Bloomington, Illinois Public Records

Illinois residents can register to vote online at https://ova.elections.il.gov/, the State Board of Elections' registration portal, which requires a valid Illinois driver's license or state ID and must be completed at least 16 days before an election. Mail and in-person registration remain available through the Clerk's office, and grace period registration is offered at early voting sites and on Election Day at polling places. The city operates under a council-manager form of government with a mayor and eight city council members elected from four wards, two per ward. Municipal elections occur in April of odd-numbered years on consolidated election dates, with the next city elections scheduled for April 2025 and April 2027. The Mayor serves a four-year term, and council members serve staggered four-year terms. Information about candidates, local ballot measures, and sample ballots for municipal elections can be found on the City of Bloomington website at https://www.cityblm.org and through the Mc Lean County Clerk's elections page. Residents can locate their assigned polling place by visiting https://ova.elections.il.gov/PollingPlaceLookup.aspx or by contacting the Clerk's office with their residential address. Illinois offers early voting beginning 40 days before an election at designated locations including the Mc Lean County Clerk's office, and vote-by-mail is available to all registered voters without requiring an excuse; applications for mail ballots can be submitted online through the State Board of Elections portal or by contacting the Clerk. In the November 2024 presidential election, McLean County recorded approximately 78,000 total votes cast with turnout around 65% of registered voters, reflecting strong civic engagement. The county showed competitive results consistent with its status as a politically mixed area with educated, moderate voters. The November 3, 2026 general election will feature several significant races for local voters: Illinois Governor (four-year term), all 118 Illinois House seats including the local 91st District, approximately half of the 59 Illinois Senate seats depending on district cycle, all statewide constitutional offices (Attorney General, Secretary of State, Comptroller, Treasurer), McLean County Board seats, McLean County constitutional officers (Sheriff, Circuit Clerk, State's Attorney, Coroner), and potentially contested judicial races for the Eleventh Judicial Circuit. The U.S. Senate seat currently held by Dick Durbin will be on the ballot in 2026 as it is up for election. Public election records in Illinois include voter registration lists available with restrictions under 10 ILCS 5/1-8, campaign finance disclosures searchable at the Illinois State Board of Elections website (https://www.elections.il.gov/) and local filings with the Mc Lean County Clerk, candidate nominating petitions and statements of candidacy, and precinct-level election results which the county publishes on the Clerk's website after each election. Election judges' materials and ballot proofs are also maintained as public records, while individual voter history, whether someone voted, but not how they voted, is available under Illinois FOIA, and actual ballot choices are protected by secret ballot laws.