The alderman race in four districts within DeKalb is looming over the horizon and with it comes a few changes.

The election won’t take place until April 1. However, preliminary steps are being taken to determine who will be the candidates.

The first, third, fifth and seventh districts are up for election, which is run by City Clerk Donna Johnson. She said one of the difficulties arising from this upcoming election is the redistricting of almost all DeKalb’s seven districts.

“The Sept. 23 agenda at [the city council] meeting will determine if these changes are final,” Johnson said. “If they are, some interest to NIU students would be the redistricting north of Stadium Drive.”

These changes include residents of Douglas and Grant residence halls, a change that was made in order to level the population within these districts.

“We wanted to make the wards as compact and contiguous as possible,” Johnson said. “Based on the census numbers we were given alone, we realigned these districts in order to even the numbers as accurately as possible.”

With the changing of wards comes some misconceptions, especially for those in residence halls or apartments around campus who may not be aware of what district they are in.

Johnson said there are a few things potential alderman candidates must consider if they are to be on the ballot.

“The first thing is to decide whether or not a candidate wants to be partisan or non-partisan,” Johnson said. “Traditionally, DeKalb candidates choose to be non-partisan or independent because if someone else wants to run under the same partisan party as another, then there must be a primary. Primaries aren’t favored on most sides of the spectrum because they need funding, and the funding comes from taxes.”

After this takes place, a candidate from partisan parties must sign his or her petitions by December; independent parties are due by January.

Johnson mentioned the possibility of dozens of people coming into her office and grabbing a petition, most of those declaring an independent party.

“There’s a limitless number of candidates that can run from an independent party,” Johnson said. “Obviously, that’s different with partisan parties, but with DeKalb being such an independent town, there are no objections no matter how many people decide to run for alderman in their respective districts.”

During the course of the balloting, anyone can walk into Johnson’s office, at the DeKalb Municipal Building, 200 S. Fourth St., and fill out a petition in protest of a person’s candidacy. Reasons behind taking such a measure would be finding certain holes in a candidate’s file therefore supporting the argument that a candidate doesn’t deserve to run for office.

“I, as city clerk, may know things wrong with a file but can’t give anyone input who may be filing the petitions,” Johnson said. “These petitions are becoming far more prevalent because of an increase in public awareness.”

Johnson said that even though she accepts the file, it doesn’t mean the petition to oust a candidate from the balloting will go through.

“I take the petition as is and don’t analyze it. That’s for the review board,” Johnson said. “Anyone is allowed, though, to come in and file paperwork whether it be a petition against a candidate or expressing an interest in running for alderman.”