Winnebago County residents who are not registered to vote and who meet the following Illinois voter qualifications should register:

1. Must be a citizen of the United States.
2. ​Must be at least 18 years old – However, if you are going to be 18 years old in a General Election prior to that General Election, then you may register and vote in the Primary Election of the same year.
3. Must be a resident of the State for at least 30 days.

 You can register at any Election Authority during their normal office hours.  The only time you cannot register is during a period from 28 days prior to an election until the 2nd day after the election is held.

 You need to present two (2) forms of I.D. One needs to have your current name and address listed, and the second form can be anything with just your name on it.  Example:  A current Drivers License and your Social Security Card.

Click the link below for a list of Deputy Registrars in Winnebago County.

IN-PERSON REGISTRARS

If you have moved from outside the City of Rockford to another residence outside the City of Rockford, you can turn your voter registration card over and, in the space provided, give your new address and either mail or bring it to our office. 

Please remember to sign and put a phone number.  If you have moved inside the City of Rockford, you will need to re-register to vote.

Someone changing their last name due to a marriage, or any other reason, needs to register with a Deputy Registrar. When updating your Drivers License you can also change your Voter Registration. If you hyphenate your last name, you still need to re-register.

Persons who are registered in Winnebago County are eligible to cast a vote by mail ballot.   In addition, the following unregistered voters are eligible to vote by mail:

• Members of the Uniformed Service or merchant marine on active duty, or eligible spouses or dependents
• U.S. citizens temporarily residing outside the U.S.
• U.S. citizens overseas by virtue of employment or accompanying their spouses or dependents
• Other U.S. citizens residing outside the U.S.

 Illinois State Law requires a ONE-day waiting period, therefore, you cannot use the license the same day you purchased the license.  After the one day, you will have 60 days to use the license.  After the 60th day, the license is no longer valid.  If another license is needed, you will have to make an appointment to apply for a new license as well as pay the license fee. No refunds.

 The license is $40 cash only. No bill over $50 will be accepted.

 Both applicants must be 18 years of age by the effective date of the license.

 Yes, if you are 21 or over, a valid driver's license is acceptable. If you are under 21, you will need to provide additional proof of age. Acceptable proof would be a certified birth certificate, a military ID, passport or a baptismal certificate - if the baptism took place before the age of 7.

Yes, if you are 16 or 17 years old, you may obtain a license with proper approval and documentation. One of the following conditions MUST be met:

1.  You must have the appoval of BOTH PARENTS. This can be done by having the parent(s) complete, sign and have the proper waivers notarized. The waivers can be emailed to you. The notarized waivers must be emailed, along with valid ID's (both the applicants and the parents' ID's) back to us at the same time as your application. All documentation MUST be brought to your appointment and will be returned when you receive your license.

2.  A legal guardian can also give consent in person. Legal guardians will have to complete, sign and have the propver waivers notarized. The waivers can be emailed to you and emailed back, along with certified copies of the guardianship papers, the guardian(s) valid ID and applicant's application and valid ID's. All documentation MUST be brought to your appointment and will be returned when you receive your license. 

Illinois State Law states that if the divorce occurred in a state that requires a 6 month or more waiting period, such as Wisconsin, you will not be allowed to marry in Illinois until that 6-month period has passed. However, IF both applicants are residents of Illinois at the time of obtaining the license, they are exempt from this law.

IF it has been less than 6 months since the divorce, regardless of the state, we will need to see a copy of the divorce decree signed by the judge. This documentation needs to be emailed along with the application and other necessary documents prior to your appointment. All documentation MUST be brought to your appointment and will be returned when you receive your license. 

IF it has been more than 6 months since the divorce, we will only need the month and year that the divorce was final.

Yes, under Illinois Law, the following are circumstances that may prohibit you:

1.  If one or both of you are already married or joined by a civil union;

2.  If there is an ancestor and a descendant or brother and sister relationship. Even if the relationship is by half or whole blood OR by adoption;

3.  Uncle and niece or between an aunt and nephew, whether the relationship is by half or whole blood;

4.  Cousins of the first degree, except when the parties are 50 years of age or older OR one is permanently and irreversibly sterile. A doctor's certificate is required before the license is issued.

When entering your registration key, make sure that you aren’t entering the letter “I” instead of the number “1’” or vice versa. You should also make sure you aren’t entering the letter “O” instead of the number “0” (zero).

 You can click “forgot my password?” and enter the email address you registered as your username so a new password can be generated and sent to you.

You may pay the $15.00 late fee to the County Clerk’s Office before you can file. When the late fee is paid, a password will be given to you. You may then go into the system using the email submitted by your agency and the password we give you and file your statement. Your filing is not compete unless you pay the late fee.

 Please call (815) 319-4269.

Contact the appropriate administrator at your unit of government so he or she can address this issue. Title refers to a job title, not “Mr., Mrs. or Ms.”

Contact the appropriate administrator at your unit of government so he or she can address this issue. Or you may correct it once in the system.

Contact the appropriate administrator at your unit of government so he or she can address this issue.

Either your unit of government does not have you on their required list of filers or they provided incorrect contact information for you. Contact your unit of government to resolve this issue.

Be sure to click “Already a User?” if you have already registered your account. Make sure you are attempting to log in with the username (it should be your email address) and password you created. Refer to the letter that you received from the Winnebago County Clerk concerning SEI.

The fields displayed meet the statutory requirement. If you insist on providing more information, contact our office at (815) 319-4269 to request a paper form.

No. You can complete one statement for multiple units of government. In “STEP 3: My Agency”, click “ADD AGENCY” and follow the instructions to add your other unit(s) of government.

No fee is required when you file by the May 1st deadline. Filers who submit their statement after the May 1st deadline must pay the $15.00 late fee. Failure to file by May 31 may result in forfeiture of office or position of employment.

In compliance with the Illinois Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), 5 ILCS 140/1 et seq., notice is hereby given that the designated FOIA officers for the Office of the Winnebago County Clerk are Chief Deputy Allen Watts and Administrative Assistant Angela Reina. All requests for information regarding the Office of the County Clerk under FOIA should be directed to the persons listed above.

As required by FOIA, the following information regarding the Office of the County Clerk is made available:

The purpose of the Office of the County Clerk is to provide numerous record-keeping functions in its capacity as clerk of the county board; keeper of vital statistics; tax extender; and election authority for the County. The County Clerk’s office budget is $1,367,499 and staffing is 11 employees.

To submit a request to the Winnebago County Clerk's Office, requestors may utilize the convenient FOIA Request Form.

Alternatively, you may download and fill out the following FOIA Request PDF.

Business hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. FOIA requests may be filed in person during those hours, by mail, or via e-mail at: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

To submit a request to a different County Office, view the Winnebago County FOIA Submittal Directory or visit click here to learn more.

A response to the FOIA request will be provided to the requestor within five (5) business days from the day the office receives the request. Requests received by mail will be considered received on the business day the mail is received by the office. If a request is sent via e-mail during business hours on a business day, it will be considered being received on that day. If the e-mail is sent after business hours or on a non-business day, it will be considered received on the next business day. Saturdays, Sundays and legal holidays are not counted in the computation of the 5 day response period.

Any questions regarding this notice may be referred to the above referenced FOIA officers at (815) 319-4250.