Patch’s Election Day Roundup

Where can I vote?

Evanston has 38 polling places. Find the one nearest you by entering your address on the Cook County Clerk’s website. The website can also provide you with a sample ballot to inform you of races and referendums on the ballot in your district.

What time to the polls open?

All polling places are open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m., but anyone in line when the polls close is allowed to vote. According to a press release from the Cook County Clerk’s office, polling places are least crowded from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

What is on Tuesday’s ballot?

The three referendums on Evanstonians’ ballots are perhaps most notable.

• The first asks voters to provide the City of Evanston with the authority to bundle together residential and small commercial electrical accounts in an attempt to seek out cheaper energy from the open market. If this passes, residents and businesses can still choose to opt out of the program.
• The second asks voters to decide . This is an advisory referendum, so the results are not binding.
• In the third () District 65 asks voters for permission to issue over $48 million worth of bonds to finance the construction of , as well as repair and make additions to existing district schools.

What about races for public office?

• Registered republicans can be able to vote for a candidate in the presidential primary. Democrats can technically also vote in their party’s presidential primary, but President Barack Obama is the only candidate on the ticket.
• All Evanston voters are eligible to punch the ticket for Illinois’ 9th U.S. Congressional District race.  Incumbent Jan Schakowsky and Simon Ribeiro are running on the Democratic side, while Timothy Wolfe is the sole Republican candidate.
• Most Evanstonians can vote in the race for the 18th District state representative seat, though some on the city’s northwest side will vote in the 17th District race and a small population living just north to Howard Street will vote in the 14th District election.
• Nearly all are eligible to vote 9th District state senate race, though some on Evanston’s south side will instead vote in the 7th District contest.
• Lionel Jean-Baptiste is vying for of the bench of 9th Judicial Subcircuit of Cook County Circuit Court.

How can I follow the results?

Unofficial results will be posted online here. Official results must be certified within 21 days of the election.

Anything else?

Recent redistricting has changed the boundaries of some voting districts, so don’t be surprised if you see an unfamiliar candidate or district on your ballot.