Kane County Election Guide 2026: Candidates, Referendums And How To Vote

KANE COUNTY, IL — Kane County voters will choose candidates for offices ranging from governor and U.S. senator to county board when they head to the polls for the Nov. 3 general election.

Voters will also decide congressional and Illinois General Assembly races and cast their ballots on referenda questions. Exactly which races appear on a voter's ballot depends on where they live.

Illinois 2026 Voter Guide: Pritzker Vs. Bailey Rematch, Other Hot Races To Watch

Congressional, state legislative and Kane County Board district boundaries span municipal lines, meaning two residents of the same community may receive different ballots. Those interested in seeing what exactly is on their ballot can do so here.

Here's everything you need to know to cast your vote, from voter registration to polling places to mail-in voting to what's on the ballot.

For full coverage of the 2026 election in Illinois, go here.

When is Election Day?

The general election is Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026. Polls will be open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Anyone who is in line by 7 p.m. has the right to vote. You can find more information on your polling place here.

Where can I participate in early voting?

Early voting began Sept. 24 — 40 days before Election Day — at the Kane County Clerk's Office, 719 S. Batavia Ave. in Geneva, and at its satellite office in Aurora, 5 E. Downer Place.

On Oct. 19, early voting expands to more locations throughout the county.

• Kane County Branch Court, 530 S. Randall Road in St. Charles
• Carpentersville Fire Station No. 93, 5000 Sleepy Hollow Road
• Elgin Township, 729 S. McLean Blvd.
• Gail Borden Library, 270 N. Grove Ave. in Elgin
• Vaughan Athletic Center, 2121 W. Indian Trail in Aurora
• Campton Community Center, 5N082 Old LaFox Road in Campton Hills
• City of Batavia, 100 N. Island Ave.
• City of Elgin, 150 Dexter Court
• Del Webb Sun City, 12880 Del Webb Blvd. in Huntley
• Hampshire Township, 170 Mill Ave.
• Sugar Grove Library, 125 S. Municipal Drive
• Town & Country Library, 320 E. North St. in Elburn
• Village of West Dundee, 102 S. Second St.

Kane County voters can use any county early voting location regardless of where they live in the county. Hours vary by location.

Can I still register to vote?

The regular voter registration deadline has passed, but Illinois residents still have options. Online voter registration continues through Sunday, Oct. 18, while grace-period registration is underway and continues through Election Day.

If you think that you may already be registered to vote, you can check by using the State Board of Election's Voter Registration Lookup.

Residents registering during the grace period must provide two forms of identification, with at least one showing their current address. Those who register during the grace period must also vote at the time they register.

Can I vote by mail?

Illinois voters do not need an excuse or specific reason to vote by mail, and the deadline for election officials to receive applications for vote-by-mail ballots is Thursday, Oct. 29. You can request a mail-in ballot for Kane County here.

Completed ballots must be postmarked by Election Day and received within the period allowed under Illinois law.

What is on my ballot?

All Kane County voters will have several statewide contests on their ballots.

• U.S. Senate: Democrat Juliana Stratton faces Republican Don Tracy in the race for U.S. Senate.
• Illinois Governor and Lieutenant Governor: Democratic Gov. JB Pritzker is seeking another term, facing off against Republican Darren Bailey.
• Illinois Attorney General: Democratic Attorney General Kwame Raoul faces Republican Bob Fioretti.
• Illinois Secretary of State: Democratic Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias faces Republican Diane Harris.
• Illinois Comptroller: Democrat Margaret Croke faces Republican Bryan Drew.
• Illinois Treasurer: Democratic Treasurer Michael Frerichs faces Republican Max Solomon.

Congressional Races

• 8th Congressional District: Democrat Melissa Bean faces Republican Jennifer Davis.
• 11th Congressional District: Incumbent Democrat Bill Foster will face Republican Jeff Walter.
• 14th Congressional District: Incumbent Democrat Lauren Underwood faces Republican James Marter.

Illinois House Races

• 43rd District: Democrat incumbent Anna Moeller is running unopposed.
• 49th District: Democrat incumbent Maura Hirschauer will face Republican challenger John Paul Augustynowicz.
• 50th District: Democrat incumbent Barbara Hernandez is running unopposed.
• 52nd District: Republican incumbent Martin McLaughlin will face Democrat challenger Maria Peterson.
• 65th District: Republican incumbent Dan Ugaste will face Democrat challenger Ricky Rivard.
• 66th District: Democrat incumbent Suzanne Ness will face Republican challenger Laurie Parman.
• 70th District: Republican incumbent Jeff Keicher will face Democrat challenger Veronica Garcia-Martinez.
• 83rd District: Democrat incumbent Matt Hanson will face Republican challenger Jesse Rodriguez.
• 84th District: Democrat incumbent Saba Haider will face Republican challenger Brian Scopa.

Illinois Senate Races

• 26th District: Republican incumbent Darby Hills will face Democrat challenger Nabeela Syed.
• 33rd District: Democrat Michele Clark will face Republican Danielle Penman. Incumbent Don DeWitte is not seeking reelection.
• 35th District: Republican incumbent Dave Syverson wil face Sarah B. Mertens.
• 42nd District: Democrat Jared Ploger will face Republican Edgardo "Eddie" Perez. Democrat incumbent Linda Holmes announced she would retire and not seek reelection.

Kane County Races

Several countywide offices are on the ballot this November.

• Clerk: Republican incumbent John A. "Jack" Cunningham will face Democrat challenger Brenda Rodgers.
• Sheriff: Democrat Amy Johnson will face Republican Rob Russell. Incumbent Ron Hain is not seeking reelection.
• Treasurer: Republican incumbent Chris Lauzen will face Democrat challenger Penny Wegman.
• Regional Superintendent of Schools: Republican incumbent John K. Jonak will face Democrat challenger Jerry Cook.

Kane County Board

Local residents may also vote in several contested Kane County Board races. Candidates include:

• District 2 (Two-year unexpired term): Democrat Ellen Nottke and Independent Kelly Burke.
• District 3: Democrat incumbent Anita Marie Lewis and Independent Guy David Bodie.
• District 5: Republican incumbent Bill Lenert and Democrat Philip Silagi.
• District 9: Republican incumbent Jennifer Abbatacola and Democrat Marc A. Guttke.
• District 11: Democrat Julie Forbes and Republican William C. Collins. Incumbent Leslie Juby was defeated in the March primary.
• District 13: Democrat Nicolas G. "Nico" Jimenez and Republican Ryan Deniz. Incumbent Michael Linder was defeated in the March primary.
• District 15: Republican incumbent David Young and Democrat challenger Kate Monteleone.
• District 19: Democrat incumbent Mohammad "Mo" Iqbal and Republican challenger Steve Serafin.
• District 21: Republican incumbent Clifford Surges and Democrat challenger Deborah Chabi.
• District 23: Democrat incumbent Christopher W. Kious and Republican challenger Emmanuel Thomas.

Referenda

Several referendum questions will be on the ballot for Kane County residents. Which question, if any, voters will see will depend on their addresses.

• Two in the City of Aurora: Should Aurora voters have the ability to recall the mayor by petition? Should Aurora voters have the ability to recall aldermen-at-large?
• Oswego School District 308: Should the district issue $317 million in school building bonds?
• St. Charles School District 303: Should the district issue $282.5 million in school building bonds?
• Yorkville School District 115: Should the district issue $159 million in school building bonds?
• Community Unit School District 300: Should the district issue $355.5 million in school building bonds?
• Two for the East Dundee Fire Protection District: Should the district issue $3.5 million in bonds to fund capital improvements? Should the district levy a new emergency services tax?
• St. Charles Township: Should the township continue to provide garbage collection service?

For full coverage of the 2026 election in Illinois, go here.