Illinois Quick Hits: Technical problems halt early voting in DuPage

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(The Center Square) – The first day of early voting in DuPage County ended early on Thursday.

A statement from County Clerk Jean Kaczmarek’s office said early voting was paused due to a technical issue but would resume during regular hours on Friday.

Illinois Republican Party Chairman Bob Grogan said he was turned away from Downers Grove’s village hall when he went to vote.

Kaczmarek wrote in a letter on August 18 that DuPage County Board Chair Deborah Conroy knowingly ignored her office’s list of itemized election expenses.

"Either give my office the money to run a gold-standard election or don’t. Stop playing games,” Kaczmarek said.

On September 1, the board approved an additional $665,000 in taxpayer funds for postage and printing of mail-in ballots.

OBAMA TO SPEAK AT DECEMBER DEMOCRACY FORUM

Former President Barack Obama is scheduled to deliver the keynote address for the 2026 Democracy Forum at the Obama Presidential Center.

The Obama Foundation announced on Thursday that the event would take place from Dec. 9-11.

LIHEAP APPLICATION PERIOD TO START Oct. 1

Starting on Oct. 1, eligible families can apply for Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program funds by visiting a local agency or the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity website.

State officials said last year's LIHEAP funding provided assistance to 360,500 households, with an average of $676 per household, from October 2025 through August 2026.

FREE CAR SEAT CHECKS AVAILABLE

Free car seat checks will be available at dozens of locations around the state this weekend.

National Seat Check Saturday and the Child Passenger Safety Week campaign is made possible by federal traffic safety funds administered through the Illinois Department of Transportation.

More information is available at Buckle Up Illinois and www.nhtsa.gov/therightseat.