Your Vote: A Guide to the Nov. 6 Election

There are a lot of things to vote for Tuesday other than a presidential candidate.

Hinsdale voters can vote for Republican incumbent Kirk Dillard or Democratic challenger A. Ghani for their representative in the 24th State Senate District. Burr Ridge residents can vote for the first U.S. Congressperson to come from the 11th District since the district was re-drawn. Clarendon Hills voters can vote for electric aggregation, which officials say will significantly lower their ComEd bills in the future.

And though we all might forget about just how many decisions we make each Election Day, it'll become quite clear in our respective booths Tuesday morning.

Everything you need to know to make a decision about how to cast your vote can be found on Patch. The links that follow will lead you to candidate profiles and positions, news coverage and candidate blogs.

• Want to talk on election night? Join our live blog at 7 p.m. Tuesday 

LOCAL RACES

Most DuPage voters in Hinsdale and Clarendon Hills, and all DuPage voters in Burr Ridge, will be casting votes for DuPage County Board District 3 candidates. A portion of northern Hinsdale and northern Clarendon Hills will be voting in District 2.

DuPage County Board, District 2

• Liz Chaplin (D)
• Elaine Zannis (R)
• Sean Noonan (R)
• Peter DiCianni (R)

DuPage County Board, District 3

• Sharon E. Bryant (D)
• John Curran (R)
• Brian Krajewski (R)
• Gary Grasso (R)

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GENERAL ASSEMBLY

Republicans are pushing hard to make House Speaker Mike Madigan and the Democratic majorities in the General Assembly an issue. In the Hinsdale area, newcomer A. Ghani is taking on veteran State Senator Kirk Dillard.

24th Senate: Kirk Dillard (R) vs. A. Ghani (D)

41st Senate: Christine Radogno vs. Duane Bradley (Write-in)

47th House: Patricia Bellock (R) unopposed

82nd House: Jim Durkin (R) unopposed

REFERENDA

Electric Aggregation: Shall the Village of Clarendon Hills have the authority to arrange for the supply of electricity for its residential and small commercial retail customers who have not opted out of such program?

DuPage County: Should Illinois law permit an individual to hold two or more public elected offices simultaneously?

State Constitutional Amendment: Also on the ballot is an amendment to the state constitution that would require a three-fifths majority for any government body to change its pension system. Both conservative and liberal lobbying groups have lined up against this amendment, saying it's bad policy and doesn't address the problems with the state's pension burdens.

Related:

• Electric Aggregation Could Cut Supply Rates by 40 Percent: Village Consultant
• Electric Aggregation Referendum OK'd by Clarendon Hills Board
• Clarendon Hills to Study Benefits of Electric Aggregation
• Letter: League of Women Voters to Vote 'No' on Amendment Question Nov. 6

CONGRESS

Two congressional races in northern Illinois are must-watch contests. Democrat Tammy Duckworth's bid to unseat Rep. Joe Walsh, a Tea Party favorite, in the north suburbs has drawn a lot national attention and out-of-district financial support. And in the west suburbs, Rep. Judy Biggert is trying to stay in the House and fend off Bill Foster, a former one-term congressman trying to return to Congress, but the latest polling shows them in a dead heat.

Closer to home ... 

3rd District: Dan Lipinski (D) vs. Richard L. Grabowski (R)

5th District: Mike Quigley (D) vs. Dan Schmitt (R)

6th District: Peter Roskam (R) vs. Leslie Coolidge (D)

Leslie Coolidge of Barrington runs against incumbent Peter Roskam, who has been in Congress since 2007. He serves on the Ways and Means Committee and is Chief Deputy Majority Whip.

11th District: Judy Biggert (R) vs. Bill Foster (D)