Early Voting: Everything You Need To Know In Will County

WILL COUNTY, IL — Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 6, but voting has been under way since Sept. 27 at the Will County clerk's office. Countywide, early voting starts Oct. 22.

Before you head to the polls, here's everything you need to know about casting your ballot in the midterm election here in Will County.

Not registered to vote?

Sunday, Oct. 21 was the deadline to register online, but if you forgot, don't despair: Illinois is one of a handful of states that allow same-day registration on Election Day. Just take two forms of identification (one must show your current address) to your voting precinct to register and cast your ballot.

Early voting hours and locations

Early voting starts Monday, Oct. 22 in Will County. Voters do not need to give a reason why they cannot make it to the polls on Election Day. State laws require early voters to provide a valid photo ID to an election official before receiving a ballot to vote early. Valid forms of ID include a current driver's license, a driver's license of state ID, university/college ID or another government-issued ID with a photo, such as a passport.

Any registered voter can cast a ballot at the Will County Clerk's Office, 302 N. Chicago St., as well as certain city, village and township offices throughout the county. Here are some:

• Will County Clerk's Office: 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. through Oct. 26; 9 a.m. to noon Oct. 27; 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Oct. 28; 8:30 to 7 p.m. Oct. 29 to Nov. 2 and Nov. 5; 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Nov. 3; 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Nov. 4.

• Romeoville Village Hall (serving village residents only), 1050 W. Romeo Road: 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays through Oct. 29.

• Plainfield Village Hall (serving village and Plainfield Township residents only), 24401 Lockport St.: 9 to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday through Nov. 2.

Find a full list of early voting sites on the clerk's website.

Grace period voting

Grace period voting — for those who were unable to register to vote or change their address prior to the close of registration — continues through Election Day, and those who opt for grace period voting must vote on the same day they register.

Grace period voting sites are:

• Will County Clerk’s Office

• City of Naperville

• Fountaindale Public Library

• Governors State University

• Joliet Park District

• Wheatland Township

What's on the ballot?

State candidates

Governor/Lieutenant governor

• Bruce Rauner/Evelyn Sanguinetti - Republican

• J.B. Pritzker/Juliana Stratton - Democrat

• Grayson Kash Jackson/Sanjeev Mohip - Libertarian

• William "Sam" McCann/Aaron Merreighn - Conservative

Recent Patch coverage:

• Pritzker Campaign Releases Records Refuting Discrimination Suit
  

• JB Pritzker Spending Nearly Doubles Gov. Rauner In Home Stretch
  

• Illinois Governor Debate: Rauner, Pritzker Meet In Final Showdown

Attorney General

• Erika Harold - Republican

• Kwame Raoul - Democrat

• Bubba Harsy - Libertarian

Recent Patch coverage:

• Illinois AG Candidate Once Said Harassment Leads To Promiscuity

Secretary of State

• Jason Helland - Republican

• Jesse White - Democrat

• Steve Dutner - Libertarian

Comptroller

• Darlene Senger - Republican

• Susana A. Mendoza - Democrat

• Claire Ball - Libertarian

Treasurer

• Jim Dodge - Republican

• Michael Frerichs - Democrat

• Michael Leheney - Libertarian

Representative in Congress, 3rd District

• Arthur J. Jones - Republican

• Daniel William Lipinski - Democrat

• Write-in candidates: Full list here

Patch coverage:

• Sharon's Not Carin' For Neo-Nazi Arthur Jones' Support

• Former Primary Foe Supports Lipinski Over GOP Neo-Nazi Candidate

• 'Holocaust Never Happened,'Art Jones, Republican Congressional Candidate Says

Representative in Congress, 11th District

• Nick Stella - Republican

• Bill Foster - Democrat

Representative in Congress, 14th District

• Randall M. "Randy" Hultgren - Republican

• Lauren Underwood - Democrat

Recent Patch coverage:

• Joe Biden Endorses Underwood For District 14

• Trump/Putin Meetup: Hultgren, GOP Members Slam Press Conference

• Hultgren Fires Aide After Alleged Sexual Encounter With Teen

Representative in Congress, 16th District

• Adam Kinzinger - Republican

• Sara Dady - Democrat

Representative in General Assembly, 86th District

• Rick Laib - Republican

• Lawrence "Larry" Walsh Jr.

Representative in General Assembly, 97th District

• Mark Batinick - Republican

• Mica Freeman - Democrat

Representative in the General Assembly, 98th District

• Alyssia Benford - Republican

• Natalie Manley - Democrat

Will County candidates

Clerk

• Laurie McPhillips - Republican

• Lauren Staley-Ferry - Democrat

Recent Patch coverage:

• Laurie McPhillips Gets 2 Big Will County Clerk Endorsements
  

• Staley-Ferry Thanks 'Organized Labor' For Clerk Victor
  

• Forgery Distracts Lauren Staley-Ferry's County Clerk Campaign

Treasurer

• Steve Weber - Republican

• Timothy M. Brophy - Democrat

Sheriff

• Jim Reilly - Republican

• Mike Kelley - Democrat

Recent Patch coverage:

• Reilly Aims To Beat Will County Sheriff Kelley

Judge, 12th Circuit (filling vacancy of Hon. Daniel J. Rozak)

• Ben Braun - Republican

• David Garcia - Democrat

Judge, 12th Circuit (filling vacancy of Hon. Carla Alessio Policandriotes)

• Victoria McKay Kennison - Republican

• Vincent Cornelius - Democrat

County Board District 1 (vote for 2)

• Judy Ogalla - Republican

• Laurie Summers - Democrat

• Bob Howard - Democrat

County Board District 2 (vote for 2)

• James (Jim) Moustis - Republican

• Keith Ogle - Republican

• Amanda L. Koch - Democrat

County Board District 4 (vote for 2)

• Christian John Cairy (withdrew as of 6/21/18, objection pending, appointed to fill vacancy) - Republican

• Jacqueline L. Traynere - Democrat

• Kenneth Harris - Democrat

County Board District 5 (vote for 2)

• Gretchen Fritz - Republican

• Darren Bennefield - Republican

• Meta Mueller - Democrat

• Mazyar M. Hedayat - Democrat

County Board District 6 (vote for 2)

• Don Gould - Republican

• Debbie Militello - Republican

• Joe VanDuyne - Democrat

County Board District 7 (vote for 2)

• Stephen J. Balich - Republican

• Mike Fricilone - Republican

• Kyle P. Killacky - Democrat

County Board District 9 (vote for 2)

• Annete Parker - Republican

• Rachel F. Ventura - Democrat

• Jim Murphy - Democrat

County Board District 11 (vote for 2)

• Julie Anne Berkowicz - Republican

• Kathy Havel - Republican

• Michelle "Mimi" Cowan - Democrat

• Jim Kopchok (appointed to fill vacancy) - Democrat

Referenda

In Will County, referenda include the White Oak Library tax rate increase question, the Minooka Community Consolidated School District No. 201 proposition to issue $50 million in school building bonds and the New Lenox Fire District tax increase question.

Find a full list of Will County referenda for the Nov. 6 ballot election here.

Election Day - Nov. 6, 2018

The polls are open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 6. Not sure where you vote? You can find your Will County polling place here. How do you know if your polling place has changed? A list of polling place changes is posted here.

After the polls close, you can head back to Patch as the vote totals roll in. Vote totals will also be on the Will County clerk website. According to the Will County clerk, the Will County portion of the City of Aurora is now included in its election results.

Remember that all vote totals are unofficial and winners are projected until the clerk's office has tabulated all results, including provisional ballots from Election Day and vote by mail ballots postmarked by Election Day. Those votes will be posted 14 days after Election Day, and 21 calendar days after an election, the results are canvassed and become official.

Also: If you voted by mail, you can check the status of your vote here.

Photo via Shutterstock