WHITESIDE COUNTY, ILLINOIS VOTER INFORMATION GUIDE GENERAL ELECTION NOVEMBER 3, 2026 GAZ/WNS
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“NO EXCUSES NEEDED” EARLY VOTING/ VOTE BY MAIL Karen J. Stralow, Whiteside County Clerk, announces Early Voting and Vote by Mail for the November 3, 2026 General Election. Any valid registered voter in Whiteside County may vote during the early voting period, however, any vote cast is final, and may not be revoked, and the voter is not eligible to cast a vote on election day. Early in person voting will be conducted at the Whiteside County Courthouse, 200 E. Knox St., Morrison on Monday through Friday from 8:30 am until 4:30 pm beginning on Thursday, September 24th and ending on Monday, November 2nd. There will be early voting on Saturday, October 31st, from 9:00 am until noon. Early voting will also be held at the Eastern Branch Court Facility located at 101 E. Third St., Sterling on October 16th and 19th from 9:00 am to 4:00pm. In order to vote by mail, contact the Clerk’s office at 815-772-5189 to receive an application. Once the completed application is received by the Clerk, no later than October 29th, a ballot will be mailed to the voter. For more information about early voting or vote by mail, contact the County Clerk’s office at 815-772-5189.
GRACE PERIOD VOTING Individuals that have not properly registered prior to the close of registration on October 6, 2026 and wish to vote in the November 3, 2026 General Election, may register to vote and cast a ballot during Grace Period Voting. Voters who register during the grace period must register in the office of the County Clerk and must cast their ballot that same day. Those people registering during the grace period cannot vote at their polling place on Election Day. Qualifications for Grace Period Voting: - Must be a US Citizen - Must be at least 18 years of age by November 3, 2026 General Election - Must be a resident of your precinct for 30 days prior to Election Day - Must have two forms of identification when registering to vote. One of those forms of identification must show your current residence. Location, Dates and Times: Whiteside County Courthouse - 200 E. Knox St., Morrison, IL Wednesday, October 7, 2026 through November 2, 2026 - 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, November 3, 2026 from 6:00 a.m. until 7 p.m. Saturday, October 31, 2026 from 9:00 a.m. until noon. Eastern Branch Court Facility - 101 E. Third St., Sterling, IL Tuesday, November 3, 2026 from 6:00 a.m. until 7:00 p.m.
Vote by mail is safe, secure and still an option in Whiteside County. Plan ahead. Mail early. Make your voice heard!
LEGAL NOTICE PUBLIC TEST Public Notice is hereby given that a public testing of the OpenElect Voting Optical Scan (OVO) and OpenElect Freedom Vote Tablet (FVT) and Program to be used for counting the ballots of the November 3, 2026 General Election, will be held in the County Clerk’s Office, at the Courthouse in Morrison, on Monday, October 26 at 1:00 p.m. Interested persons may witness this test at the above stated time and place. Karen J. Stralow Whiteside County Clerk
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