Election Resources | Democratic Party of Evanston

2026 Voter Education Guide: Illinois Gubernatorial Election

Key Dates

The 2026 Illinois gubernatorial election is part of the midterm elections. This guide helps voters understand what to check before Election Day, where to find reliable information, and how to make a voting plan. Staying informed is an important part of participating in democracy.

October 6, 2026Voter registration closes for deputy registrars and local election officials.
October 18, 2026Last day to register to vote online.
October 19, 2026First day of early voting.
October 29, 2026Last day to request a mail ballot.
November 2, 2026Last day of early voting.
November 3, 2026Election Day and the last day to postmark mail ballots.

Early Voting in Evanston

Monday, Oct. 19 – Monday, Nov. 2
Robert Crown Community Center, Rooms B/C
1801 Main St., Evanston (opens in a new tab)

All Cook County early voting locations

Mon.–Sat., Oct. 19–249 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Sun., Oct. 2510 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Mon.–Fri., Oct. 26–309 a.m. – 7 p.m.
Sat., Oct. 319 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Sun., Nov. 110 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Mon., Nov. 2 (final day)9 a.m. – 7 p.m.

2026 Evanston Voting Locations

Twenty-six locations across Evanston. Confirm which one is yours with the Cook County Clerk before you go, because assignments change.

The Alice Millar Chapel
Jane R. Perlman Apartments
Noyes Cultural Art Center
Meridian
McGraw YMCA
Unitarian Church of Evanston
Evanston Skokie School District 65
Washington Elementary School
Robert Crown Community Center
Nichols Junior High School
Lincoln Elementary School
Lake Street Church
Fleetwood-Jordan Community Center
Northminster Presbyterian Church
Willard Elementary School
Hillside Free Methodist Church
Westminster Place
Haven Junior High School
Lincolnwood Elementary School
Evanston Ecology Center
BAHAI National Center (adm. office)
James Park Shed
Oakton Elementary School
Palm House
Grace Lutheran Church
Chute Junior High School

Confirm my polling place

The 2026 Evanston Voting Locations table as published by DPOE, listing all twenty-six numbered polling places.

Help Protect Evanston Voters and Neighbors

Who to call if a polling place isn’t open, a voter is being harassed or intimidated, or you see ICE activity, and what you can and can’t record. In English and Spanish.

A quién llamar si un centro de votación no está abierto, si alguien está siendo acosado o intimidado, o si ve actividad de ICE.

Download the voter protection guide (PDF)

The guide, Help Protect Evanston Voters and Neighbors, with sections on voting access, ICE/Migra Watch in English and ICE/Migra Watch en Español.

Recommended Candidates

Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026. Polls open 6 a.m. – 7 p.m. State law allows you to bring this sample ballot with you into the voting booth.

Download the printable sample ballot (PDF)

Statewide

2Juliana Stratton U.S. Senator
5JB Pritzker & Christian Mitchell Governor & Lt. Governor
8Kwame Raoul Attorney General
10Alexi Giannoulias Secretary of State
12Margaret Croke Comptroller
14Michael W. Frerichs Treasurer

Legislative

22Daniel Biss U.S. Congress
32Patrick Hanley State Senator

State Representative (one per ballot)

42Jennifer Gong-Gershowitz 17th District
42Robyn Gabel 18th District

Water Reclamation District

6-Year Term · vote for 3

54Precious Brady-Davis
55Eira Lizeth Corral Sepúlveda
56Beth McElroy Kirkwood

2-Year Term

57Cameron “Cam” Davis

Cook County

62Toni Preckwinkle County Board President
64Monica Gordon County Clerk
65Thomas J. Dart County Sheriff
67Maria Pappas County Treasurer
68Pat Hynes County Assessor
72Josina Morita County Commissioner
82Elizabeth “Liz” Nicholson Board of Review

Judges

102Judith C. Rice Appellate Court

Circuit Court

103Steven Q. McKenzie
104Luz Maria Toledo
105Ashonta C. Rice
106Ava George Stewart
107D’Anthony “Tony” Thedford

Judicial Retention

Vote YES on all
On the second ballot card, front and back
See the retention judges

Vote YES for all Retention Judges

Please vote YES to retain ALL retention judges. Judges from our communities, who know the law and apply it with common sense, fairness and compassion.

An independent judiciary is critical to our democracy. It guarantees the rule of law over political passions and public opinions. Now, more than ever, our rights are under attack. It is critical that we keep independent, qualified and experienced judges on the bench.

CookCountyJudges.org

Card from the Committee for Retention of Judges in Cook County, front: Vote YES for all Retention Judges, over a group photo of the judges in their robes. Please vote YES to retain ALL retention judges. Judges from our communities, who know the law and apply it with common sense, fairness and compassion. An independent judiciary is critical to our democracy. It guarantees the rule of law over political passions and public opinions. Now, more than ever, our rights are under attack. It is critical that we keep independent, qualified and experienced judges on the bench. For more information, please go to www.cookcountyjudges.org and Facebook.

Retention class members 2026

Appellate Court

201Bertina Lampkin

Circuit Court

203Lewis Nixon
205Kerry M. Kennedy
207Joan E. Powell
209Maureen Ward Kirby
211Edward A. Arce
213Thomas J. Byrne
215Diana L. Kenworthy
217Kristyna Colleen Ryan
219Ursula Walowski
221Anthony C. “Tony” Kyriakopoulos
223Caroline Kate Moreland
225Thomas J. Carroll
227Andrea M. Buford
229John Michael Allegretti
231Kristal R. Rivers
233Steven G. Watkins
235Abbey Fishman Romanek
237Judith C. Rice
239Patrick Kevin Coughlin
241Megan Elizabeth Goldish
243Anjana M.J. Hansen
245Robert D. Kuzas
249Maritza Martinez
251Terrence J. McGuire
253Bridget Anne Mitchell
255James P. Pieczonka
257Patricia O’Brien Sheahan
259Michael A. Forti
261Nichole C. Patton
263Sondra N. Denmark
265Gerardo Tristan, Jr.
267Lynn Weaver Boyle
269Daniel Edward Maloney
271Thomas M. Cushing
273John G. Mulroe
275Tyria B. Walton
277Erin Haggerty Antonietti
279Teresa Molina-Gonzalez
281Patricia Maria Fallon
283Sheree D. Henry
285Celestia L. Mays
287Levander Smith, Jr.
289Julie Bess Aimen
291Laura Ayala-Gonzalez
293Krista D. Butler
295Marie Aileen Dempsey
297Jamie Guerra Dickler
299Jonathan Clark Green
301Mary Catherine Marubio
303Regina A. Mescall
305Lorraine Mary Murphy
307Eileen Marie O’Connor
309Jill Rose Quinn
311Pamela Reaves-Harris
313Tiesha L. Smith
315Chris Stacey
317Perla Tirado
319Elizabeth Anne Walsh
321Maura McMahon Zeller

Cook County Democratic Party 2026 Endorsed Candidates Guide

CookCountyDems.com/Vote-2026

Cook County Democratic Party card, front: Together We Are Powerful. A message from Robyn Gabel, State Representative and Evanston Township Committeeperson: Every election is an opportunity to stand up for the communities we call home. The choices we make at the ballot box directly impact our schools, our neighborhoods, and the opportunities available to our families. At a time when our basic rights, economic stability, and hard-won democracy are on the line, we cannot afford to be divided or disengaged. Together, we have the power to move our communities and our country forward. Vote in every race. Vote Democratic. Early voting starts October 19; Election Day is November 3.

Cook County Democratic Party card, back: 2026 Endorsed Candidates Guide, with ballot numbers: 2 Juliana Stratton for Senator; 5 JB Pritzker for Governor and Christian Mitchell for Lieutenant Governor; 8 Kwame Raoul, Attorney General; 10 Alexi Giannoulias, Secretary of State; 12 Margaret Croke, Comptroller; 14 Michael W. Frerichs, Treasurer; 54 Precious Brady-Davis, 55 Eira Lizeth Corral Sépulveda and 56 Beth McElroy Kirkwood for the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District; 62 Toni Preckwinkle, President of the County Board; 65 Thomas J. Dart, County Sheriff; 68 Pat Hynes, County Assessor. Vote yes on all retention judges.

Important Election Information

Evanston is in suburban Cook County, so the Cook County Clerk is your election authority.

Your Local Elected Officials

For federal and state representatives, see About Us.