SPRINGFIELD, ILLINOIS — With less than a week until Election Day, Sangamon County wants to make sure everyone exercises their right to vote, including the unhoused community.

Sangamon County Clerk Don Gray told me the county works closely with the organization Helping Hands to ensure the unhoused community can vote.

Illinois law allows the county to use a shelter or private residence as long as the unhoused person receives mail.

Gray stressed the importance of ensuring that unhoused people have the opportunity to participate in democracy.

“We are working closely with Helping Hands administration to ensure these individuals receive the mail,” Gray said. “Making them qualified to be able to register to vote and vote from this facility.”

Gray added that they have received few unhoused voters this election cycle, but the county still wants to have a plan in place to help them.

Sangamon County residents can still participate in early voting until November 4, and mailed ballots must be postmarked by October 31.