Palatine Voter Guide 2020

PALATINE, IL — Early voting kicks off Monday in Palatine and across Cook County. According to the Village of Palatine, early voting will take place (in Palatine) at 150 W. Wilson Street.

Early voting will run Monday through Nov. 2, with voting hours of 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday and Sunday. According to the village, a secure ballot drop box will be located at the early voting location (150 W. Wilson St.) and will be available only during early voting hours.

Polls on Election Day (Nov. 3) will be open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m.

A complete list of Cook County drop boxes can be found here. The CCCO said it will be updated when new locations are added or with any changes.

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Local races include the race for a spot in Illinois's 8th District in the U.S. House of Representatives between Raja Krishnamoorthi (Incumbent) (Democratic Party) and Preston Nelson (Libertarian).

Jeanne M. Ives (Republican Party) and Bill Redpath (Libertarian Party) are up against Sean Casten (Incumbent) (Democratic Party) for a spot in the state's 6th District in the U.S. House of Representatives.

The basics

• Election date: Nov. 3
• Registration deadline(s): Nov. 3 (in person); Oct. 18 (online)
• Online registration: Yes
• Same-day registration: Yes
• Early voting started: Sept. 24 (ends Nov. 2)
• Absentee/mail voting deadline(s): Nov. 3 (postmarked); Nov. 17 (received)

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Voter registration

Not sure if you're already registered to vote? You can find out here.

The deadline to register to vote online is Sunday, Oct 18 (the postmark deadline to register by mail was Oct. 6).

Voter Registration 2020 In Illinois: 5 Things To Know

If you're voting by mail

• Voting by mail is available to all Illinois voters before Election Day. Voters can request a vote-by-mail ballot through the mail or in person.
• Everyone who has voted in any election since November 2018, and who has registered to vote or has updated their voter registration since March 18, 2018, was sent an application to request a vote-by-mail ballot.
• The first day to file an application to vote by mail was June 16. The last day is Oct. 29.
• Voters can file their application to vote by mail online by sending it via mail to their county clerk's office or by dropping it off in person at the county clerk's office.

What to do with your mail-in ballot

• Ballots will come with a return envelope and can be returned by mail.
• Those who have concerns about their ballots being shipped via the U.S. Postal Service can also drop off completed ballots at drop boxes in their voting jurisdiction. (Find a list below)
• Ballots must be postmarked by Election Day, Nov. 3, or they will not be counted. If a ballot envelope is placed in a mail drop box on or near Election Day, that envelope may be postmarked late and will not be eligible to be counted.

Where are the mail-in ballot drop boxes?

• Suburban Cook County (See above for Palatine's)
• Chicago/Cook County
• DuPage County: Drop box at the parking lot and main entrance of the Jack T. Knuepfer Administration Building, 421 N. County Farm Road in Wheaton, or any DuPage County early voting site and polling place. List of early voting sites and polling places here.
• Kane County
• Kendall County
• Lake County
• McHenry County: McHenry County Administration Building, 667 Ware Road, Woodstock
• Will County

Voting in person

• If you've voted in Illinois before, you don't need to provide ID to vote
• You may need an ID if:
  • You registered to vote by mail and did not provide ID
  • An election judge challenges your right to vote.
  • If you are also registering to vote or changing your registration address on the day that you vote
• Poll times: 6 a.m. to 7 p.m.

• If you are already in line to vote when the polls close, you still have the right to cast your ballot
• Where to vote: Find your polling place here (you can also find this and a sample ballot on your county clerk's website).
• Staying safe: Aside from wearing a mask and staying 6 feet away from other voters, you can also minimize risk by voting early to avoid long lines to vote.

You Can Vote Safely In Person Despite Coronavirus. Here's How.

What and who are on the ballot?

• Fair tax amendment: This "yes or no" ballot initiative will ask voters to approve a change to the state constitution that will allow lawmakers to set a graduated income tax rather than the flat tax that currently exits.
• Presidential race: While the ballot contains candidates from the Green party, Party for Socialism and Liberation, American Solidarity party and Libertarian party, it comes down to President Donald Trump/Vice President Mike Pence vs. Democratic former Vice President Joe Biden/U.S. Sen. Kamala Harris.
• U.S. Senate: Incumbent Democrat Dick Durban faces off against Republican Mark C. Curran Jr., Willie Wilson (of the Willie Wilson Party), Green party candidate David F. Black and Libertarian Danny Malouf.
• See above for local races.

Related: Illinois Voters Asked To Decide 'Fair Tax': What You Need To Know