2017 Evanston Municipal Election Guide
In 2017, Evanston is electing its local government, through a Primary Election on February 28th and a General Election on April 4th. Use this guide to learn more about the upcoming elections and how you can participate.
About Evanston City Government
City Council
The City Council of Evanston is comprised of the Mayor, City Clerk, and nine Aldermen. Each Alderman represents one of Evanston’s nine wards. The mayor, city clerk, and aldermen each serve four-year terms.
Ward Map
Why Do Local Elections Matter to NU Students?
There are many issues that the Evanston Mayor and City Council work on that directly impact the lives of Northwestern students, including affordable housing and the cost of living (especially off campus), city infrastructure (such as bike lanes and street lights), community police relations, business and economic development (such as the expansion of downtown or the approval of liquor licenses), issues of racial and socioeconomic equity, and environmental sustainability. Evanston’s Mayor and City Council members serve four-year terms, so the decision makers you elect now will be in office throughout your time at NU.
Learn more about the candidates for each office and where they stand on the issues.
When Are the Elections?
PRIMARY ELECTION:
February 28, 2017
Offices:
Mayor & 5th Ward Alderman
How Does It Work?
In Evanston, a primary is held for any race with five or more candidates. The primary narrows the field in each race to two candidates. For the Mayoral primary, if one candidate wins more than 50% of the vote, the primary result for that race is final.
General Election:
April 4, 2017
Offices:
Mayor*, City Clerk, All Aldermen, School Board, Referendum
* Unless a primary candidate wins more than 50% of the vote
What’s on My Ballot?
Note: Candidates are listed in the order they will appear on the ballot. Candidate websites (or alternately, Facebook pages) are linked if they could be found. If you are aware of an official candidate webpage that we’re missing, please email us.
Mayor*
Brian Miller
Mark Tendam
Gary Gaspard
Steve Hagerty
Jeff P. Smith
* Note: All candidates will appear on the Primary Election Ballot. Only the top two vote-getters will appear on the General Election Ballot, unless a candidate wins more than 50% of the vote in the primary. In that case, the primary result will be final, and this race will not appear on the General Election Ballot.
City Clerk
Rodney Greene
Devon Reid
Aldermen (by Ward)
Ward 1
(Includes many on-campus addresses west of Sheridan Road and some common off-campus addresses)
Lee A. Cabot
Judy Fiske
Ward 2
Peter Braithwaite
Ward 3
Alex Morgan
Melissa Wynne
Alex Block
Ward 4
Donald Wilson
Ward 5*
(Includes some common off-campus addresses)
Robin Rue
Carolyn Murray
Daniel Featherson
Carlis Sutton
Misty Witenberg
* Note: All candidates will appear on the Primary Election Ballot. Only the top two vote-getters will appear on the General Election Ballot.
Ward 6
Thomas M. Suffredin
Virginia Mann
Ward 7
(Includes many on-campus addresses east of Sheridan Road)
Eleanor Revelle
Ward 8
Ann Rainey
Robert “Rob” Bady
Ward 9
Cicely L. Fleming
Shawn Jones
School Board
School Board District 65
(Four Seats with Four-Year Terms)
Candace Chow
Nicholas Korzeniowski
Lindsay M. Cohen
Suni Kartha
Joseph A. Hailpern
(One Seat with a Two-Year Term)
Anya Tanyavutti
School Board District 202
(Four Seats with Four-Year Terms)
Russell Kohnken
Patricia Savage-Williams
Gretchen Livingston
Patricia Maunsell
Jude Laude
Anne Sills
Referendum
Property Tax Increase for School Funding
Learn More
We recommend reviewing candidates’ websites and candidate questionnaires, reading local news articles, and attending debates and forums before voting. Visit the Evanston RoundTable for candidate profiles and questionnaires, and Evanstonnow.com for videos of candidate forums.
For a sample ballot, use the Cook County Voter Information Search Tool.
Registration and Voting FAQs
About Voting in the 2017 Evanston Municipal Elections
Registration
Who can vote in the Evanston Municipal Elections?
You can vote in the Evanston Municipal Elections if you are registered to vote at an Evanston address.
How do I know if or where I’m registered?
You can check your registration status online at canivote.org, or for Evanston specifically, with the Cook County Voter Information Search Tool.
What if my election authority says I’m not registered?
If you registered recently, it often takes several weeks for registration requests to be processed. If your record cannot be located, or you have concerns about your registration, contact your local election official. For Evanston specifically, e-mail Voter.Reg@cookcountyil.gov or call (312) 603-0906. If you run into a problem, don’t panic – you still have the option to register and vote in Evanston through Election Day.
How can I register to vote in Evanston?
| Primary Election Deadline | General Election Deadline (Registration Opens March 1) |
|
| By Mail (Come to CCE to Print & Mail) |
January 31 | March 7 |
| Online (Requires an IL Drivers License or State ID) |
February 12 | March 19 |
If you have passed these deadlines, it is not too late! Register and vote on the same day, through Grace Period Registration.
Is it too late to register to vote?
No. If you haven’t registered yet, it is not too late!
Grace Period Registration
Grace Period Registration allows you to register and vote on the same day, up to the day before the election.
If you live in Evanston (regardless of which ward you live in), you can register and vote at the Evanston Civic Center (2100 Ridge Ave) during the following dates and times:
| Primary Election | General Election | |
| Grace Period Registration & Voting | February 1 – 27 Monday – Saturday 9am – 5pm |
March 8 – March 25 Monday – Saturday 9am – 5pm & March 26 – April 3 Monday – Friday 9am – 7pm Saturday 9am – 5pm Sunday 10am – 4pm |
To register to vote, you must present TWO forms of ID. You should be prepared to cast your ballot immediately after registering.
Election Day Registration
You can also register to vote on Election Day at your polling place with TWO forms of ID. However, you may wish to register and vote before Election Day, to avoid the possibility of longer wait times.
What do I need to bring to register?
To register to vote, you must present TWO two forms of ID:
- A Wildcard, driver’s license, state ID, passport, birth certificate, or social security card
- Something that shows your Evanston address: Postmarked mail, a utility bill, a bank or credit card statement, a pay stub, a lease or rental contract, or a printout from CAESAR that shows your campus address (CAESAR > Main Menu > Personal Profile > My Addresses)
I am currently registered at my permanent address. Can I change my registration to my Evanston address?
Yes. College students have a legal right to register and vote at either their permanent address or their campus address.
Voting
Where do I vote? Where is my polling place?
You have the option to either early vote or vote on Election Day. To vote on Election Day (Primary Election: February 28th or General Election: April 4th), you must go to your assigned polling place.
To find your polling place, use the Voter Information Search Tool. If you are registered to vote with an on-campus address, your polling place is likely either Patten Gym (2407 Sheridan) or Parkes Hall (1870 Sheridan). Polls are open from 6 AM to 7 PM.
Can I vote early?
Yes. Early voting allows you to avoid long lines at the polls on Election Day by casting your ballot ahead of time. If you live in Evanston (regardless of which ward you live in), you can vote at the Evanston Civic Center (2100 Ridge Ave, Room G-300 on the Ground Floor) during the following dates and times:
| Primary Election | General Election | |
| Early Voting | February 13 – 27 Monday – Saturday 9am – 5pm |
March 8 – March 25 Monday – Saturday 9am – 5pm & March 26 – April 3 Monday – Friday 9am – 7pm Saturday 9am – 5pm Sunday 10am – 4pm |
You can register to vote on all early voting days, however, you must present TWO forms of ID to do so.
Can I vote by mail?
If you are already registered to vote in Evanston, you have the option to Vote by Mail. You must request a Vote by Mail ballot by February 23rd for the Primary Election or March 30th for the General Election, though you are encouraged to apply as early as possible to make sure you receive your ballot on time. You will be mailed a paper ballot to complete, sign, and mail or deliver back. Your ballot must be postmarked by Election Day. Stop by CCE if you need help returning your Vote by Mail ballot.
If you have requested a Vote by Mail ballot but have not yet received one, e-mail Mail.Voting@cookcountyil.gov or call (312) 603-0946 to verify the status of your ballot application. If you encounter further issues, consider voting in person – you still have the option to either early vote or vote on Election Day.
What do I need to bring to vote? What can I take with me into the voting booth?
You are not required to show ID when voting, but we recommend bringing a Wildcard or other photo ID just in case.
You are allowed to bring notes or sample ballots with you to the voting booth and look up information on your phone. However, in Illinois, you may NOT take any photos of your ballot or inside the polling place.
What if I don’t have my Voter Registration Card?
You don’t need your Voter Registration Card to vote; however, you must be registered. Make sure to verify your registration status online at canivote.org, or for Evanston specifically, with the Cook County Voter Information Search Tool. If you are not registered in Evanston, you can still register and vote.
What is on the ballot? How can I learn more?
Primary Election: February 28, 2017
Offices: Mayor & 5th Ward Alderman
How Does It Work? A primary is held for any race with five or more candidates. The primary narrows the field in each race to two candidates. For the Mayoral primary, if one candidate wins more than 50% of the vote, the primary result for that race is final.
General Election: April 4, 2017
Offices: Mayor (Unless a primary candidate wins more than 50% of the vote), City Clerk, All Aldermen, School Board, Referendum
View a list of candidates for each race. We recommend reviewing candidates’ websites and candidate questionnaires, reading local news articles, and attending debates and forums before voting. Visit the Evanston RoundTable for candidate profiles and questionnaires, and Evanstonnow.com for videos of candidate forums.
For a sample ballot, use the Cook County Voter Information Search Tool.
Miscellaneous
How can I get more involved?
Consider volunteering for a candidate’s campaign (visit candidate websites to learn more) or working as an election judge at a polling place on election day.
Sources & Additional Resources
Evanston City Clerk – Election & Voting Information
Cook County Clerk – Election & Voting Information
Evanston Roundtable – Candidate Profiles & Questionnaires
Evanstonnow.com – Videos of Candidate Forums
Other Questions?
If you have additional questions about registration or voting, please contact your local election officials. You can also stop by the Center for Civic Engagement (1813 Hinman Ave), tweet @NUVotes, Facebook message NU Votes, or email nuvotes@northwestern.edu and we will do our best to assist you.
