allows three options to request a vote by mail ballot.

  1. Submit a request for a vote by mail ballot for the March 19, 2024 General Primary Election only.
  2. Submit a request for a vote by mail ballot for all subsequent elections that do not require a party designation. (permanent vote by mail application)
  3. Submit a request for a vote by mail ballot for all subsequent elections (those that do and do not require a party designation). In selecting this option the voter must select the party designation that they want to receive in subsequent elections. (permanent vote by mail application)

If selecting a permanent vote by mail application, the voter will continue to receive a vote by mail ballot for future elections using the parameters selected until that voter is deceased, updates their permanent vote by mail application by submitting a new application, or submits a written request to cancel their application.

Apr 03

How to Vote April 4

Posted on April 3, 2023 at 7:48 PM by Robert Watson

April 4 is Election Day in Illinois. There are a number of ways to vote on Election Day. The list below provides directions about your options to ensure your vote is counted.

Vote by Mail

Mail your ballot

If you requested a vote by mail ballot and have it in your possession, you can mail your ballot to the County Clerk's office using the provided return envelope. The US Postal Service has to stamp the envelope on April 4 for your ballot to be accepted at our office.

Deliver your ballot to your precinct

Every precinct accepts completed vote by mail ballots. Simply enter a polling place and tell an election judge that you're there to drop off your vote by mail ballot. The election judge will direct you to the drop box in the polling place. All ballots will be delivered to our office after the polls close.

Drop your ballot in a drop box

Complete your ballot, sign and date the ballot envelope, then seal it in the return envelope. Drop your sealed ballot off at one of our drop box locations before 7:00 pm on April 4. Election judges will gather ballots from drop boxes at 7:00 pm and deliver them to our office. By law, ballots cannot be accepted after 7:00 pm on Election Day.

Vote In-Person

At your polling place

Visit your polling place between the hours of 6:00 am and 7:00 pm to vote in person. Any person in line at 7:00 pm will be allowed to vote. Anyone arriving after 7:00 pm may not vote. If you aren't sure where your polling place is you can look at your Voter ID Card or view our Polling Place web page. You must vote in your polling place; you cannot visit another polling place to vote on Election Day.

At the vote center

A vote center is a location where any voter registered with the McLean County Clerk's office may vote regardless of their home precinct. The vote center is located in the Government Center at 115 E. Washington St., Bloomington and is open from 6:00 am - 7:00 pm.

Voters who live in the City of Bloomington and are registered with the Bloomington Election Commission (BEC) must visit the BEC vote center.

What if I'm not Registered to Vote?

Illinois offers Election Day Registration so you can still vote! State law requires that Election Day Registrants register and vote during the same visit. You are required to bring two forms of identification to register. You may register and vote at your home polling place or at the vote center.

Mar 06

Completing Your Vote by Mail Ballot Envelope

Posted on March 6, 2023 at 8:07 AM by Robert Watson


The ballot envelope does have a number of fields. If you are mailing your ballot or delivering it yourself, and no one helped you complete the ballot, you only have to complete the signature and date fields.

Additional information is available on our website on the Vote by Mail page.



ballot envelope

Feb 26

Sample Ballots Available

Posted on February 26, 2023 at 7:27 PM by Robert Watson

Sample ballots for the 2023 Consolidated Election on April 4 are posted to the McLean County Elections website. Visit https://www.mcleancountyil.gov/1600/Ballots to view sample ballots. Instructions to find your ballot are on the Ballots page.

There are 191 ballot styles for the April Consolidated Election. We are always looking for ways to make the voting experience better for voters. This year we're testing a new format in preparation for the 2024 Primary and General Elections and we want your feedback! We have listed every address for our election authority and identified the ballot style for that address.

Previously we listed sample ballots by precinct; when you located your precinct there were likely multiple ballot styles for your precinct which led to voter confusion about which ballot to review. We hope this new method makes it easier for you to find your ballot.

A ballot style refers to a specific layout or content for a ballot, usually based upon precinct and/or address. Offices, candidates, or referenda may vary within a single precinct, based on an individual's address. For example, one side of a street may be in a different county board district, etc.

If you're uncertain which ballot style you'll use on Election Day, feel free to use the Contact Us button to submit your question and we'll be glad to assist. We're also available by phone at 309-888-4035 or [email protected].

Feb 22

Early Voting Starts February 23

Posted on February 22, 2023 at 8:48 PM by Robert Watson

Early voting for the April 4, 2023 Consolidated Election begins on Thursday, February 23. Early voting is available through 7:00 pm on April 3, 2023 at the McLean County Government Center lobby. Dates and time details are available on the elections early voting page.

McLean County has two election authorities. The McLean County Clerk's Office handles all elections for the county except the City of Bloomington. Voting in the City of Bloomington is conducted by the Bloomington Election Commission.

Feb 22

Public Test of Tabulating Equipment

Posted on February 22, 2023 at 8:29 PM by Robert Watson

PUBLIC NOTICE

 

In accordance with 10 ILCS 5/24B-9, 24C-9 a public test of the Automatic Tabulating Equipment to be used by the McLean County Clerk’s Office for the

Tuesday, April 4th, 2023 Consolidated Election will be held on:

 

 

Thursday, March 9th, 2023

1:30 pm

McLean County Clerk’s Office

115 E. Washington Street, Room 102

Bloomington, Illinois

 

 

The test is open to the public.

Kathy Michael

McLean County Clerk

Jan 04

Vote by Mail Applications are Live

Posted on January 4, 2023 at 7:27 AM by Robert Watson

Vote by mail applications are now available for the April 4, 2023 Consolidated Election. Our Vote by Mail web page offers two ways to submit your application - one version to print and mail in, the other to complete and submit online. View the Election calendar to see deadlines.

The vote by mail application allows three options to request a vote by mail ballot.

  1. Submit a request for a vote by mail ballot for the April 4, 2023 Consolidated Election only.
  2. Submit a request for a vote by mail ballot for all subsequent elections that do not require a party designation. (permanent vote by mail application)
  3. Submit a request for a vote by mail ballot for all subsequent elections (those that do and do not require a party designation). In selecting this option the voter must select that party designation that they want to receive in subsequent elections. (permanent vote by mail application)

If selecting a permanent vote by mail application, the voter will continue to receive a vote by mail ballot for future elections using the parameters selected until that voter is deceased, updates their permanent vote by mail application by submitting a new application, or submits a written request to cancel their application.

Jan 03

McLean County Electoral Board Decision - 1/3/23

Posted on January 3, 2023 at 8:42 PM by Robert Watson

On Tuesday, January 3, members of the McLean County Electoral Board (McLean County Clerk Kathy Michael, McLean County Circuit Clerk Don Everhart, and Assistant State’s Attorney Trevor Sierra, representing State’s Attorney Erika Reynolds) met to review the Objector’s Petitions of Brad Wurth and Dennis Frank of the Nominating Petitions of Candidates Mark Stephen Adams II and Alex Williams for the office of McLean County Unit District #5 Board of Education.

Both Mr. Wurth’s and Mr. Frank’s objections were declared invalid. With this decision, the Board declared that Mr. Adam’s and Mr. Williams’ names will appear as candidates for the office of McLean County Unit District #5 Board of Education for the April 4, 2023 Consolidated Election.

The Board reviewed and found that the objections were invalid due to the lack of each objector’s residence address being provided in the objections. Referencing Illinois cases from 1997 and 2016, the Board adhered to precedents set that the objector’s residence address is required and that objectors are not permitted to amend their objections.

The full and formal decision of the McLean County Electoral Board is available for review.
Dec 29

McLean County Electoral Board Hearing

Posted on December 29, 2022 at 8:02 AM by Robert Watson

Notice is hereby given that on Tuesday, January 3, 2023 at 10:00 am, the McLean County Electoral Board will hold a hearing in the Community Room of the Government Center, 115 E. Washington St., Bloomington, IL to hear arguments for and against:

  • The objection filed by Dennis Frank against the nominating papers of Alex Williams, non-partisan candidate for McLean County Community Unit School District #5 Board of Education.
  • The objection filed by Brad Wurth against the nominating papers of Mark Stephen Adams II, non-partisan candidate for McLean County Community Unit School District #5 Board of Education.