Buffalo Grove Voter Guide: 2021 Consolidated Elections

BUFFALO GROVE, IL — Election Day is almost here. Early voting in the April 6 Consolidated Election got underway on Monday.

Through April 3, residents can early vote at 16 sites in Lake County. In Buffalo Grove, early voting is taking place at William E. Peterson Park, 16652 N Buffalo Grove Road, Prairie View. Voting hours are 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, and closed Sunday. Find a complete list of sites and other election information here.

Ballot drop boxes are also back for Lake County voters at each of the early voting sites. The Lake County Clerk's Office announced last week that it will be following the protocol that was introduced in the 2020 General Election. Voters may walk into the election site with a mask and place their vote by mail ballot at any of the 16 drop boxes. Postage is free.

External drop boxes are currently not being offered for this election until new state legislation provides this option, according to Lake County Clerk Robin M. O'Connor.

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.

COOK COUNTY RESIDENTS

Through April 5, Buffalo Grove residents living in Cook County can early vote at 51 sites. Hours for early voting are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. March 22 to March 27; March 29 to April 2; April 3 and April 5; and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. March 28 and April 4. Find a complete list of locations on the Cook County Clerk's website. Click here to view the wait times for each Early Voting location

As with the November 2020 elections, drop boxes are back. Through April 5, four locations will have ballot drop boxes. Cook County staff will monitor the drop boxes daily during hours of service between 9 a.m.-4 p.m., including weekends. Mail ballots will be collected from the drop boxes a minimum of one time daily or as warranted and delivered to Cook County Elections for processing.

People dropping off mail ballots will be required to adhere to COVID-19 and other safety and security related protocols established for the Cook County courthouses. Drop box locations are:

• Skokie: Skokie Courthouse, 5600 W. Old Orchard Road, Skokie
• Markham: Markham Courthouse, 16501 S. Kedzie Avenue, Markham
• Maywood: Cook County Clerk's Office, Whitcomb Building, 1311 Maybrook Square, Room 104, Maywood
• Downtown Chicago: Cook County Clerk's Office, 69 W. Washington, Suite 500, Chicago

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.

During the early voting period for the April 6 consolidated election (March 22 to April 5), voters can register and vote in person at one of the Cook County Clerk's designated Early Voting locations.

Voters wishing to vote during early voting must bring two pieces of identification to register, one with a current address. Registrants must immediately cast their ballot after registering to vote. On the April 6 Election Day, voters who are not registered to vote can register and vote at their home precinct only. Find your home precinct using the voter information tool. Voters planning on registering to vote or updating their address on Election Day must bring two pieces of identification to register, one with a current address.

BUFFALO VILLAGE BOARD

Ahead of the April 6 consolidated municipal elections, Buffalo Grove Patch provided questionnaires to all candidates on the ballot. See links below for our candidate questionnaires.

Five candidates are vying for three four-year trustee seats on the Buffalo Grove Village Board on Election Day. They include three incumbents (Joanne Johnson, Lester A. Ottenheiimer, III and Andrew Stein) and two challengers (Gowri Magati and Mike Terson).

BUFFALO PARK DISTRICT BOARD

Incumbents Scott Jacobson (vice president) and Tracy H. Bragg (treasurer) are running unopposed for full four-year terms. Incumbent Stephen Cummins is running unopposed for an unexpired two-year term.

TOWNSHIP HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICT 214

Eight candidates are competing for four seats on the Township High School District 214 Board of Education on Election Day. Incumbents Mark Hineman, Mildred Palmer and Leonard Walker are being challenged by Elizabeth Bauer, Richard Menninga, Andrea Rauch, Tony Rosselli and Jackie Ryan.

If you are a candidate running for office, a resident looking to endorse a candidate or just want to weigh in on the election, please do so here.