Mercer County, Illinois
Voting in Mercer County, Illinois? Find registration links, ID rules, early and absentee voting options and your sample ballot here. Home to about 15,300 people, Mercer County ranks 70th in population among Illinois's 102 counties. In Illinois, elections are run by local election authorities: usually the county clerk, or a board of election commissioners in some cities and counties.
Next Election
March 21, 2028
Voter Portal
Register Online
What's On My Ballot?
ID Requirements
Absentee / Early Voting
Registration Deadline
Register by mail at least 28 days before an election or online until 16 days before; grace-period and same-day registration are also available in person through Election Day.
Why Voting Matters
Voting is how Mercer County residents shape the decisions made in their name. The next election for Mercer County voters is Illinois's general primary on March 21, 2028; local elections can come sooner, so check your local election office. Many Mercer County jobs are in manufacturing and health care, so decisions about manufacturing jobs and health care costs hit close to home.
In the 2024 presidential election, about 8,340 ballots were cast in Mercer County, down about 6% from 8,910 in 2020. With roughly 12,300 adults living in the county, that is around 68% of adult residents, above the statewide rate of about 56%.
That means roughly 3,940 adult residents did not cast a presidential ballot. Some are not eligible, but many are, and that is a lot of untapped power. If just one in 20 of them voted, Mercer County would add about 197 voices, more than enough to decide a close local race.
Covering about 561 square miles with roughly 27 people per square mile, Mercer County is the kind of rural community where a few dozen votes can settle a local election. The county is home to about 0.1% of Illinois's population.
ZIP codes in or partly in Mercer County include 61231, 61259, 61260, 61262, 61263, 61264, 61272 and 61273, plus 11 more. Confirm your registration, read through your sample ballot before Election Day, and choose whether you will vote early, by mail or in person. Invite someone you know in Mercer County to join you.
Voter Assistance Resources
Questions about voting in Mercer County? In Illinois, elections are run by local election authorities: usually the county clerk, or a board of election commissioners in some cities and counties. For registration, polling places, early voting and absentee ballots, contact the Mercer County election authority (county clerk or board of election commissioners).
Statewide directory, Illinois State Board of Elections' election authorities list:
https://www.elections.il.gov/electionoperations/ElectionAuthorities.aspx
See your sample ballot. Illinois election authorities list (your local election authority posts sample ballots):
https://www.elections.il.gov/electionoperations/ElectionAuthorities.aspx
You can also preview a personalized ballot at Vote411.org.
To ask a question or report a problem at the polls, call or text Election Protection at 866-OUR-VOTE (866-687-8683), a free nonpartisan hotline. For help in Spanish call 888-VE-Y-VOTA (888-839-8682); for Asian languages call 888-API-VOTE (888-274-8683).
Voters with disabilities in Mercer County can ask for an accessible voting machine, curbside voting where offered, and help from a person of their choice. If you run into barriers, contact Equip for Equality, Illinois's Protection and Advocacy agency, at (800) 537-2632. VoteRiders (844-338-8743) offers free help with voter ID.
Need a ride? Many local transit agencies and ride services offer free or discounted rides to the polls on Election Day, so check what is available before the next election. See our Illinois voter page for statewide options. Details can change, so confirm with the official election office.
Military and overseas voters can get help from the Federal Voting Assistance Program at 1-800-438-VOTE (8683) or fvap.gov.
Sign up to be an election worker
Election workers (often called poll workers) keep voting running smoothly in Mercer County. Most are paid for their time, get free training, and help their neighbors cast their ballots. You can work a full day, a shorter shift, or help before Election Day. County and municipal election offices recruit and train their own workers, and the EAC's Help America Vote page links to yours. Find out how to sign up:
https://www.eac.gov/help-america-vote
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