Cherry Valley, Illinois Public Records

Illinois residents can register to vote online through the Illinois State Board of Elections website at www.elections.il.gov or through the state's online voter registration portal at ova.elections.il.gov. Voters must be U.S. Citizens, at least 18 years old by Election Day, and residents of their precinct for at least 30 days prior to the election. Online registration requires an Illinois driver's license or state ID. The registration deadline is 16 days before any election. Illinois also offers same-day voter registration during the early voting period and on Election Day at designated locations. Residents can also register in person at the Winnebago County Clerk's office or by mail using a printed voter registration application. The Village of Cherry Valley holds municipal elections for Village President (mayor) and Village Board of Trustees. Municipal elections in Illinois are consolidated and typically held on the first Tuesday in April of odd-numbered years. The village's elected officials serve four-year staggered terms. Candidate information, local ballot questions, and village election results are available through the Village Clerk at Village Hall and through the Winnebago County Clerk's election division. Voters can find their specific polling place by using the polling place lookup tool on the Illinois State Board of Elections website (www.elections.il.gov) or by contacting the Winnebago County Clerk's office with their address. Election records in Illinois are largely public under state law. Voter registration lists are available for purchase for political purposes, though individual voter registration information is protected. Campaign finance reports for candidates and political committees are filed with the Illinois State Board of Elections and are searchable online at www.elections.il.gov/CampaignDisclosure. Candidate filing information, including nominating petitions and statements of candidacy, are public records maintained by the election authority. Precinct-level election results for all elections are published by the Winnebago County Clerk and are available on the Winnebago County website following certification. Senate, U.S. House of Representatives (Illinois 16th District), Illinois General Assembly seats, county offices, and judicial retention questions. Illinois will hold elections for Governor and Lieutenant Governor (four-year terms), statewide constitutional officers including Attorney General, Secretary of State, Comptroller, and Treasurer, U.S. Senate (Illinois' Class III Senate seat), all U.S. House seats including the 16th District which serves Winnebago County, Illinois General Assembly seats (both State Senate and State House), and various county offices including County Board members, potentially county constitutional officers depending on term cycles, and judicial positions. Specific local races and ballot questions for 2026 will be determined as candidate filing periods close in late 2025 and early 2026. Illinois voters can request vote-by-mail (absentee) ballots through the Winnebago County Clerk's office. Applications can be submitted online through the Winnebago County Clerk's website, by mail, or in person. No excuse is required to vote by mail in Illinois; any registered voter may request a mail ballot. Vote-by-mail applications must be received by the Clerk's office no later than five days before Election Day. Completed ballots must be postmarked by Election Day and received within 14 days after the election to be counted. Early voting is available at the Winnebago County Clerk's office and at additional early voting sites established before each election, typically beginning 40 days before Election Day. Early voting allows voters to cast a ballot in person without needing to go to their assigned polling place on Election Day. Specific early voting dates, times, and locations are published on the Winnebago County Clerk's website prior to each election.