McHenry County Clerk Website as of 1/31/2026
Category: McHenry County
McHenry County League of Women Voters Invites Algonquin Township Residents to a Congressional D9 Primary Candidate Meet and Greet.
Confirmed Attendees:
Democrats: Kat Abughazaleh, Bushra Amiwala, Phil Andrew, Daniel Biss, Justin Ford Senator Laura Fine, Sam Polan, Howard Rosenblum, Senator Mike Simmons
Republicans: Mark Su
Congressional Illinois District 9 Map
Campaign Finance Data
A PC is Your Biggest Political Ally
If you have a precinct committeeperson (PC) in your neighborhood get to know them. A precinct committeeperson literally delivers democracy to your door and is your biggest political ally. We educate and empower voters!
Focus on nominating petitions and why you need to participate
PC duties include:
- Pass nominating petitions for candidates
- Distributing candidate information
- Voter education
- Driving voter turnout within our precinct
- Endorsing/Recommending candidates
- Voter registration
- Fundraising assistance
- Recruiting election judges
- Recruit volunteers
- Pollwatching
You cannot for vote for candidates if they are not on your ballot.
Read that again. Have you ever wondered how candidates get onto your ballot? Your signature! One of my primary responsibilities is to circulate petitions. I literally bring democracy to your door when I knock for your signature. This is a team effort. It is THE most important way to participate in the electoral process besides voting.
Candidates can only gain ballot access if they meet the petition signature requirements set by the state of Illinois. Candidates running for US Congress, State, County and local offices may be required to collect dozens, hundreds, or thousands of petition signatures. This can be a serious challenge for candidates who are working against the clock, sometimes with little help, to meet a filing deadline. This is where you and I help!
I only circulate petitions for Democrats. I meet candidates in advance to gain an understanding of their platform and who they are, and if they are vetted by our local party. I am an advocate for the voters in my precinct. I protect your vote. Having a group of voters that understand the process, recognize me when I knock their door, and understand why I make brief visits during the election cycle allows for an increase in community participation.
Once a qualified voter (ex: you) signs a petition for a Democratic candidate (ex: county board) to appear on the primary ballot, they cannot sign a petition for a candidate of any other party for any other race (ex: senate, governor etc…) in the primary.
Imagine this: Someone comes to your door. They present you with petition. You sign it and it is your first petition of the primary season. They do not tell you what I just did. You later learn the person was a Republican candidate! Now you cannot sign petitions for any Democrats! Things just got more difficult.
If you get to know your PC you do not have to worry about this
What is a Precinct Committeeperson?
Often referred to as “the most powerful office in the world”, there is no political officeholder that is closer to voters than a precinct committeeperson (PC). We are on your ballot in even-year spring primaries, yet most voters have no clear understanding of the importance of the role that a PC holds.
First, what is a precinct?
If you are resident of McHenry County, you live in one of the 10,000+ precincts, in one of the 1,428 townships, in one of the 102 counties, in the state of Illinois!
Below are links to 223 individual precinct maps, in each of the 17 townships, in McHenry County, Illinois. Algonquin Township has the most precincts (63):
Alden (1), Algonquin (63), Burton (4), Chemung (5), Coral (3), Dorr (14), Dunham (2), Grafton (38), Greenwood (10), Hartland (2), Hebron (2), Marengo (5), McHenry (34), Nunda (29), Richmond (6), Riley (2), Seneca (3).
Precincts are the smallest unit that electoral districts are divided into. Illinois law sets maximum precinct size to 1,200 voters. Each precinct has a specific polling station where its residents go to vote on Election Day, however, more than one precinct may use the same polling station. The McHenry County Clerk decides how best to mange the needs the voters in each precinct and how each polling station is supplied with election judges, ballots and voting equipment.
What PC’s do and the statutory power they hold
PC’s are the backbone of the Democratic Party. It is a grassroots, volunteer effort. After being elected (or appointed) into the precinct we live in, we take an oath and a firm commitment to uphold our responsibility to the party. We participate in training, meetings and work to keep informed of local news and government action, that help us act as highly informed liaison between voters in our community and the Party.
Our work helps choose whose names will appear on the ballot for elective office, and what will be the policies of the political parties that provide the major support for those candidates. We engage voters at the door where we educate, take in their input and help them flex their political muscle. We are strong advocates for the interest of the voters in our precincts.
We also hold statutory power that is weighted by voter participation at the polls in the primary to help shape the Executive Board with our vote for County Chair and Executive Officers at the Democratic County Central Committee Convention every two years, following the Primary Election. Appointed PC’s hold the same opportunity to vote, however, unlike elected PC’s they can be removed by the Chair. Of of 223 precincts 109 are filled.
Our duties include:
- Pass petitions for candidates
- Distributing candidate information
- Voter education
- Driving voter turnout within our precinct
- Endorsing/Recommending candidates
- Voter registration
- Fundraising assistance
- Recruiting election judges
- Recruit volunteers
- Pollwatching
Illinois Election cycle and Precinct Committeeperson elections.
There is an election every year in Illinois. Example for 2024-2028:
2024 Presidential – spring primary
2025 Municipal (non -partisan election)
2026 Midterm (Congressional/Gubernatorial)- spring primary
2027 Municipal (non partisan election)
2028 Presidential – spring primary
PC’s are elected every two years in the primary of Presidential and Midterm elections because we are members of a political party Central Committee (Democratic or Republican). Just like other candidates we circulate petitions to gain ballot access for the primary election. We also circulate petitions for candidates running for state, county and federal seats.
Ready to help us keep Democracy on track? https://www.mchenrydems.org
McHenry County NOW Event
McHenry County NOW hosted an event on International Women’s Day and over 700 people attended. The group screamed their frustrations out. Shared stories, hugs and bonded. They learned about upcoming local elections on April 1, 2025. People came from Chicago, Kane County, Lake County and beyond. Since then, the organization has gained much attention by those who do NOT support the issues NOW prioritizes: https://mchenryconow.org/now-priorities/
It is likely that this event on April 5 is going to have a tremendous turn out.
NOW Priorities
Constitutional Equality Amendment
Equality in pay, job opportunities, political structure, social security and education will remain an elusive dream without a guarantee of equality in the U.S Constitution. The progress we have made – and must continue to make – towards women’s equality can be lost at any time because those advances depend on legislation that can be (and has been) weakened or repealed by Congress. Because the Equal Rights Amendment has not yet become law, winning a constitutional guarantee of equality for women remains one of NOW’S top priorities.
Reproductive Justice
NOW affirms that reproductive rights are issues of life and death for women, not mere matters of choice. NOW fully supports access to safe and legal abortion, effective birth control and emergency contraception, and reproductive health services and education for all women. We oppose attempts to restrict these rights through legislation, regulation, or Constitutional amendment.
Racial Justice
NOW condemns the racism that inflicts a double burden of race and sex discrimination on women of color. Seeing human rights as indivisible, we are committed to identifying and fighting against those barriers to equality and justice that are imposed by racism. A leader in the struggle for civil rights since its inception in 1966, NOW is committed to diversifying our movement, and we continue to fight for equal opportunities for women of color in all areas, including employment, education, and reproductive rights.
LGBTQIA+ Rights
NOW was a leader in achieving marriage equality and continues to be committed to fighting discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity in all areas, including employment, housing, public accommodations, health services, child custody, and military policies. NOW is committed to educational efforts that combat the adverse effects of homophobia, promote positive images in the media, and ultimately ensure civil rights protection for all. NOW asserts the right of LGBTQIA individuals to live their lives with dignity and security.
Violence Against Women
Economic Justice
NOW advocates for a wide range of economic justice issues affecting women, from the glass ceiling to the sticky floor of poverty. These include welfare reform, livable wages, job discrimination, pay equity, housing, social security and pension reform and much more.