About Our Office
The Rockford Board of Election Commissioners
Our mission is to serve the public by conducting impartial, open
and honest elections and to maintain a system of permanent
registration of voters as dictated by Illinois and Federal
laws.
The Rockford Board of Election Commissioners is responsible for
election operations within the city limits of Rockford, IL. The
commission was established in 1910 by a vote of the citizens of
Rockford in order to provide an accurate and unbiased election as
well as to maintain an accurate and up-to-date list of registered
voters.
By statute, the election commission is run under the auspices of
a bi-partisan commission consisting of three persons. Presently
they are Ryan Brauns, Chairman, Russell Taylor, and Wendell Coates,
Secretary.
The commission is an independent body. The commissioners are
appointed by the Circuit Court and serve a three year term. The
terms are staggered with one commissioner up for re-appointment
each year.
The commission through its executive director, Kenneth Harper,
oversees:
- recruiting and training of election judges
- training and certification of deputy registrars
- voter registration
- district re-mapping
- precinct re-districting
- maintaining and safeguarding records including signature cards
and ballots
- election operations