Lemont Voter Guide 2020

LEMONT, IL — With early voting and voting-by-mail numbers expected to reach record levels, many residents are indicating that they're very interested in the upcoming Nov. 3 election. Several mail-in voting drop boxes have been installed around Cook County, including one at Lemont Township, 1115 Warner Ave.

The drop boxes will circumvent the USPS as the mail ballots will be securely delivered directly to the clerk's office, according to its website. Voters can drop off their completed mail ballots between 8:30 a.m. and 7 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 9 a.m.-5 p.m. on weekends at the drop boxes located at early voting sites in Cook County. Mail ballots will be collected on a daily basis and will be time stamped.

Early voting in Illinois also began last month, although early voting in-person at Lemont Township will not begin until Oct. 19. Early voting hours for Lemont Township will be:

• Oct. 19 - Oct. 23: 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m.
• Oct. 24: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Oct. 25: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Oct. 26 - Oct. 30: 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m.
• Oct. 31: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Nov. 1: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Nov. 2: 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m.

In addition to voting on president, some state and local races, voters are being asked to vote on the Graduated Income Tax Amendment.

• A "yes" vote supports repealing the state's constitutional requirement that the state personal income tax be a flat rate and instead allow the state to enact legislation for a graduated income tax.
• A "no" vote opposes this constitutional amendment, thus continuing to require that the state personal income tax be a flat rate and prohibit a graduated income tax.

Cook County races include:

• Cook County State's Attorney: Kim Foxx, Patrick 'Pat' O'Brien, or Brian Deenehy
• Clerk of the Circuit Court: Iris Martinez or Barbara Bellar

To view your sample ballot and see all the races on the ballot, including judge openings, go to the county clerk's website.

Lemont voters will also see a local referendum question from District 113A on their ballot. The referendum will ask voters to approve a 29 cent operating rate increase, but voters' property taxes would not increase, according to a release from the district.

If approved, the funds would allow the district to reopen Central School, add full-day kindergarten, reduce class sizes and add teachers and staff. According to a release, the district would also purchase important classroom and curricular materials, enhance student security and safety and provide additional student support services, including social workers, guidance counselors and psychologists.

The question will read:

Shall the limiting rate under the Property Tax Extension Limitation Law for Lemont-Bromberek Combined School District 113A, Cook and DuPage Counties, Illinois be increased by an additional amount equal to 0.2900% above the limiting rate for school purposes for levy year 2019 and be equal to 2.124% of the equalized assessed value of the taxable property therein for levy year 2020?" 1) The approximate amount of taxes extendable at the most recently extended limiting rate is $22,112,851 and the approximate amount of taxes extendable if the proposition is approved is $25,609,431. 2) For the 2020 levy year the approximate amount of the additional tax extendable against property containing a single-family residence and having a fair market value at the time of the referendum of $100,000 is estimated to be $96.57 for DuPage County and $84.56 for Cook County. 3) If the proposition is approved, the aggregate extension for 2020 will be determined by the limiting rate set forth in the proposition, rather than the otherwise applicable limiting rate calculated under the provisions of the Property Tax Extension Limitation Law (commonly known as the Property Tax Cap Law).

Related: Illinois Mail-In Voting: How To Get A Ballot, Drop Box Locations