First Things First: What is Rick Running for?

Rick is running for Judge of the Circuit Court of the Eighteenth Judicial Circuit.  The name of the office is commonly called "circuit judge" or "DuPage County Judge" or some combination of the two. However you describe the office, Rick is running to be a trial court judge in DuPage County.

How many races for Circuit judge are there this year?

There are FOUR judicial vacancies up for election in DuPage County this year. Rick is a candidate for the vacancy of former Judge Patrick J. O'Shea. It is a contested primary so Rick needs your vote.

Where will Rick's name appear on the Ballot?

Judicial elections are usually at the very the end of the ballot, right before any voter propositions. Rick's race is the second of the four judicial races. There are four candidates in Rick's race, and Rick's name is third on the ballot.

Am I registered to vote in DuPage County?

We can't answer that, but the DuPage County Clerk can.  Check out the Clerk's Voter Information Lookup Tool to find out.  If you're not registered to vote yet, find out how to change that.

What Ballot do I request?

In Illinois, if you want to vote for a candidate running in a primary election, you must request his or her party's ballot. Rick is running in the Republican Primary, so this means you will need to ask for a Republican Ballot if you would like to vote for him. If you request a non-partisan ballot or a ballot of any other political party, you will not be able to vote for Rick in the primary. You can only select one party's ballot. 

How and When Do I vote?

You have a few choices:

Voting by Mail

Voters may request a mail-in ballot from the County Clerk's Office that they can complete and return prior to the close of voting on March 17.  There are two ways to request a mail-in ballot. The easiest way is to use the Clerk's online request form. The other way is to download this form, and mail it back to the Clerk's office.  Once the Clerk recieves your request, she will send you your ballot. Please keep in mind that the last day the Clerk can send you a mail-in ballot is Thursday, March 12. REMEMBER: You must return your ballot (or have it postmarked by) March 17 in order for your vote to count.

Early Voting

From February 6 through March 16, the Clerk offers the opportunity to vote early at her office at 421 N County Farm Rd. in Wheaton.  Beginning on March 2, the number of early voting centers in DuPage County will increase significantly and you will have the chance to use any of them to cast your ballots.

To find an early voting center near you and to see their days and hours of operation, please visit the Clerk's website.

Election Day Voting - March 17 (St. Patrick's Day)

Despite having more voting options than ever before, many people still enjoy going to the polls on Election Day to cast their ballots. If you are one of them, you may vote at your polling place from 6 AM until 7 PM.

Over the past few years, the number of polling places across the county has decreased significantly and many locations have changed. If you aren't sure where your polling place is, check out the Clerk's Voter Status tool.

Other Methods

The following voting methods aren't available to everyone, but if they apply to you, you may wish to consider them. The Clerk's Office has more information.

Registered Voter Admitted to Hospital, Nursing Home or Rehabilitation Center Within 14 Days of Election

Any qualified voter who has been admitted to a hospital, nursing home or rehabilitation center due to an illness or physical injury not more than 14 days before an election is entitled to personal delivery of a Vote by Mail ballot in the hospital, nursing home or rehabilitation center. An Application for Ballot for Qualified Voter Admitted to Hospital, Nursing Home or Rehabilitation Center Not More Than 14 Days Before an Election form must be completed by the voter and admitting physician, then delivered to the Election Division office by a relative of the voter or a registered voter of the same precinct as voter to receive a Vote by Mail ballot.

U.S. Service and Citizens Overseas Absentee Voting

The Federal Voting Assistance Program (FVAP) website provides information to U.S. citizens covered by the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (UOCAVA). U.S. Service and citizens of the United States temporarily residing outside the U.S. may submit a Federal Post Card Application (FPCA) to receive a Vote by Mail ballot.

The Clerk recommended that U.S. Service and Citizens Overseas submit a FPCA annually in the month of January and whenever there is a mailing address change to insure proper mailing of ballots.

PLEASE NOTE:  The FPCA is only for U.S. Service Members, their spouses and dependents and Citizens of the United States residing overseas.

Healthcare Facility Voting

Election Judges conduct voting at licensed healthcare facilities on the Saturday before an election.  To qualify to vote at that time residents must be registered to vote and submit a Vote by Mail ballot application by Friday the week before healthcare voting takes place.  For complete information on healthcare voting procedures, contact the Clerk's Healthcare Vote by Mail Department at (630) 407-5609.