Above / Polling place entrances will be marked beginning Feb. 25, 2021, at the DuPage County Fairgrounds. (PN File Photo)
DuPage County voters can cast their ballots in the 2021 Consolidated Election beginning Thurs., Feb. 25, at the DuPage County Fairgrounds, Building 5, 2015 Manchester Road in Wheaton.
Doors to voting at the Fairgrounds will open at 8AM Thurs., Feb. 25, 40 days before the April 6 Consolidated Election.
Early Voting at the Fairgrounds, formerly called “In-Person Absentee”, will be by paper ballot only and will be scanned in the same method as mail ballots.
Beginning Mon., Mar. 22, additional Early Voting sites offering touchscreen voting will be available throughout DuPage County.
The Fairgrounds replaces the County Administration Building Early Voting site in order to accommodate more voters while adhering to coronavirus prevention measures.
“The DuPage County Fairgrounds has been an invaluable partner with our office throughout the pandemic. Thanks to them, voters have a safe place to vote while practicing social distancing,” DuPage County Clerk Jean Kaczmarek said.
Hours for Paper Ballot Early Voting at the Fairgrounds
DuPage County Fairgrounds Bld 5 / 2015 Manchester Road, Wheaton
Weekdays: 8AM – 4:30PM (Feb. 25 – Mar. 19)
Saturdays: 9AM – 12PM (Feb. 27 – Mar. 20)
Weekdays: 8:30AM – 7PM (Mar. 22 – Apr. 5)
Weekends: 9AM – 5PM (Mar. 27 – Apr. 4)
Early Voting in Naperville / DuPage County begins March 22
- Fox Valley Mall / 195 Fox Valley Center Drive, Aurora
- Islamic Center of Naperville / 25W530 75th Street, Naperville
- Naperville Municipal Center / 400 S. Eagle Street, Naperville
Voters can find a complete guide to all Early Voting locations in DuPage County and dates, as well as information on voting by mail, at the Clerk’s website: www.dupageco.org/Election/Voting/EarlyVoting/
Vote by Mail Ballots
The first batch of mail ballots will be sent out on Thurs., Feb. 25. Voters may apply for a mail ballot online at www.dupageco.org/Election/VoteByMail/ or call the DuPage County Clerk Election Division at (630) 407-5600 to request a mail ballot application.
Voters choosing to vote by mail also have the option of tracking their ballot by signing up online at dupage.ballottrax.net/voter/.
Submitted for Jean Kaczmarek, DuPage County Clerk
Will County Voting Locations
The Will County Clerk’s Office, 302 N. Chicago Street, Joliet IL 60432, will be open for early voting from 8:30AM to 4:30PM Thurs., Feb. 25. Click here for more about Will County Early Voting.
Registered Naperville voters who live in Will County are welcome to vote beginning Mon., March 22 at two Naperville locations.
- 95th Street Library / 3015 Cedar Glade Rd, Naperville
- City of Naperville Public Works / Jefferson Avenue and Fort Hill.
For more information about Will County voting, visit www.thewillcountyclerk.com.
Editor’s Update…Get to know all candidates before you vote!
After this Early Voting notice was posted on Feb. 24, we got to thinking about all the coverage PN and other publications produce to promote local elections, aiming to inspire voters to do their homework before heading to the polls. Qualified and dedicated candidates on the ballot deserve informed votes. Those candidates could be your family, friends and neighbors.
We also tried to reason why so much attention is given to beginning voting opportunities 40 days in advance of the election; while at the same time, history shows us that, in our opinion, too few voters take time to cast a ballot by the end of Consolidated Election Days. Every vote comes with a price of paying election judges, etc., for all 40 days.
What’s more, considering that the majority of “meet and greet” events, candidate fundraisers and public forums are just beginning to run full steam ahead throughout March 2021, let us suggest it’s too early to vote today, tomorrow or next week.
In fact, some candidates tell us they’ve yet to put up campaign signs.
Consider voting between 8AM March 22 & 7PM April 6
Beginning March 22, electronic “touchscreen” ballots will be set at early voting locations to cast your vote. All local protocols apply inside every voting location. Remember a mask.
To be fair to all candidates (Naperville elections have attracted large slates of hopefuls for City Council, District 203 and District 204 boards of education boards as well as Naperville Park District Board of Commissioners.) and issues that seem to change almost by the hour, take time to try to be informed “up until the last possible minute” by stories in local newspapers and other media that feature Q&A. Here’s hoping different questions are asked every time.
Since December 2020, PN has been working on its 2021 Election Guide. Focused on the community’s ever-changing landscape of issues, PN’s questions mostly were open-ended, with opportunities for 39 candidates to say whatever was on their mind. Our aim was not to stir the pot, but to give voters a look at all the candidates, a starting-off point for discussion, you might say.
The 2021 Election Guide site was launched the week of Feb. 22, 2021, just one of many media opportunities to get to know the candidates and their core values. Every PN profile is linked to the candidates’ website where you can learn even more. We are grateful many residents are eager to serve. Talk to friends and neighbors about the choices in the upcoming election. Contact hopefuls with your questions.
Which candidates will serve to provide the fiscal responsibility, public safety, quality education and city services you expect from your hometown?
Thanks for reading. —PN
