McHenry County, Illinois

McHenry County Clerk

2 candidates are tracked for McHenry County Clerk on the November 3, 2026 ballot: Joe Tirio and Bill McNeese. Candidate information follows official McHenry County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.

About this race

Republican incumbent Joe Tirio and Democrat Bill McNeese each ran unopposed for their party's nomination on March 17, 2026 (Tirio 14,508 votes, McNeese 23,188 votes), per the McHenry County Clerk's official primary results reported by Shaw Local's Northwest Herald. They meet on the November 3, 2026 ballot.

What this office does

County clerk. The county clerk keeps the county board's official records and minutes and, depending on the state, issues marriage licenses, business filings and vehicle registrations. In many states the county clerk also runs elections: voter registration, ballots, polling places and the certification of local results.

This race. Every voter in McHenry County votes on this seat.

Illinois › McHenry County › McHenry County Clerk

Joe Tirio

Republican

Top priorities

Merit-based hiring free of politics in the clerk's office
Reduce waste through improved office processes
Encourage broader civic engagement in local government

Per the campaign site.

Biography

Joe Tirio spent more than 20 years in corporate leadership roles at Ameritech/SBC/AT&T, Abbott Labs and Alight before entering county government, per Joe Tirio campaign site. He was first elected McHenry County Recorder in 2016 and County Clerk in 2018, per McHenry County Blog.

Campaign site (opens in a new tab)

Bill McNeese

Democratic

Top priorities

Increase voter turnout and protect election administration
Safeguard county records
Build an accessible, taxpayer-respectful clerk's office

Per the campaign site.

Biography

Bill McNeese is a U.S. Navy veteran and small-business owner with a bachelor's degree in business administration focused on economics and an MBA in small business, per Democratic Party of McHenry County press release. He is a father of three, per Democratic Party of McHenry County press release.

Campaign site (opens in a new tab)

Next on your ballotMcHenry County Treasurer

See your full ballot

Voting info and more

Questions about this race

Who is running for McHenry County Clerk in 2026?

When is the McHenry County Clerk election in Illinois?

Election Day is Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Registration deadlines, early voting dates and mail ballot rules for Illinois are on the Illinois election hub at theballotbrief.com.

How do I see my exact McHenry County ballot?

Enter your ZIP code in the lookup at theballotbrief.com for the statewide and congressional races, or a full street address to add the county, city and district contests for that location.

Verify this race

Candidate roster from official McHenry County and state election office filings, last verified October 1, 2026. Bios and priorities carry their attribution inline.

Cross-check with the official Illinois election office, or see the full McHenry County sample ballot and your exact ballot by address.

The rest of your McHenry County ballot

23 tracked races in McHenry County, Illinois. Landed here from another county's search? Look up your own ballot below.

Also on your ballot

McHenry County Regional Superintendent of Schools McHenry County Board District 1 McHenry County Board District 2 See all 23 McHenry County races

Candidate profiles

Joe Tirio, full profile Bill McNeese, full profile Official Illinois election office