Plainfield General Election: What You Need To Know

PLAINFIELD, IL — With one day until the Nov. 3 general election, it's nearly time for voters to choose candidates for office ranging from governor and U.S. senator to county board.

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

Congressional, state legislative and Will County Board district boundaries span municipal lines, meaning two Plainfield residents may receive different ballots.

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

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 your polling pace online:

• Will County
• Kendall County

Where can I participate in early voting?

Early voting began Sept. 24 — 40 days before Election Day — at the Will County Clerk’s Office, 302 N. Chicago St., in downtown Joliet. Voters can still cast their ballots there from 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday.

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?

The deadline to apply for vote by mail has passed. Vote by mail ballots must be postmarked or placed in a drop box by Election Day, Nov. 3, to count.

You can find your local mail-in voting drop boxes here.

What is on my ballot?

All Will 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

• 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

The 97th District covers part of Plainfield. A hotly watched race, Republican Gabby Shanahan will challenge Democrat Jessica Dixon Heitman, who was appointed to the seat this summer after the disgraced Rep. Harry Benton (D-Plainfield) resigned and withdrew his candidacy from the election.

Benton, who was first elected in 2022, stepped down after an investigation determined he committed two separate acts of sexual harassment.

Will County Races

Several countywide offices are on the ballot this November.

• Clerk: Republican incumbent Annette Parker will face Democrat challenger Michelle Stiff.
• Sheriff: Democrat Patrick Jones will face Republican James "Jim" Reilly. Incumbent Mike Kelley is not seeking reelection.
• Treasurer: Democrat incumbent Tim Brophy will face Republican challenger Carmen Maurella III.
• Regional superintendent of schools: Republican incumbent Elizabeth Caparelli-Ruff will face Democrat challenger Theresa Rouse.

Will County Board

Local residents may also vote in several contested Will County Board races. Voters will choose two candidates in each district.

• District 1: Democrat incumbent Joe Van Duyne, Republican incumbent Katie Deane-Schlottman and Republican challenger Debbie Militello.
• District 2: Republican incumbents Judy Ogalla and Frankie Pretzel and Democrat challenger Bob Howard.
• District 3: Democrat incumbent Sherry Newquist, Republican incumbent Daniel Butler and Democrat challenger Marc McKirdie.
• District 4: Republican incumbents Sheri Boniecki-Cooling and William Pratt and Democrat challengers Stephen Balich and James Richmond.
• District 5: Democrat incumbent Sherry Williams, Republican incumbent Dave Oxley, Democrat challenger Karen Johnson, and Republican challenger James "JJ" Balonek.
• District 8: Democrat incumbent Mica Freeman, Republican incumbent Mark V. Revis and Democrat challenger Michael Crowner.
• District 9: Democrat incumbent Destinee Ortiz, Republican incumbent Raquel M. Mitchell and Democrat challenger Alex Zapien.
• District 11: Democrat incumbent Jacqueline Traynere, Democrat challenger Sheldon Watts and Republican challenger Steven Smith.