BATAVIA, IL — Early voting is underway, and Election Day is less than a month away. In Batavia, early voting is taking place at the Kane County Clerk’s Office, 719 S. Batavia Ave., in Geneva, and the clerk’s Aurora satellite office, 5 E. Downer Place.
Early voting will expand to these locations starting Oct. 24 in Kane County:
- Batavia Government Center, 100 N. Island Ave. in Batavia
- Campton Community Center, 5N082 Old LaFox Road in Campton Hills
- Kane County Branch Court Conference Center, 530 S Randall Road in St. Charles
The hours of operation for these locations can be found on the Kane County Clerk’s Office website.
Early voting will also open at various mobile locations on Oct. 24. Mobile voting will be available at the Jewel-Osco, 19 S. Randall Road in Batavia, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Oct. 24-25 as well as at the Jewel-Osco, 652 Kirk Road in St. Charles, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Oct. 26. All mobile locations, and the dates the locations will be open for voting, can be found on the Kane County Clerk’s Office website.
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 or state ID, university/college ID or another government-issued ID with a photo, such as a passport.
Mail-in ballot drop boxes are also available inside the Kane County Clerk’s Office in Geneva, the clerk’s office satellite office in Aurora and in Elgin, at 150 Dexter Court. The Kane County Clerk’s Office website has more information on when voters can drop the ballots off. The deadline to request a mail-in ballot is Nov. 3.
If you’re not registered to vote, you can register online through Oct. 23. If you want to register by mail, your application must be postmarked by Oct. 11. Voters can also register to vote on election day at your polling place.
If you’re not sure if you’re already registered, you can check online.
On Election Day, polls are open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. Mail-in ballots must also be postmarked by Election Day, Nov. 8.
What’s On The Nov. 8 Ballot
From the governor’s race to secretary of state to attorney general, here’s a look at what’s on the ballot across Illinois.
Locally, Kane County Sheriff Ron Hain, a Democrat, will be seeking a second term in this year’s general election. He will be challenged by Republican newcomer Jeffrey Bodin, a deputy with the sheriff’s office who has 15 years of law enforcement experience.
Jack Cunningham, a Republican, has served as the Kane County Clerk for the past 20 years and is being challenged this election by newcomer Nicolas Jimenez, a Democrat.
Other races that will appear on Kane County voters’ ballots this election include:
- The governor’s race will be among the top-watched races this election. Democratic Gov. J.B. Pritzker will face State Sen. Darren Bailey, his Republican challenger in next month’s election. Pritzker secured his first term by a 15-point margin four years ago. In recent polls, Pritzker’s lead over Bailey ranges from 5 to 15 points.
- Democratic incumbent Kwame Raoul succeeded former attorney general, Lisa Madigan, when he was first elected as Illinois Attorney General in 2019. Now he is seeking a second term, and will face Republican challenger Thomas DeVore. DeVore, a lawyer who lives near downstate Sorento, has been in the spotlight since before the election cycle when he publicly went after Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker and his COVID-19 pandemic restrictions. The next attorney general could play a big role in several controversial issues, including LGBTQ rights, the SAFE-T Act and abortion rights, according to Illinois Public Radio. Government corruption and gun violence will also be hot-button topics for those running.
- 8th Congressional District: Democratic incumbent Raja Krishnamoorthi will be seeking his fourth term in the U.S. House of Representatives, representing Illinois’ 8th Congressional District. He will be challenged by newcomer Chris Dargis, a businessman and retired Navy officer.
- 11th Congressional District: Republican Catalina Lauf beat five other candidates in June’s primary race and now is aimed at unseating Democrat Rep. Bill Foster in the 11th Congressional District race.
- 14th Congressional District: Lauren Underwood, who made history in 2018 when she became the youngest Black woman elected to Congress at age 32, is seeking a second term representing Illinois’ 14th Congressional District. Scott Gryder, current chair of the Kendall County Board, is looking to unseat Underwood.
Illinois voters are also asked to weigh in on an amendment to the state constitution allowing workers the right to organize and bargain collectively.
The bill, which was drafted by the Illinois General Assembly in 2021, provides that “employees shall have the fundamental right to bargain collectively through representatives of their own choosing for the purpose of negotiating wages, hours and working conditions and to “protect their economic welfare and safety at work.”
In order for the measure to pass, 60 percent of Illinois voters will need to vote in favor of the amendment for it to be added to the constitution.
