Ellery, Illinois Public Records

For matters of law enforcement, the Ellery Police Department plays a crucial role in maintaining safety and order within the village. Working in collaboration with the Edwards County Sheriff's Office, the department addresses a variety of law enforcement needs and concerns in the Ellery area. The Edwards County Jail serves as the primary detention facility for individuals arrested within the county, including those from Ellery. Arrest and criminal records are meticulously maintained, allowing citizens to access relevant public safety information.

Ellery residents are served by the Edwards County Clerk's office, which functions as the election authority for all of Edwards County. The office is located at the Edwards County Courthouse, 50 E Main Street, Albion, IL 62806, and can be reached at (618) 445-2570. The County Clerk is responsible for voter registration, maintaining voter rolls, conducting elections, processing absentee ballot applications, and certifying election results for all federal, state, county, and local elections affecting Ellery voters. Residents can obtain election information, verify polling place locations, and request vote-by-mail applications by contacting the Clerk's office during business hours, Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM.

Illinois residents, including those in Ellery, can register to vote online through the Illinois State Board of Elections at www.elections.il.gov, by mail using a voter registration application, or in person at the County Clerk's office, Secretary of State facilities, or designated government agencies. Voter registration deadlines in Illinois are 16 days before an election for online and mail registration, though same-day registration is available during the early voting period and on Election Day at designated locations. To register, applicants must be U.S. citizens, be at least 18 years old by Election Day, have lived in their precinct at least 30 days prior to Election Day, and provide their Illinois driver's license number or the last four digits of their Social Security number. Illinois offers automatic voter registration through the Secretary of State when residents obtain or renew driver's licenses.

Because Ellery is an unincorporated community without municipal government, there are no city council or mayoral elections. Ellery residents vote in Edwards County elections for county board members, county officers (Sheriff, Clerk, Treasurer, Assessor, Recorder, Coroner, State's Attorney), and other county positions. County board elections in Edwards County are held in November of even-numbered years, with the next countywide elections scheduled for November 4, 2026. Polling place assignments for Ellery voters depend on their specific precinct; residents can look up their assigned polling location by contacting the County Clerk at (618) 445-2570 or checking the Illinois State Board of Elections' online polling place finder at www.elections.il.gov. Early voting is available at locations designated by the County Clerk in the weeks preceding each election.

In the November 2024 general election, Edwards County reported voter turnout of approximately 62% of registered voters, consistent with rural Illinois counties in a presidential election year. The 2026 election cycle will be critical for Illinois voters, as it is a gubernatorial election year. On November 3, 2026, Ellery and Edwards County residents will cast ballots for Governor of Illinois (incumbent J.B. Pritzker's term expires in 2027), Illinois Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, Secretary of State, Comptroller, and Treasurer—all four-year terms. State legislative races will include the Illinois State Senate (odd-numbered districts) and all 118 seats in the Illinois House of Representatives; Ellery is located in the 109th House District and 54th Senate District, with candidates to be determined in the 2026 primary elections. There is no U.S. Senate seat from Illinois up for election in 2026; Illinois' next U.S. Senate election is scheduled for 2028. Edwards County voters will also elect county officers including County Board members, and potentially other county offices depending on term schedules.

Absentee voting in Illinois, officially called "vote by mail," is available to any registered voter without requiring an excuse. Ellery residents can request a vote-by-mail ballot by submitting a written application to the Edwards County Clerk's office; applications are available on the Illinois State Board of Elections website or by contacting the County Clerk. Applications must be received by the County Clerk no later than five days before Election Day. Voted mail ballots must be postmarked by Election Day and received by the Clerk within 14 days after the election to be counted. Illinois also offers early voting in person beginning 40 days before Election Day at locations designated by each county.

Election records available to the public in Illinois include voter registration statistics (though individual voter registration information is not publicly disclosed), campaign finance reports filed with the Illinois State Board of Elections (searchable at www.elections.il.gov), candidate filings and petition signatures, and precinct-level election results. The State Board of Elections maintains a searchable database of campaign contributions and expenditures for state and legislative candidates, while local candidate finance reports may be filed with the County Clerk. Election results for Edwards County, including precinct-by-precinct breakdowns for Ellery-area voting locations, are certified by the County Clerk and published on the county website and reported to the State Board of Elections following each election.