2024 General Election Early Voting Opens Thursday in McHenry County

The new McHenry County Election Center on Eastwood Drive (Rt. 47) in Woodstock will open for early in person voting on Thursday, September 26.

Note—A tip-o’-the-hat to tireless Ed Gogol for this critical reminder for McHenry County voters.  Heretic, Rebel, a Thing to Flout echoes his endorsements.

Early in-person voting starts this Thursday, September 26, at the new McHenry County Election Center at 410 South Eastwood Drive (Route 47) in Woodstock.  The Election Center will be open from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm Monday through Friday.  It’s at the north end of the same shopping center where the Secretary of State’s office is.  Turn in by the Taco Bell.

Then beginning October 21, eleven additional early voting locations will be open around the county.  Any McHenry County registered voter can vote at any early-voting location.  There’s even Saturday voting hours.  Here’s the full list of early voting locations and hours.

Sample ballots are now available on the County Clerk’s website .  And if you’ve applied for a Vote-By-Mail ballot (either one-time or permanently), watch your mailbox, as they should be arriving shortly.  For full details on everything related to voting, check the updated Vote page at mchenrydems.org.

I’m sure like me you’ll be proud to cast your ballot for our great Democratic candidates.

I’m an emotional dude and may have difficulty keeping it together when I cast my vote for Kamala Harris.  I will think of all the amazing women in my life and I shudder to think of the calamities that will befall us if the Orange Menace gets back in.  The parallels to Germany in the 1930’s could not be more apt. 

I’m proud of our Illinois congressional delegation and look forward to returning Brad Schneider, Jan Schakowsky, and Bill Foster to Washington.

I look forward to increasing our pro-choice Democratic majorities in the Illinois House by re-electing the amazing Suzanne Ness, and by electing Mary Mahady, Maria Peterson, Randi Olson, and Peter Janko. 

County-wide, I will celebrate when we elect the awesome Kelli Wegener as County Board Chair, and the fantastic Chris Kalapodis as Coroner.  Don’t be fooled by all the signs for Michael Rein.  He’s a chiropractor, not a medical doctor, and he’s a gun nut (I’ve seen him at the County Fair helping to distribute lawn signs showing an assault rifle.) 

And wherever you live in McHenry County, there’s a great Democratic candidate for County Board.  I look forward to re-electing Theresa Meshes in District 1 and Lou Ness in District 7, and to electing John Collins in District 2, Rester Dogboe in District 3, Brian Meyers in District 4, Steve Firak in District 5, Arne Waltmire in District 6, Dawn Milarski in District 8, and Dawn Jordi Ellison in District 9.

You can find links to all of our great Democratic candidates at our Candidates Page.  And it’s definitely not too late for your financial contributions to make a big difference. 

Let them play in their own sandbox. For McHenry County Auditor and States Attorney, Republican candidates are running unopposed.  That doesn’t mean we should vote for them – it’s okay not to vote in these races.  As our former Chairwoman Kristina Zahorik is fond of saying, “let them play in their own sandbox.”  The Republican Party of today bears no resemblance to the party of Lincoln, and no self-respecting person should run for a party that puts Donald Trump at the top of the ticket. 

I feel the same way about the Judicial races and Judicial retention ballots.  The Republican party has gone beyond the pale, and I cannot bring myself to vote for anyone who calls themself a Republican:  No matter how “qualified” they may be, they’re helping to send our country to a very dark place.  You may wish to check out the recommendations of the Illinois State Bar Association.  In particular I recommend voting not to retain Michael J. Chmiel.

Vote Yes for the McHenry County Conservation District.  At the bottom of your ballot you’ll notice a very important proposition regarding the portion of your property taxes that goes to the McHenry County Conservation District.  If approved, annual taxes on a property with $300,000 assessed valuation would increase by about $27.  Note, however, that despite this proposition, taxes for the Conservation District are expected to decrease dramatically in 2026 when certain bonds are paid off.

The many parks comprising our Conservation District are jewels of our fair county, and not just for recreation and scenic beauty.  Think habitat for native plants, insects, and wildlife.  And most critically, think replenishing the precious groundwater on which we all depend.  I urge a yes vote for the Conservation District.  Here’s full details and an informative video.

Vote Yes on the three Advisory Questions.  At the very top of your ballot you’ll find three advisory questions:  (1) asking whether candidates should be subject to civil penalties if they interfere or attempt to interfere with an election worker’s official duties; (2) asking whether people with incomes greater than one million dollars should pay an additional 3% on the part greater than that amount, for the purpose of providing property tax relief; and (3) asking whether medical insurance companies should be required to pay for assisted reproductive treatments including in-vitro fertilization. 

Please vote yes for all three.  The second one in particular highlights the hypocrisy of Republican politicians who campaign as “tax cutters.”  What they really mean is that rich people shouldn’t pay taxes.  Everybody else should pay, just not the rich.