Sainte Marie, Illinois Public Records

The Sainte Marie Police Department, in collaboration with the Jasper County Sheriff's Office, is responsible for providing law enforcement services and ensuring public safety within the village. Residents who need to report a crime, request a police report, or inquire about local law enforcement matters can contact the Sainte Marie Police Department directly. For more serious offenses that may result in an arrest, individuals may find themselves processed through the Jasper County Jail, also located in Newton.

Voter registration and election administration for Sainte Marie residents is handled by the Jasper County Clerk, who serves as the County Clerk and Recorder. The office is located at 100 W. Jourdan Street, Suite 10, Newton, IL 62448, phone (618) 783-2524, website https://www.jaspercountyillinois.org. Illinois offers online voter registration through the Illinois State Board of Elections at https://ova.elections.il.gov/, where eligible citizens can register or update their registration up to 16 days before any election. Illinois also offers same-day voter registration during the early voting period and on Election Day at designated locations. Voters must provide their Illinois driver's license or state ID number, or the last four digits of their Social Security number. Illinois offers automatic voter registration through the Secretary of State's office when obtaining or renewing a driver's license. Registration deadlines are 16 days prior to an election for mail or online registration.

Sainte Marie, as a small village, holds municipal elections for Village President (mayor) and Village Board of Trustees on a consolidated election schedule. Illinois consolidated elections are held on the first Tuesday in April of odd-numbered years (2025, 2027, etc.). The Village of Sainte Marie elects a Village President and six trustees to four-year staggered terms. Candidate petitions for village offices must be filed with the Jasper County Clerk's office during the filing period in December preceding the April election. Information on local candidates and ballot measures can be obtained from the County Clerk or at village board meetings. Sainte Marie residents also vote in Jasper County Board elections (county commissioners elected to four-year terms), state legislative races (Illinois House District 109 and Illinois Senate District 55), and federal elections.

Sainte Marie voters can find their assigned polling location by using the Illinois State Board of Elections polling place lookup tool at https://www.elections.il.gov/ or by contacting the Jasper County Clerk. Polling places are typically located at community centers, schools, or municipal buildings, with Sainte Marie residents historically voting at a location within or very near the village. Polls are open from 6:00 AM to 7:00 PM on Election Day.

In the November 2024 presidential election, Jasper County reported approximately 55-60% voter turnout, consistent with recent general election patterns, with the county voting heavily Republican as is typical for rural southeastern Illinois. Specific Sainte Marie precinct results showed similar partisan preferences reflecting the area's conservative agricultural base.

Looking ahead to the November 3, 2026 general election, Sainte Marie and Jasper County voters will decide several significant races. Illinois will elect a U.S. Senator (the Class II seat currently held by Dick Durbin is up in 2026), all 17 U.S. House seats including the 15th Congressional District which includes Jasper County, and statewide constitutional officers including Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, Secretary of State, Comptroller, and Treasurer (all four-year terms expiring in 2026). State legislative races include all 118 Illinois House seats and approximately half of the 59 Illinois Senate seats depending on district cycles. At the county level, Jasper County will elect county officials including Sheriff, Clerk, Treasurer, Coroner, and County Board members, all to four-year terms. Candidate filing for the 2026 primary elections typically occurs in late 2025, with the primary election held in March 2026.

Illinois offers multiple options for voting beyond Election Day polling places. Early voting is available at the Jasper County Clerk's office beginning 40 days before an election, with expanded hours in the final weeks. Vote-by-mail (absentee voting) is available to any registered voter without requiring an excuse; applications can be submitted online at https://www.elections.il.gov/ or by contacting the County Clerk. Mail ballot applications should be submitted well in advance, with ballots mailed back to arrive by Election Day (postmark does not count). Illinois also offers grace period registration and voting for those who miss the registration deadline.

Public election records in Illinois include voter registration lists (available for purchase by candidates and political committees), campaign finance disclosure reports filed with the Illinois State Board of Elections at https://www.elections.il.gov/CampaignDisclosure/, candidate filing documents and petitions maintained by the County Clerk, and detailed precinct-by-precinct election results. Jasper County posts unofficial election night results on the County Clerk's website, with official canvassed results certified by the County Clerk within days after each election. Historical election results for Jasper County dating back many decades are maintained by the County Clerk and available for public inspection.