CRYSTAL LAKE AND CARY, IL — Voters in McHenry County can head to the polls to make their picks for city councils, village boards, library districts, school boards and park districts over the next week.

Early voting for local races is underway, allowing residents to make their picks ahead of election day on April 6.

Early voting opened across the county on March 22, and will run through April 5. Polls will also be open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. Election Day. You can check to see if you are registered to vote by heading to the Illinois State Board of Elections website.

The law requires registered voters to keep their name and address current, and you will not be able to vote in the April consolidated election if you are not properly registered.

Registered voters in McHerny County who do not have a voter’s registration card or who have a question regarding their registration, should contact the County Clerk’s Office at 815-334-4242.

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 of state ID, university/college ID or another government-issued ID with a photo, such as a passport.

Early Voting Locations And Hours

There are 10 early voting locations in McHenry County, including locations in Cary, Crystal Lake, Lake in the Hills and Algonquin. Find a convenient location near you on the McHenry County Clerk’s website. Early voting sites at the Nunda Township Office, 3510 Bay Road in Crysatl Lake; McHenry City Hall, 333 S. Green Street, McHenry; and Lake in the Hills Village Hall, 600 Harvest Gate, Lake in the Hills, will be open during the following hours:

  • Monday, March 22 through Friday, March 26: 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
  • Saturday, March 27: 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.
  • Monday, March 29 through Friday, April 2: 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
  • Saturday, April 3: 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
  • Sunday, April 4: 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
  • Monday, April 5: 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Early voting sites at the Huntley Park District, 12015 Mill St., Huntley; Algonquin Library, 2600 Harnish Drive, Algonquin; and at the Cary Area Library, 1606 Three Oaks Road, Cary; will be open during these times:

  • Monday, March 22 through Friday, March 26: 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
  • Saturday, March 27: 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.
  • Monday, March 29 through Friday, April 2: 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
  • Saturday, April 3 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Polls will be open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Election Day (April 6). You can find your polling place on the McHenry County Clerk’s Office.

Request A Mail-in Ballot, Check If You Are Registered

The last day to request a mail in ballot, including military and overseas voters is April 1. The last day for mail ballots to be postmarked is April 6.

If you are returning your vote by mail ballot by mail, it must be postmarked by election day and received no later than 14 days following Election Day. You can expect the McHenry County Clerk’s Office your ballot to be delivered within seven days.

If you do not receive your ballot or have questions, you can contact the clerk’s office at (815) 334-4242 or by email at votebymail@mchenrycountyil.gov.

Your ballot can be returned to the election authority by mail or delivered in person. In person delivery can be by either the voter or by any person authorized by the voter.

If delivered, the ballot must be received by the election authority prior to the polls closing at 7 p.m. on Election Day. If mailed, it must be postmarked by Election Day.

What’s On The April 6 Ballot

You can check out who is on your ballot by entering your address into the McHenry County sample ballot locator online.

The Crystal Lake mayoral race includes three candidates vying for a seat left open following the unexpected death of long-time mayor Aaron Shepley. Acting mayor and a former city council member, Haig Haleblian, will appear on this spring’s ballot for Crystal Lake residents.

Also running are newcomers Donald Kountz, a retired senior director for Northrop Grumman, and Jim Sisto, a former sales manager and teacher.

You can learn more about them by reading the profiles they recently submitted to Patch:

The Crystal Lake City Council race is also contested this year. Four candidates are running for three open seats and the links to profiles submitted so far by candidates can be found below:

Other contested races include the Cary Village Board with candidates Duane (Rick) Dudek, Jennifer Weinhammer, Jeffery C. Kraus and Rick Walrath vying for three open seats.

School district races are packed this election. District 47 has seven candidates running for four open seats and District 158 has nine candidates hoping to grab one of four open seats.

As for referenda, McHenry County voters living in McHenry Township will see this question on their ballots:

Shall the Road District of the Township of McHenry be abolished with all the rights, powers, duties, assets, property, liabilities, obligations, and responsibilities being assumed by the Township of McHenry?

Staying Safe During COVID

County voting stations are regularly sanitized, hand sanitizer is readily available for voters, and physical distancing measures are in place to protect voters and poll workers, according to the McHenry County Clerk’s Office.

Follow Along On Election Night

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