New Law Will Allow Some 17-Year-Olds to Vote in Primary

The following news release was issued by the Will County Clerk's office:

Nancy Schultz Voots, Will County Clerk, reminded voters that a new Illinois law will take effect on Jan. 1, 2014, allowing 17-year-olds to vote in primary elections if they will turn 18 on or before the next General Election.

A person who is 17 years old on the date of a Primary Election, and who is otherwise qualified to vote, may vote at the Primary, including voting by absentee, grace period, or early voting ballot with respect to that Primary, if that person will be 18 years old on the date of the immediately following General Election.

“Let’s get our children talking about current affairs at the dinner table,” says Voots. “Parents and teachers need to stress the importance of getting eligible teens registered to vote and of voting at every election. Each vote does count, and voting is a way to speak your mind. It’s a way to control our future 
and it’s a way to honor our history.”

Individuals can register to vote at the Will County Clerk’s Office, 302 N. Chicago Street. Registrations are also taken at the Secretary of State Driver’s License facility when applying for a driver’s license or state ID card. Many schools and libraries have registrars available for registration. There is also a mail-in registration form on the County Clerk’s website at www.thewillcountyclerk.com.

When registering in person, two forms of identification are required; at least one must show the registrant’s name and current address.

Upcoming elections in Will County include the General Primary on March 18, 2014 and the General Election on Nov. 4, 2014. The deadline for registering to vote in the Primary Election is Feb. 18, 2014.

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