Downs, Illinois Public Records

The Downs Police Department (http://downsil.com/police-department/) is responsible for law enforcement in the village of Downs, Illinois. The department maintains records related to arrests, incident reports, and other law enforcement activities. Residents can request copies of these records by contacting the police department directly. The McLean County Sheriff's Office (https://www.mcleancountyil.gov/1172/Sheriffs-Office) also has jurisdiction in the Downs area and maintains related public records.

Election administration for Downs voters is handled by the McLean County Clerk's Office, which serves as the election authority for all municipalities and precincts in McLean County. The McLean County Clerk's Office is located at 104 West Front Street, Room 101, Bloomington, IL 61701, phone (309) 888-5190, with election information available at www.mcleancountyil.gov/clerk. Downs residents can register to vote online through the Illinois State Board of Elections website at ova.elections.il.gov, which allows new registrations and updates to existing registrations including address changes. Illinois offers same-day voter registration, meaning eligible residents can register and vote during early voting periods and on Election Day itself by providing two forms of identification showing current address. Online and mail registration must be completed 16 days before an election. Acceptable identification includes an Illinois driver's license or state ID, utility bill, bank statement, paycheck, government check, or other government document showing name and current address. The Village of Downs holds municipal elections in consolidated election years (odd-numbered years) on the first Tuesday in April. Village officials including the Village President (mayor) and Village Board of Trustees are elected to four-year staggered terms. The next Downs municipal election will be held on April 1, 2025, for three trustee positions. Information about local candidates, sample ballots, and village election results are available through the County Clerk's election division and posted at Village Hall. Downs voters can locate their assigned polling place by using the Illinois State Board of Elections polling place lookup tool at www.elections.il.gov or by contacting the McLean County Clerk's Office with their address. Illinois provides extensive public access to election records: voter registration information (excluding Social Security numbers and dates of birth) is available for public inspection and purchase; campaign finance reports for candidates and political committees are available through the Illinois State Board of Elections at www.elections.il.gov/CampaignDisclosure; and precinct-level election results are published by the County Clerk following certification of each election. In the November 2024 presidential election, McLean County reported approximately 71% voter turnout among registered voters, with total turnout exceeding 88,000 ballots cast county-wide, reflecting high engagement in a competitive election year. Looking ahead to the November 3, 2026 general election, Downs and McLean County voters will decide several important races: the Illinois gubernatorial election (Governor J.B. Pritzker's term expires in 2027), one U.S. Senate seat (Illinois does not have a Senate race in 2026 as both senators were elected in other cycles), Illinois House of Representatives (Downs is in the 91st District), all 118 Illinois House seats, approximately half of the 59 Illinois Senate seats including District 44 which includes Downs, county offices including County Board members, and potentially local school board and municipal positions depending on term expiration schedules. Illinois voters can request mail-in ballots (called vote-by-mail in Illinois) through an online application at www.elections.il.gov or by submitting a written request to the McLean County Clerk; applications must be received by the Thursday before Election Day, though earlier application is strongly recommended. Mail-in ballots are automatically sent to voters who requested them, and completed ballots must be postmarked by Election Day and received by the county clerk within 14 days after the election to be counted. Early voting is available at the McLean County Clerk's office and satellite locations beginning 40 days before each election and continuing through the day before Election Day, with extended hours during the final week.