Randolph County Clerk & Recorder

10/23/2026

🗳️ Did you know? You don’t have to vote for every office or issue on your ballot! You can leave a contest blank, and the rest of your ballot will still be counted.

10/20/2026

Public Test of Voting Equipment - Wednesday, October 28 - 10:00 a.m. in the County Clerk's office

10/20/2026

: The Mississippi's Changing Course
How many different paths has the Mississippi River taken? In 1944, geologist Harold N. Fisk set out to answer that question with a remarkable series of maps tracing thousands of years of the river's movement. Combining historical maps, aerial photographs, and geological surveys, Fisk reconstructed long-abandoned channels and bends, using overlapping colors to show how the river gradually changed its course.
Created for the Mississippi River Commission, the 15-map series stretches from Cape Girardeau, Missouri, to Donaldsonville, Louisiana. The maps distinguish historical river positions recorded in 1765, 1820, 1880, and 1944 from much older channels reconstructed through geological evidence. They reveal how erosion, sediment deposits, and occasional sudden cutoffs have continually reshaped the Mississippi's floodplain. The maps are now held by the American Geographical Society Library at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.
Fisk's work had a practical purpose, too. Understanding where the river had flowed in the past could help engineers anticipate its behavior and plan flood-control and navigation projects. That challenge continues today, as drought and low water levels complicate barge transportation along the Mississippi, while sediment buildup requires ongoing attention to keep shipping channels navigable. More than 80 years later, Fisk's maps remain useful for understanding the Mississippi. Its abandoned channels help explain the landscape we see today, including areas shaped by past flooding and sediment deposits. Studying that history can inform decisions about where to build, how to manage flood risks, and how to maintain the waterways that communities and industries depend on.

10/19/2026

Call us if a member of your family is hospitalized and needs to vote!

🏥 **Hospitalized on Election Day? You may still be able to vote!**

Starting October 19, registered Illinois voters admitted to a hospital, nursing home or rehabilitation center can request that their local election authority personally deliver a vote-by-mail ballot for the General Primary Election.

Learn more at **elections.il.gov**.

10/16/2026

FACT CHECK: This information is misleading, particularly for Illinois voters.

Under Illinois law, election judges are required to initial ballots before issuing them to voters. These initials help verify that the ballot was officially issued. In fact, a ballot missing the required election judge’s initials may be rejected.

Election judges commonly use red ink because it is designed not to interfere with the ballot tabulation equipment.

The ballot itself is prepared and certified through the election authority and the Illinois State Board of Elections.

An election judge’s initials will NOT disqualify your ballot. They are an important safeguard in the election process.

Please verify election information with your local election authority or the Illinois State Board of Elections before sharing alarming claims.

Reference: Illinois Election Code, 10 ILCS 5/17-11 and 24B-10.1.

10/14/2026

Matt is the grandson of former County Clerk Bill Rabe.

10/14/2026

FACT - Election judges put their initials on the top corner of your ballot when they give it to you. This does NOT disqualify your ballot in any way. The initials are written in red so they won't be read by the scanner.

🗳️ FACT CHECK: Election Judge Initials on Ballots

Under Illinois law, election judges must initial ballots before issuing them to voters. These initials help verify that a ballot was officially issued, and ballots missing required initials may be rejected.

🔴 Red ink is commonly used because it is designed not to interfere with ballot tabulation equipment.

Election judge initials do NOT disqualify your ballot. They are an important safeguard in the election process.

Before sharing alarming claims, verify election information with your local election authority or visit elections.il.gov.

10/06/2026

Today (October 6) is the last day to register to vote IN PERSON. You can register online at https://ova.elections.il.gov through midnight on SUNDAY, OCTOBER 18.

10/06/2026

It’s **National Voter Education Week!** 🗳️

Make sure your voter registration is up to date. Verify your registration and update important information, such as your name or address.

Learn more: **ova.elections.il.gov**

10/05/2026

Ask to have your ballot stamped at the counter! You’ll get a local postmark & date.

Important information for vote-by-mail voters 🚨
Mail postmark rules have changed. Ballots are now postmarked when processed, not when you drop them in the mailbox—this can cause 1–2 day delays.
If you’re returning your ballot close to Election Day:
• Request a manual postmark at the post office
• Use a secure drop box
• Deliver directly to your election office
Don’t risk a late postmark. Make sure your vote counts. 🗳️