New system lets DuPage voters cast ballots at any polling place in county

DuPage will be the first county in Illinois to give voters the option of casting their ballots at any of its 263 polling places on Election Day, instead of limiting them to their precinct polling place or vote center, according to the county clerk.

Clerk Jean Kaczmarek said DuPage voters may cast their primary ballot on June 28 at any polling location, whether it’s in their home precinct, near their job or school, or anywhere else, because new equipment allows individualized ballots to be printed on demand.

From talking with election judges and poll watchers, Kaczmarek said voters often show up at the wrong location, in part because a handful of polling places change each election.

That was especially true during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, when some locations declined to serve as polling places, she said.

“DuPage voters will no longer be turned away on Election Day for being in the wrong polling place in the county,” Kaczmarek said.

“Voting has never been easier, more convenient or more secure,” Kaczmarek said. “Now that everything is in place, I’m urging registered voters to take advantage of it and exercise their precious right to vote.”

The League of Women Voters of Naperville outgoing president Becky Simon said the move will make voting more accessible to everyone.

“We hope this brings more voters to the polls,” Simon said.

Voter turnout in the 2018 primary election in DuPage County was just under 25%, and 19% for the 2014 primary. The county has 636,173 registered voters.

Naperville residents who live in Will County will not have that option because voting machines are on a different system.

Registered voters already could vote outside their assigned precinct polling place in DuPage County for the 39 days of early voting.

That option is being extended to Election Day using the same process and safeguards as used in early voting.

Kaczmarek said two developments in late 2021 helped establish the ability to vote anywhere on Election Day.

In October, the clerk’s office purchased the new Hart Verity voting system, where ballots are printed on demand for each voter.

After voters check in with the judges to confirm their identity, each voter will receive a ballot printed on the spot based on their voter registration information.

Also contributing was legislation passed by the Illinois General Assembly in November allowing each county to set up multiple vote centers where residents from all over the county can vote outside their home polling places on Election Day.

The number of precincts remains unchanged from 2020, according to the clerk’s office, and the number of polling places in use is estimated to be essentially the same as 2020, pending location availability.

As always, strict security measures will be in place to ensure one person, one vote, Kaczmarek said.

There’s still time for voters to apply for a voteby-mail application for the June 28 primary or for permanent vote-by-mail to receive a ballot in all future elections. Online registration is available at https:// www.dupagecounty.gov/ Election/VoteByMail/

May 19 is the first day of early voting at the DuPage County Fairgrounds.

Twenty-two early voting sites will open June 13, which is four more than 2020 and double the number from 2018.

Kaczmarek said she’s gratified the county is able to offer so many ways to vote.

“I want the people of DuPage County to have so many voting options that they’re practically tripping over them,” she said.

Next week, each DuPage County voter will receive a mailer containing their polling place designation, updated district information and a permanent voteby-mail application.