• Editor’s Note: This article has been corrected to reflect the start date for requesting a vote-by-mail ballot. The original article incorrectly said Wednesday, Dec. 20, was the deadline for requesting a vote-by mail ballot.

Sure, it’s still 2017, but the holidays are here, and there are a lot of important dates coming up quickly to prepare yourself to make an informed vote in the 2018 primary.

For example, the first opportunity to get a vote-by-mail ballot is Wednesday, Dec. 20, 2017.

What offices are on the ballot in the March 20 primary?

Local offices include county clerk, county sheriff, county treasurer, regional superintendent of schools, odd-numbered County Board districts and precinct committeeman.

Statewide, probably the biggest hoopla will be regarding the race for Illinois governor and lieutenant governor. Other elected positions in state government — attorney general, secretary of state, comptroller and treasure — will be on the ballot, as well.

Elections for the office of Illinois House of Representatives and Illinois State Senate will take place in 2018. All 118 House seats are up for election in 2018, and a total of 39 seats out of the chamber’s 59 seats are up for election in 2018.

On the federal level, all of Illinois’ 18 seats in the United States House of Representatives will be up for election in 2018.

The filing period for the 2018 primary started Monday, Nov. 27, and concludes at 5 p.m. Monday, Dec. 4. The names of local candidates who have filed so far appear on the “candidates” page of the Kane County Clerk’s Office website. Additional links are below.

2018 General Primary Candidates

• Kane County Republican Candidates
• Kane County Democratic Candidates
• City of Aurora Republican Precinct Committeemen Candidates
• City of Aurora Democratic Precinct Committeemen Candidates

IMPORTANT DATES — 2018 GENERAL PRIMARY

Click here to see the full 2017-2019 Election Calendar!

• Election Day: Tuesday, March 20, 2018
• Request vote by mail ballot:
  • Starts: Wednesday, Dec.  20, 2017 (Ballots will not be sent until Feb. 8, 2018.)
• Last Day to Register to Vote: Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2018
• Early Voting Period (only at the Kane County elections main office)
  • Starts: Thursday, Feb. 8, 2018
  • Ends: Monday, March 19, 2018
• Grace Period Registration (only at the Kane County elections main office)
  • Starts: Wednesday, Feb. 21, 2018
  • Ends: Monday, March 19, 2018
• Extended Grace Period Registration & Voting (early and Election Day polling places)
  
  • Starts: Monday, March 5, 2018
  • Ends: Monday, March 19, 2018
• Early Voting Period (only at Kane County elections main office)
  • Starts: Thursday, Feb. 8, 2018
  • Ends: Monday, March 19, 2018
• Early Voting Period (at all early-voting polling places)
  • Starts: Monday, March 5, 2018
  • Ends: Monday, March 19, 2018
• Issue Vote By Mail Ballot
  • For Military/Overseas: Friday, Feb. 2, to Monday, March 12, 2018
  • For All Other Vote By Mail: Thursday, Feb. 8, to Thursday, March 15, 2018
• Last Day to Count Vote By Mail & Provisional Ballots
  • Tuesday, Apr 3, 2018

SOURCE: Kane County Clerk’s Office election website