Voter Registration Climbs In McHenry County Ahead Of November

McHENRY COUNTY, IL — More than 220,000 voters are now registered in McHenry County ahead of the November general election, with voter registration up by more than 15,000 compared with the same point two years ago.

As of Aug. 20, McHenry County had 220,319 registered voters, McHenry County Clerk Joseph Tirio told Patch. That compares with 205,115 registered voters on Aug. 20, 2024 — an increase of about 7.4%.

Registration has also increased in several of the county's largest communities. Crystal Lake has 29,168 registered voters, while Cary has 12,932, Algonquin has 15,961 and Lake in the Hills has 18,925.

The number of voters signed up for permanent vote-by-mail status has grown as well. The county had 31,846 permanent vote-by-mail voters as of Aug. 20, compared with 28,257 at the same point in 2024 — an increase of about 12.7%.

The numbers come as candidates and campaigns turn their attention toward the Nov. 3 general election. Voters will face races ranging from Congress and the Illinois General Assembly to McHenry County government.

The county has also published its 2026 general-election candidate list, which can be found here.

McHenry County voters will be choosing candidates for:

• U.S. House of Representatives
• Illinois Senate
• Illinois House of Representatives
• McHenry County Board
• Other countywide offices and local races appearing on individual voters' ballots

The exact races vary by precinct and district and you can check out your sample ballot online.

Here is a look at key dates for the upcoming election:

• Sept. 24: Deadline for election authorities to receive vote-by-mail applications by mail.
• Early voting: Monday, Oct. 19, through Monday Nov. 2.
• Nov. 3: General Election Day.

How to register to vote

McHenry County residents can register to vote online through the Illinois State Board of Elections. The county also allows eligible residents to register in person, including at the polls. Voters who have moved since the last election should update their registration as well.

Voters can check their registration status, find their polling place and generate a sample ballot showing the specific candidates and referenda on their ballot through the McHenry County Clerk's voter-information page.