You can now vote by mail or at any early voting location. To learn more about how you can vote, click on this link. To download a sample ballot that you can take with you when you go to vote, click on this link.

The Greater Palatine Area Democrats (GPAD) has not endorsed candidates in the primary. Our organization welcomes supporters of all Democratic candidates. But I'm often asked who I support. As the elected leader of the Democratic Party, I'm happy to share my recommendations. I'd like to highlight a few important ones:

JB Pritzker and Juliana Stratton for Governor and Lieutenant Governor (ballot position 1): JB Pritzker has run a strong, intelligent, and proudly Democratic campaign. He supports a graduated income tax, even though it would cost him a lot of money. He has made innovative proposals like allowing a public option for healthcare coverage. He's our strongest candidate to defeat Bruce Rauner. For a more thorough explanation, read my blog post endorsing JB.

Nancy Rotering for Attorney General (ballot position 11): As Mayor, Nancy Rotering persuaded Highland Park to enact a local assault weapons ban. The NRA took her to the U.S. Supreme Court and lost. If she wins, it will be seen nationally as proof that the NRA can't defeat supporters of gun control.

Patrick Watson for Democratic State Central Committeeman (ballot position 32): Patrick has been a tireless organizer and an important part of our organization. He will continue to grow the Democratic Party in the northwest suburbs.

Cam Davis for Metropolitan Water Reclamation District (write-in after ballot position 69): Cam Davis was head of the Alliance for the Great Lakes and served in the Obama Administration. He's a write-in candidate, so be sure you write in his name.

Ravi Raju for the Cook County Board, 15th District (ballot position 92): Ravi has been working hard to increase participation by Indian-American and other South Asian-American voters. Let's show solidarity with this large and increasingly important community and make Ravi the first Indian-American member of the County Board.

I have not made recommendations for some offices where there are several qualified candidates. Vote for them, too.

If you disagree with my recommendations, I respect your choice. We'll all be supporting the Democratic ticket after March 20th.

Apply now to vote by mail

Any registered voter can vote by mail. You can apply online for a mail ballot now. The last day to apply for a mail ballot is March 15, 2018. Click on this link and then follow the on-screen instructions. If you prefer, you can click here to print out an application for a mail ballot in English, Spanish, Hindi, Korean, or Chinese. You can print it out, complete it, and mail it to the County Clerk.

When you receive your ballot, follow the instructions to complete it. You must mail your ballot by March 20th, but don’t wait until the last minute. Please mail it within a few days after you receive it. That’s the best way to make sure your vote counts.

Voting by mail is the easiest way to vote. It will take you one minute to apply online. You'll receive you ballot in the mail in early March. You can study the candidates, complete the ballot at your convenience, and mail it back to the County Clerk. No need to make time to go to a polling place, find parking, and stand in line. And if you realize you don't know who to vote for for some of the down-ballot races, you can look it up before mailing your ballot. You can't do that in a voting booth.

In fact, three states do ALL their voting by mail. No polling places, no early voting sites, and no election judges. I have written a study of "Universal Vote by Mail." You can read it at www.gpadems.org/uvbm. Let me know what you think.

For information on all the ways to vote, go to www.gpadems.org/vote.

UPDATED 2/6/17, 10:00PM: Our demonstration in Palatine Saturday was highlighted on Rachel Maddow's show this evening. 

Also, Greg Hinz published a column in Crain's Chicago Business today titled "Time for Roskam to show up and meet with his critics" and featuring video from Saturday's protest.

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On Saturday, February 4^th, more than 500 constituents demonstrated outside the office of the Palatine Township Republican Organization where Rep. Peter Roskam (R-IL6) spoke only to Republicans who agree with him. The protest was organized by the Palatine After March Action Group, Action Sixth District Illinois, 6th District of Illinois - Holding Rep. Peter Roskam Accountable,  Northwest Suburbs Organizing for Action (OFA), and other groups.

Channel 2 News covered today’s demonstration. They ran it on both the 5:00 and 10:00 news and posted it online: http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2017/02/04/hundreds-protest-rep-peter-roskam-in-palatine/

I took a much less professional video that shows the size of the crowd: https://youtu.be/Ll5ul5SUnfE

Roskam tried to escape out the back door. https://youtu.be/hcMo-RztuI0

Many other media covered the event:

http://patch.com/illinois/wheaton/hundreds-protest-palatines-congressman

http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20170204/news/170209444/

http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/elgin-courier-news/news/ct-ecn-roskam-protest-st-0205-20170204-story.html

http://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/peter-roskam-protest-palatine-412780383.html

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TT8G3FZ9icQ

https://thinkprogress.org/republican-congressman-sneaks-out-of-meeting-to-avoid-hundreds-of-protesters-d2c65686e719#.aawimtwon

https://medium.com/@janemelvin/sneaking-out-the-back-door-in-the-illinois-6th-93c60f87ec88#.7z5mg5ooi