DeKALB – DeKalb’s 2021 Consolidated Elections will be April 6. Early voting began Thursday, and here’s what you need to know to vote.

What are consolidated elections?

The consolidated elections happen in odd-numbered years. This election, which always falls on the first Tuesday of April, is to elect municipal, township, park district, library district, school district, community college district, regional office of education trustees and fire district officials. 

The offices up for election are mayor, city clerk, treasurer, alderpeople or trustee as municipal officials, supervisor, clerk, assessor/multi-township assessor, highway commissioner, and trustees as township officials, commissioners for the park district, trustees for the public and township libraries, trustees for regional board of school trustees, board members for the school district, trustees for the community college district and trustees for the fire protection district.

Residents of DeKalb can vote on a DeKalb County ballot; however, they must be registered to vote. The registration information must also be under a current DeKalb County address. 

How to register to vote

Residents who have not registered to vote can register at the Office of the County Clerk, libraries and most municipalities in DeKalb.

They can also register to vote online through this link.

DeKalb County residents can register to vote on election day at the DeKalb County Administration Building, 110 E. Sycamore St., Sycamore. Residents can also find a nearer polling place with the online link.

Residents of DeKalb can vote by mail by filling out the “vote by mail” application online.

The completed application must be mailed to the Office of the County Clerk no later than April 1. The application may also be dropped off at the Clerk’s office. 

Residents will then receive their voting ballots at their addresses. The ballots must be mailed to or turned in to the Clerk’s/Elections office no later than election day, April 6. 

Where to vote

Polling places open at 6 a.m. and close at 7 p.m. on election day. Polling places are determined by the precinct number on a voter registration card.

Early voters can vote at the Legislative Center at 200 N. Main St., Sycamore.

Early voting at the Holmes Student Center opens March 30 and is available until April 1 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The polling places near NIU are Westminster Presbyterian Church on 830 N. Annie Glidden Road, Bethany Road Bible Church on 2215 Bethany Road, Hillcrest Covenant Church on 1515 N. First Road.

When to vote

Regular voting begins Thursday and ends March 9. March 10 is when grace period registration begins. 

Grace period registration is an extended time for voter registration that lasts up until election day, which requires people to vote the day they register.

Voters must bring two forms of identification. One form of identification must have a DeKalb County address.

Voting assistance

There is also a Disabled Voter program for voters who are disabled. The program allows them to automatically vote by mail for every future election. 

However, if they want to vote in person, voter assistance is available. The person helping must be a friend or family member, and they must write their name and address on the voting certification, but not on the ballot itself.

There is also military and overseas voting that is achieved with a form called The Federal Postcard Application. The Federal Voting Assistance Program allows members of the U.S. Armed Forces and their families to vote if they are abroad. 

Local election official information: http://dekalb.il.clerkserve.com/?cat=47