WHEATON, IL: DuPage County Clerk Jean Kaczmarek announces “Vote Anywhere” Election Day voting for 2022. DuPage will be the first county in Illinois to launch the option for voters to cast a ballot in any one of its 263 polling places, instead of limiting the choice to a voter’s precinct polling place or vote center.

“Now voters may cast their ballot conveniently at a polling place near their job or school, instead of rushing to or from their home precinct,” County Clerk Kaczmarek says. “Best of all, DuPage voters will no longer be turned away on Election Day for being in the wrong polling place in the county.”

Registered voters already could vote outside their assigned precinct polling place in DuPage County for the 39 days of Early Voting. The County Clerk’s office is now extending this option for an additional day, using the same Early Voting system, process, and safeguards on Election Day.

“Two developments late in 2021 combined to create “Vote Anywhere” Election Day. In October, our office purchased the new Hart Verity complete print-on-demand voting system, so we no longer need to stockpile pre-printed ballots at polling places for just three or four precincts. After check-in, each voter now receives their freshly printed ballot on site. In November, the Illinois General Assembly passed legislation 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,” County Clerk Kaczmarek says.

The number of precincts remains unchanged from 2020 and the number of polling places in use is estimated to be essentially the same as 2020, pending location availability. No voter will be deprived of their local polling place in order to fulfill “Vote Anywhere” Election Day voting. As always, strict security measures will be in place to ensure one person, one vote.

Voters may apply now online for a vote-by-mail application for the Primary Election or for permanent vote-by-mail to receive a ballot in all future elections:

https://www.dupagecounty.gov/Election/VoteByMail/

May 19th is the first day of Early Voting at the DuPage Fairgrounds. Starting June 13th, 22 Early Voting sites will open – four more than 2020 and double the number from 2018. June 28th is Primary Election Day with 263 polling locations.

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

Voter turn-out in the 2018 Primary Election in DuPage County was 24.88%, and 19.19% for the 2014 Primary. DuPage County currently has 636,173 registered voters.

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