How to get the Cook County voter file
Request it from the office below, send us the file, and you're ready to cut turf. Running countywide or in just part of Cook County? This is the office either way.
- Where to request it
- Cook County Clerk's Office — Elections Department(312) 603-0906 (election data orders) | (312) 603-0900 (Elections general) | [email protected] | 69 W. Washington St., 5th Floor, Chicago, IL 60602
- Cost
- Quoted by request — not published online. Typical Cook structure is a setup fee + per-record charge; call to confirm current rate. Printed precinct poll sheets are no-charge.
- How to request
- Phone the Elections Department at (312) 603-0906 to place an order. Requester must be a registered IL political committee or governmental entity (Form D-1 evidence required). Sworn affidavit attesting to bona fide political purpose. Available formats: printed precinct poll sheets (free, names + addresses only) OR full electronic file with vote history (committees/government only, paid).
- Turnaround
- Typically 1-2 weeks after affidavit + payment.
- Use restrictions
- Same statutory framework as state — committees/government only, bona fide political purpose affidavit, no commercial use, no resale. Cook County Clerk's jurisdiction covers ~1.4M voters in the 30 suburban Cook townships ONLY. Does NOT include the City of Chicago — that file must be requested separately from Chicago BOEC.
Costs and rules change, so confirm the current details with the office before you order. Once you have the file, we handle loading it, cutting turf, and getting your volunteers knocking.
Prefer the whole-state file, or running in a county not listed here? See the Illinois statewide options.
Cook County at a glance.
Cook County had an estimated 5,182,617 residents in July 2024, the most populous of Illinois's 102 counties, down 1.8% since the 2020 census. Of those, 4,129,421 are 18 or older, the voting-age population, and 16.8% are 65 or older. It covers 945 square miles of land (5,485 people per square mile).
The largest cities and towns are Chicago (part) (2,721,308), Cicero (82,090), Schaumburg (part) (77,099), Evanston (76,006) and Arlington Heights (75,596). The American Community Survey (2020-2024) puts it at a median age of 38.0, a median household income of $83,498, 42.7% of adults 25 and older holding a bachelor's degree or higher and 57.7% of occupied homes owned by the people living in them. In 2024, 2,056,800 votes were cast for president, about 49.8% of the voting-age population; the Democratic ticket took 70.4% and the Republican ticket 28.4%.
The two-party margin moved from D+53.4 in 2008 to D+42.0 in 2024.
- Population (2024 estimate)
- 5,182,617
- Population (2020 census base)
- 5,278,969
- Voting-age population (18+)
- 4,129,421
- Residents 65 and older
- 16.8%
- People per square mile
- 5,485
- Land area
- 945 sq mi
- Median age
- 38.0
- Median household income
- $83,498
- Adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree
- 42.7%
- Owner-occupied homes
- 57.7%
Largest cities and towns
- Chicago (part) 2,721,308
- Cicero 82,090
- Schaumburg (part) 77,099
- Evanston 76,006
- Arlington Heights 75,596
Presidential vote, 2008–2024
| Year | Democratic | Republican | Margin | Votes cast |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 70.4% | 28.4% | D+42.0 | 2,056,800 |
| 2020 | 74.4% | 24.0% | D+50.4 | 2,321,399 |
| 2016 | 74.4% | 21.4% | D+53.0 | 2,055,215 |
| 2012 | 74.0% | 24.6% | D+49.4 | 1,944,401 |
| 2008 | 76.2% | 22.8% | D+53.4 | 2,137,466 |
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau Vintage 2024 population estimates and 2024 Gazetteer; American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates; certified county presidential returns. Growth, density and turnout are simple arithmetic on those figures.
Get set up in Cook County
Tell us about your race and we'll help you get the Cook County voter file loaded into Motion51 and your turf ready to walk.