Whittington, Illinois Public Records

Illinois residents can register to vote online through the Illinois State Board of Elections at https://ova.elections.il.gov/. Online registration is available to eligible Illinois residents with a valid Illinois driver's license or state ID issued by the Illinois Secretary of State. Voters must be U.S. Citizens, at least 18 years old by Election Day, and have resided in their precinct for at least 30 days prior to the election. The registration deadline is 16 days before an election for online and mail registration. Grace period registration is available during early voting and on Election Day at designated locations, allowing new registrants or those updating their information to vote provisionally. When registering online, voters should have their driver's license or state ID, Social Security number, and current address ready. As an unincorporated community, Whittington does not hold municipal elections for mayor or city council since there is no incorporated city government. Instead, residents participate in Franklin County elections for county board members, county clerk, sheriff, treasurer, and other countywide offices, as well as state and federal elections. County board elections in Illinois occur in even-numbered years during the general election cycle, with the next countywide elections scheduled for November 4, 2026. General elections in Illinois take place on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November. Franklin County is divided into board districts, and voters elect a county board member from their district. Residents can find their assigned polling place using the Illinois State Board of Elections' online polling place lookup tool at https://ova.elections.il.gov/PollingPlaceLookup.aspx or by contacting the Franklin County Clerk at (618) 438-3221. Polling places are assigned based on residential address and precinct. Illinois polls are open from 6:00 a.m. To 7:00 p.m. On Election Day, and voters in line at 7:00 p.m. Are allowed to cast their ballots. Early voting is available at designated locations in Franklin County, typically at the Franklin County Clerk's Office in Benton, beginning 40 days before the election and ending the day before Election Day. Early voting hours vary, with extended hours often available on weekends closer to the election. Election records in Illinois are public and accessible. Voter registration lists are available for purchase by political committees, candidates, and for certain research purposes, subject to restrictions under Illinois law (10 ILCS 5/4-8). Campaign finance records, including contributions and expenditures by candidates and political committees, are maintained by the Illinois State Board of Elections and searchable online at https://www.elections.il.gov/CampaignDisclosure/. Candidate filings, including nomination petitions and statements of candidacy, are kept by the Franklin County Clerk for local offices and by the State Board of Elections for state and federal offices. Precinct-level election results for Franklin County are published by the Franklin County Clerk after each election and available on the Illinois State Board of Elections website at https://www.elections.il.gov/ElectionResults.aspx. While specific final turnout figures should be confirmed with the Franklin County Clerk, the county historically sees turnout in the range of 60-70% of registered voters in presidential years. The 2024 election featured contests for President, U.S. Senate, U.S. House of Representatives (Illinois 12th District, which includes Franklin County), Illinois State Senate and House seats, and various county offices. Illinois will hold elections for all state executive offices including Governor and Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, Secretary of State, Comptroller, and Treasurer. There is no U.S.Current federal, state, and local election schedules, ballot contests, candidate filings, and certified results for Whittington voters are published by the Illinois State Board of Elections (https://www.elections.il.gov/). Franklin County will also have elections for county offices including County Board members, with some countywide offices potentially on the ballot depending on term schedules. Voters may also see local school board races and referenda on taxation, school funding, or other county issues. Candidate filing for the 2026 primary election typically occurs in late 2025, and the primary election is scheduled for March 2026, determining party nominees for the November general election. Illinois offers several options for absentee and mail-in voting. Any registered voter in the state may request to vote by mail without providing a reason. Vote-by-mail applications can be submitted online at https://ova.elections.il.gov/ or by contacting the Franklin County Clerk's Office. Applications must be received by the Franklin County Clerk no later than five days before Election Day, though earlier applications are recommended to ensure timely ballot delivery. Voted mail ballots must be postmarked by Election Day and received by the Franklin County Clerk within 14 days after the election to be counted. Voters may also return their completed mail ballot in person to the Franklin County Clerk's Office or to designated drop boxes if available. Military and overseas voters have additional provisions under the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (UOCAVA) and should contact the Franklin County Clerk for assistance.