Macoupin County Clerk

Macoupin County Clerk Pete Duncan serves as Macoupin County Clerk. We handle all your election, vital records, recording needs.

09/06/2026

What happens when you walk into your polling place on Election Day? How do you actually vote?

This week’s Macoupin County Election University walks through the process from start to finish. Checking in with the election judges, getting the correct ballot, marking your choices, and putting your ballot through the scanner.

We also cover a few common questions, including whether you need an ID and what happens if you make a mistake on your ballot.

If you’ve never voted before, haven’t voted in a while, or are just curious about what happens at the polling place, take a few minutes to check it out.

08/31/2026

THIS DAY IN LINCOLN HISTORY On August 31, 1858, Abraham Lincoln arrives by train to Carlinville, Illinois, and at three o'clock in the afternoon at a place called Morton's Grove, he delivers a speech about the future of slavery in the United States.

A local newspaper reports that Lincoln's speech is "honest, logical and telling." John M. Palmer, an attorney and a former member of the Illinois State Senate, follows Lincoln on the program and makes "one of his usual side-splitting speeches, dealing terrible blows to the bogus-Democracy in every sentence."

The boulder marks the site of Lincoln's speech during his race for the U.S. Senate against Stephen A. Douglas. It was recorded that there was a small audience on hand to hear his speech since he was not very well known in the area, and the principals he espoused were not popular in Macoupin County. It was estimated that less than 100 people were on hand to hear the Springfield lawyer.

Info and photo from the Carlinville Library, plus info from the Carlinville Free Democrat (IL), 2 September 1858, 2:4-5; Speech at Carlinville, Illinois, 31 August 1858, CW, 3:77-81. https://thelincolnlog.org

Learn more about visiting historic Carlinville, IL at:
https://cityofcarlinville.com/tourism/

08/26/2026

Why does your neighbor have a different ballot than you? And why might you drive past one polling place to get to the one where you're supposed to vote?

In the latest episode of Macoupin County Election University, we explain how your address, election districts and precinct boundaries determine which races appear on your ballot and where you're assigned to vote on Election Day.

The simple version: Your address determines your districts. Your districts determine your ballot. And your precinct determines your polling place.

Watch the latest episode to learn why!

Interested in Running for Local Office in 2027?Petition packets are now available for candidates interested in running i...
08/25/2026

Interested in Running for Local Office in 2027?

Petition packets are now available for candidates interested in running in the 2027 local elections.

If you’re considering running for school board, alderperson, village trustee, library board, fire district board, or park district board, now is the time to pick up your packet and review the requirements for getting your name on the ballot.

Petition packets are available online at www.macoupinvotes.gov/for-candidates/petition-packets/

We’re proud to share that the Macoupin County Clerk’s Office has earned certification in the Funding and Budgets Standar...
08/24/2026

We’re proud to share that the Macoupin County Clerk’s Office has earned certification in the Funding and Budgets Standard for Excellence through the U.S. Alliance for Election Excellence.

The standard looks at how election offices plan for what it takes to run elections, budget for future needs, find outside funding when possible and make responsible use of taxpayer dollars.

Those are things we’ve worked hard on here in Macoupin County.

Since I took office, we’ve secured more than $1.4 million in grant funding for elections. Those dollars have helped us replace voting equipment, improve technology and security, and establish our Voting Center without putting the full cost on local taxpayers.

At the same time, our combined County Clerk & Recorder and election-related General Fund budget has grown just 11.3% since 2010 — less than 1% per year on average.

There’s always more work to do, but I’m proud of what those numbers say about how we’ve tried to balance investing in our elections with being careful about how we spend public dollars.

Macoupin County was one of the nation’s first ten Centers for Election Excellence in 2022, and we’ll keep working toward certification in other areas of election administration.

Learn more about the Funding and Budgets Standard:
https://electionexcellence.org/standards/funding-and-budgets/

With just 10 weeks until Election Day, if you want to vote by mail, you can request your mail ballot today. Ballots go i...
08/23/2026

With just 10 weeks until Election Day, if you want to vote by mail, you can request your mail ballot today. Ballots go in the mail starting September 24th. And if you are already on the permanent vote by mail list, your ballot will also be mailed to you then. Visit https:// www.macoupinvotes.gov/ballotrequest/ to apply for just this election or join the permanent vote by mail list.

Macoupin County’s FY 2026–2027 Budget has been adopted — and there are a few numbers worth highlighting.The County’s Gen...
08/21/2026

Macoupin County’s FY 2026–2027 Budget has been adopted — and there are a few numbers worth highlighting.

The County’s General Fund budget for the coming year totals approximately $10.88 million, an increase of 5.1% over last year’s budget.

But there’s an important story behind that number.

Nearly all of this year’s increase is being driven by salaries and employee benefits, which are budgeted to increase 6.3%. In fact, all other General Fund spending combined is increasing by less than 1%.

At the same time, the County continues to make important investments in public safety. The new spending plan provides for improved technology for the Macoupin County Sheriff’s Department, while previously reserved funds will be used to replace three Sheriff’s Department vehicles with brand-new vehicles.

The County is also continuing to take a conservative approach when estimating future revenue. While Macoupin County anticipates additional property tax revenue from wind energy development in the years ahead, we are not counting on those dollars before they are actually realized.

The County also enters the new fiscal year with strong reserve balances and a Budget Stabilization Fund built through years of disciplined budgeting, providing an important financial cushion as we deal with rising costs and economic uncertainty.

Developing this year’s budget was not an easy process. Rising personnel and benefit costs and other financial pressures presented real challenges, but months of work by the Finance Committee and County Board resulted in a spending plan that maintains essential services, makes needed investments and holds the growth of other General Fund spending to less than 1%.

And as always, we believe residents should be able to see the numbers for themselves.

Explore the complete FY 2026–2027 Macoupin County Budget at https://county-macoupin-il-cleardoc.cleargov.com/26864/1100206/d

08/20/2026

“What political party am I registered with?”

In Illinois, the answer is you aren’t!

In this episode of Macoupin County Election University, we explain why political party isn’t part of your voter registration, how choosing a party ballot in a Primary Election affects your voting history, and why you don’t have to “change parties” before voting in a different party’s primary.

The important distinction: your voting history may show which party ballot you requested, but it never shows who you actually voted for.

Watch the latest episode to learn how Illinois’ system works.

As required by state law, our office has mailied a Voting Plan Postcard to registered voters who are not already on the ...
08/17/2026

As required by state law, our office has mailied a Voting Plan Postcard to registered voters who are not already on the Permanent Vote by Mail List and who have not provided our office with an email address.

The postcard is designed to put your voting options all in one place. It includes:
• A Vote by Mail application if you would like to have a ballot mailed to you
• Early Voting information if you prefer to vote in person before Election Day
• Your Election Day polling place

You do not have to vote by mail just because you receive the postcard — it is simply meant to help you make your voting plan and know your options.

One important request: If you receive a postcard addressed to a registered voter who no longer lives at your address, please contact our office right away. We can work with you to determine the appropriate steps and help keep our voter registration records accurate.

Our goal is to make sure every Macoupin County voter has the information they need to make a plan and cast their ballot.

Address

201 E Main Street, PO Box 107
Carlinville, IL
62626

Opening Hours

Monday 8:30am - 4:30pm
Tuesday 8:30am - 4:30pm
Wednesday 8:30am - 4:30pm
Thursday 8:30am - 4:30pm
Friday 8:30am - 4:30pm

Telephone

+12178543214

Website

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