Manhattan, Illinois Public Records

In Illinois, the bond process allows for the release of detainees pending trial, and bond amounts can be posted at the facility. To find someone recently arrested in Will County, individuals can use the online inmate search tool provided by the Sheriff's Office.

The Manhattan Police Department at https://www.manhattanillinois.org/police-department provides law enforcement services to the village. The department's website offers information on public safety initiatives, crime prevention tips, and how to report incidents. Residents can also find contact information for the department and learn about its community engagement programs.

Manhattan voters are served by the Will County Clerk's Office, Elections Division, located at 58 E. Clinton Street, Room 101, Joliet, IL 60432, phone (815) 740-4615, website www.thewillcountyclerk.com. The County Clerk serves as the official election authority for Manhattan and all municipalities within Will County, administering voter registration, conducting elections, and maintaining election records. Illinois residents can register to vote online through the Illinois State Board of Elections at www.elections.il.gov, where eligible citizens can complete online voter registration or update their registration information. The registration deadline is 16 days before any election; online registration requires a valid Illinois driver's license or state ID. Manhattan residents can also register in person at the Will County Clerk's Office, at Illinois Secretary of State driver services facilities, or through mail-in registration forms. Proof of identity and residency is required for registration. Municipal elections for the Village of Manhattan are held on a consolidated election schedule; the village elects a Village President (mayor) and six Village Trustees (council members) who serve staggered four-year terms. Manhattan municipal elections are held in odd-numbered years in April during the consolidated election cycle. The next Manhattan municipal election will be held April 1, 2025, for Village President and three trustee positions. Candidate filings and local ballot measures are processed through the Will County Clerk's Elections Division. Manhattan voters can find their assigned polling place by using the polling place lookup tool at www.thewillcountyclerk.com or by calling the Elections Division. Illinois law requires voters to cast ballots at their assigned precinct polling location on Election Day, though early voting and vote-by-mail options are available. Election records that are public in Illinois include voter registration lists (with some personal information redacted), campaign finance disclosure reports filed with the Illinois State Board of Elections and local election authorities, candidate nominating petitions and statements of candidacy, precinct-level election results, and campaign contribution databases. These records can be accessed through the County Clerk's Office and the State Board of Elections website. In the November 2024 presidential election, Will County reported voter turnout of approximately 72% of registered voters, with over 350,000 ballots cast countywide, reflecting high engagement in the presidential contest. Looking ahead to the November 3, 2026 general election, Manhattan and Will County voters will decide several significant races. Illinois will hold elections for Governor and all statewide constitutional offices including Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, Secretary of State, Comptroller, and Treasurer, as these positions are up in 2026. All 118 seats in the Illinois House of Representatives will be on the ballot, with Manhattan falling within a specific legislative district. Will County offices including County Executive, County Clerk, Recorder, Sheriff, Treasurer, and several County Board seats will be contested. Additionally, judicial retention questions for Circuit Court judges and appellate judges may appear on the ballot. To request an absentee or mail-in ballot in Illinois, voters can apply online through the County Clerk's website, by mail, or in person at the Elections Division office. Applications for vote-by-mail ballots must be submitted by five days before the election. Illinois allows any registered voter to vote by mail without providing a reason; ballots are mailed to the voter's registered address and must be postmarked by Election Day and received within 14 days after the election to be counted.