Early voting begins today: Here’s what DeKalb County residents need to know

Early voting begins Thursday in DeKalb County at the Legislative Center in Sycamore ahead of the June 28 primary, which will decide races in a newly redistricted Illinois.

In Nov. 2021, the DeKalb County Board unanimously voted to approve a new DeKalb County district map, which can be found at dekalbcounty.org.

Redistricting across county, state and federal lines occurred because of the 2020 Census. The June Primary will pit party candidates against each other to vie for a spot on the November General Election ballot, so primary election voters must declare a political party.

Any registered voter in DeKalb County may choose to vote early in person or through mail ahead of June 28.

To register to vote in DeKalb County, visit clerk’s office, 110 E. Sycamore St., many banks, libraries, the Department of Motor Vehicles and most municipalities. For information on the deputy registrar nearest you, call 815-895-7147. The last day to register in person for the June 28 General Primary Election is May 31. However, online paperless registration is available through midnight June 12. To complete online registration, visit the Illinois State Board of Elections’ website at ova.elections.il.gov.

From Thursday through June 17, the only early voting location open is at the DeKalb County Legislative Center in the Gathertorium, 200 N. Main St. in Sycamore. Voting booths are open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Additional early voting locations won’t open until June 17 from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. daily through June 24 at the DeKalb Township Building, 2323 S. Fourth St. in DeKalb, the Kingston Friendship Center, 120 Main St. in Kingston, and the Sandwich Public Library, 925 S. Main St. in Sandwich.

Northern Illinois University’s Holmes Student Center will be open for early voting from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. June 21 through June 23.

For information about early voting and early voting locations, visit the DeKalb County Elections Office’s website, dekalb.il.clerkserve.com or read the FAQs for DeKalb County voters.

Illinois House of Representatives

Before redistricting, DeKalb County was represented by two districts: the 70th District, held by Rep. Jeff Keicher, R-Sycamore, and the 90th District, held by Rep. Tom Demmer, R-Rochelle.

With the new lines drawn, the county will be represented by five different legislators.

District 70 runs north of Sycamore, south into Somonauk and east into Pingree Grove, Elburn and Sugar Grove, but does not include downtown DeKalb. Keicher seeks reelection unopposed.

District 74 includes western DeKalb and some of Waterman, and runs south into LaSalle and west into Morrison. Dixon Mayor and Republican Liando “Li” Arellano Jr. will face off against Republican Brad Fritts of Dixon.

District 75 includes northwestern Sandwich, Somonauk, Lake Holiday and runs south to Seneca and Morris and east to include Plano, Yorkville, southern Oswego and northwestern Minooka and Channahon. Candidates for the district include incumbent Rep. David Welter, R-Morris, and Republican Jed Davis of Newark.

District 76 includes downtown DeKalb and Northern Illinois University and travels south along Route 23 to include Ottawa, Oglesby and Peru. Candidates for the district include incumbent Rep. Lance Yednock, D-Morris, and Republican Jason Haskell of Peru.

District 89 includes northwestern Sycamore, Genoa, Kingston, Kirkland, southwestern Cherry Valley, and Oregon and runs west to the Iowa border and north to the Wisconsin border. Candidates for the district include Rep. Tony McCombie, R-Savanna, who currently represents District 71, and Republican Victoria Onorato of Byron.

Illinois State Senate

Under the new redistricting, DeKalb County is located in four senate districts.

Senate District 37 includes western DeKalb south along Waterman Road to Interstate 80 into Ottawa and LaSalle, a section south to the edge of Peoria, and west to the Iowa border. Candidates include incumbent Sen. Win Stoller, R-Germantown Hills, and Republican Brett Nicklaus of Dixon.

Senate District 35 includes Sycamore, south to Somonauk and east into Pingree Grove, Elburn and Sugar Grove and north to the Wisconsin border, including east Rockford. Candidates include incumbent Sen. Dave Syverson, R-Rockford, and Winnebago County Republican Chairperson Eli Nicolosi of Loves Park.

Senate District 38 includes downtown DeKalb and Northern Illinois University and south down Route 23 to include Ottawa, Oglesby and LaSalle, also including Sandwich, Somonauk, Lake Holiday, south to Seneca and Morris and east to Plano, Yorkville, southern Oswego and northwestern Minooka and Channahon. Incumbent Sen. Sue Rezin, R-Morris, is running unopposed.

Senate District 45 includes northwestern Sycamore, Genoa, Kingston, Kirkland, southwestern Cherry Valley and Oregon and runs west to the Iowa border and north to the Wisconsin border.

Republican Andrew Chesney of Freeport, who serves in the Illinois House of Representatives for the 89th District, is running unopposed.

DeKalb County Board

All 24 seats of the DeKalb County Board are up for election during this year’s elections.

DeKalb County is divided into 12 districts based on population. Two members are elected from each district.

District 1 includes Franklin Township, Kingston, South Grove, Mayfield and Malta Townships. Candidates include Republicans Maureen Little, Bradley Robert Belanger, Lawrence West and Jordan Dobberstein and Democrat Fred Hall.

District 2 includes Genoa Township and a portion of Sycamore Township that is mostly north of Peace Road. Candidates include Republicans Kathy Lampkins and Patrick Deutsch.

District 3 is a portion of Sycamore Township that is mostly south of Peace Road and north of Route 64. Republican Tim Bagby is running unopposed.

District 4 is a portion of Sycamore Township that is mostly south of Route 64 and a portion of Cortland Township north of Bethany Road. Candidates include Democrats Stewart Ogilvie and Brett Johansen and Republican Laurie Emmer.

District 5 includes a portion of Cortland Township south of Bethany Road and Route 64, a portion of DeKalb Township south of Fairview Drive and east of Peace Road, and north portions of Afton and Pierce Townships north of Perry Road. Candidates include Democrat Benjamin Haier and Republican Savannah Ilenikhena.

District 6 is the northwest portion of DeKalb Township that is north of Lincoln Highway and west of Glidden Road. Democrat Rukisha Crawford is running unopposed.

District 7 is the central portion of DeKalb Township that encompasses downtown DeKalb north of Lincoln Highway and west of First Street. Candidates include Democrats C. Scott Campbell and Terri Mann-Lamb.

District 8 is a northeast portion of DeKalb Township that is east of Glidden Road. Candidates include Republicans William “Bill” Cummings and Dianne E. Leifheit and Democrats Chris Porterfield and Michelle Pickett.

District 9 is a portion of DeKalb Township that is south of Sycamore Road, west of Peace Road and north of Fairview Drive. Candidates include Democrats Ellingsworth Webb and Jim Luebke.

District 10 is the southwest portion of DeKalb Township that is north of Fairview Drive, south of Lincoln Highway and mostly west of State Route 23/Fourth Street. Candidates include Democrats Mary Lee Cozad and Craig S. Roman.

District 11 includes all of Milan, Shabbona, Paw Paw, Victor, Clinton and Squaw Grove Townships, as well as Afton and Pierce Townships south of Perry Road, Somonauk Township west of Governor Beveridge Highway and north of Chicago Road and Sandwich Township north of Chicago Road. Candidates include Democrat Shell (Celeste) Deyoung Dunn and Republicans Karen Cribben and Roy E. Plote.

District 12 includes Somonauk Township east of Governor Beveridge Highway and Sandwich Township south of Chicago Road. Candidates include Republicans Jerry Osland and John Frieders.

Changes between the new map and the previous map include District 1 no longer encompassing the Shabbona area; instead it will now include the Kingston area. District 2 now encompasses northern Sycamore Township and all of Genoa Township but no longer Kingston Township. District 3 covers most of northern Sycamore but only the southern half of Sycamore Township. District 5 now includes all of Cortland, the DeKalb County portion of Maple Park and the northern halves of Afton and Pierce townships; and District 11 now includes the Shabbona area.

For any questions regarding your district, contact the DeKalb County Clerk and Recorder’s office at 815-895-7147 or email elections@dekalbcounty.org.

Editor’s note: An earlier version of this story listed an incorrect date for when early voting opens at Northern Illinois University’s Holmes Student Center. That voting period begins June 21. This story has been corrected as of 2 p.m. May 19, 2022.