Registered voters in Livingston County will be receiving new Voter Registration Cards the week of June 22, 2017.  As required by law, the County Clerk’s office is in the process of completing a purge of Livingston County voters.  County Clerk Kristy Masching explained that a purge is done to help maintain voter registrations by keeping them current and up-to-date, to eliminate voters that are deceased, or have moved from Livingston County.

Masching urges voters to check their voter’s card and familiarize themselves with their districts and polling locations, as some changes may have occurred.  Voters should sign their new card and destroy the old card.

Masching is asking for voter’s assistance in returning Voter Registration cards that were delivered to individuals that no longer live at the address where the card was delivered.  If a household receives a Voter ID card for a member of their family or for an individual that once resided at that address, but no longer does, please mark on the Voter ID card “NOT AT THIS ADDRESS “.  If you know the address where the individual has moved to, please place that on the card too.  Place the card in the mail to be returned to the County Clerk’s office.  No additional postage is required. It is important that these cards be returned to the Clerk’s office and not just destroyed, nor should they be given to the person listed on the card if they are no longer living in that household.  If the addressee on the card is deceased, please notify the County Clerk’s office in writing.  The sole purpose of a purge is to have correct voter data for the election process.

Also, if an individual’s address has been changed by municipality or post office action, please inform the County Clerk’s office of said changes.  Masching says that if a person had a Rural Route Box number that was changed by 9-1-1 addressing but their new voter card reflects an incorrect address her office needs to be informed.

Registered voters who did not receive a voter’s card by July 4, 2017 should notify the County Clerk’s office at 815.844.2006.

Masching would like to reiterate the importance to change voter registration information whenever a person changes their name or moves, even if the move is across the street.  If the address or name change is not made in a timely fashion before an election is held, the voter may be prohibited from voting a full ballot.  Registration may be done in the County Clerk’s office Monday – Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM. Or, by completing the mail-in Illinois Voter Registration Application form found on the Livingston County Website at www.livingstoncountyil.gov. (Select: County Services; County Clerk; and then click on Elections).  To fill out a paperless on-line registration, access the Illinois State Board of Elections website at elections.il.gov.

The next election will be the General Primary March 20, 2018. If an individual is not registered to vote, now is the time to do so.