Primary election day, with important issues
The March 19, 2024 primary election will begin at 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. at a polling place near you.
The March 19, 2024 primary election will begin at 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. at a polling place near you.
Why vote
South Beloit voters will decide on a 1% sales tax referendum. Voters in Winnebago County Board District 3 will decide between Roscoe residents John Guevara and Ray Thompson. Another Roscoe resident, Bill Crowley, is running unopposed for re-election as County Auditor.
- Look up your polling place
- Find your elected officials
- Look up candidates
- Register online
- Apply to vote by mail
Information to help you decide
South Beloit to vote on March 19 on 1% sales tax for roads
Meet the District 3 candidates for Roscoe: Ray Thompson and John Guevara
Area residents get to know the candidates
John Guevara: meet the Winnebago County Board District 3 candidates
Ray Thompson: meet the Winnebago County Board District 3 candidates
Winnebago County Board candidates for Roscoe: Who claims what? Who's right?
Meet Jennifer Muraski, Winnebago County Coroner
Where to vote
For the Primary Election on Tuesday, Mar. 19, 2024, polls will be open continuously from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. This time there is no voting at Roscoe Township offices - if you voted there last time, you will vote at Life Church instead this time. Note that no campaigning or electioneering is allowed at Didier Hall and Life Church, even 100 feet away from the polling place.
ROCKTON TOWNSHIP
1. ROCKTON TOWN HALL (Township Offices), 1315 North Blackhawk Boulevard, Rockton
2. PRINCE OF PEACE LUTHERAN CHURCH, 2336 Freeport Road, Rockton
3. DIDIER HALL (ST. PETER’S CHURCH), 301 Oak Grove Avenue, South Beloit
5. PRINCE OF PEACE LUTHERAN CHURCH, 2336 Freeport Road, Rockton
6. DIDIER HALL (ST. PETER’S CHURCH), 301 Oak Grove Avenue, South Beloit
8. ST. ANDREW LUTHERAN CHURCH, 511 West Rockton Road, Rockton
9. ST. ANDREW LUTHERAN CHURCH, 511 West Rockton Road, Rockton
10. ST. ANDREW LUTHERAN CHURCH, 511 West Rockton Road, Rockton
11. PRINCE OF PEACE LUTHERAN CHURCH, 2336 Freeport Road, Rockton
13. ROCKTON TOWN HALL (Township Offices), 1315 North Blackhawk Boulevard, Rockton
ROSCOE TOWNSHIP
1. ROSCOE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH, 10816 Main Street, Roscoe
2. HERITAGE BAPTIST CHURCH OF ROSCOE, 12848 Willowbrook Road, Roscoe
3. LEDGES CLUB HOUSE, 7111 McCurry Road, Roscoe
4. HERITAGE BAPTIST CHURCH OF ROSCOE, 12848 Willowbrook Road, Roscoe
5. DIDIER HALL (ST. PETER’S CHURCH), 301 Oak Grove Avenue, South Beloit
6. CROSS & CROWN LUTHERAN CHURCH, 7404 Elevator Road, Roscoe
7. ROSCOE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH, 10816 Main Street, Roscoe
8. HERITAGE BAPTIST CHURCH OF ROSCOE, 12848 Willowbrook Road, Roscoe
9. CROSS & CROWN LUTHERAN CHURCH, 7404 Elevator Road, Roscoe
10. ROSCOE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH, 10816 Main Street, Roscoe
11. LIFE CHURCH, 5910 Elevator Road, Roscoe
12. LIFE CHURCH, 5910 Elevator Road, Roscoe
14. LEDGES CLUB HOUSE, 7111 McCurry Road, Roscoe
15. LIFE CHURCH, 5910 Elevator Road, Roscoe
Where to go
See the list above. You can't pick and choose where to vote. Voters must vote at the polling place [PDF] designated for the election precinct within which they reside. Many polling places serve more than one precinct - just walk up to whichever table has your precinct number posted on it. What is your precinct number? It's printed on your voter registration card, or you can ask a poll worker to guide you to the right table.
How it works
In a primary election, two types of ballots are printed, one for each major party. The election officials have to ask you which one you want handed to you. Instead of saying the party name out loud, I suppose you could give them a slip of paper with the party name on it, or whisper the name. But the election judges pride themselves on their professionalism and they will keep your choice a secret.
In fact, since Illinois has "partially open" primaries, you don't have to say the name of your own party. Registered voters can ask for either party's ballot, regardless of their usual affiliation. That means Democrats who want a voice in the District 3 County Board election can ask for a Republican primary ballot. Of course in the general election in November, voters can choose candidates of any party, for any office.
Electioneering and campaigning is not allowed within 100 feet of a polling place. So if you're wearing your favorite candidate's hat or t-shirt that day, you have to take it off before you get anywhere near the door. It's polite to leave your favorite stuffed elephant or donkey at home.
If you have a mail-in ballot
Many of the mail-in ballots requested have not been sent in. You cannot use it to vote at your local polling place - that's why it's called vote by mail. If your mail-in ballot is still lying around the house, you can drop it into any mailbox - but it has to be postmarked Mar. 19. Or you can vote in-person if you hand over your mail-in ballot to an election judge at your polling place. You will receive a new ballot. Or you can drive into Rockford before 7 p.m. and place your ballot in the secure drop box outside of the Winnebago County Administration Building, 404 Elm Street, Rockford, Illinois 61101. The Winnebago County Clerk’s Office has two weeks after Election Day to count them.
Sign your name
By law, Illinois relies on signature verification, not voter ID cards, to help keep the election fair. At polling places throughout the county, two election judges, one from each major party, will watch each voter sign their name and check it against the signature on file. At the end of Election Day, two election judges, one from each major party, will drive to the County Clerk's office in Rockford to deliver the sealed ballots from their polling place after posting the precinct totals at the polling place.
Also by law, election judges may only ask to see an ID when a voter is providing a new signature, though showing your driver's license voluntarily is welcome. Once you make a fresh signature, it will stay on file so you won't be asked next time. Sometimes over the years the voter's signature has changed from the one on file, which may date back to the first time they registered to vote as a young person 60 years before.
