Your Vote: A Guide to the Nov. 6 Election

Election Day is finally here. 

Patch will keep you up to date Tuesday with all the major state and local races—from the hotly contested congressional districts to the DuPage County Board.

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.

Find your polling place: 

• Election 2012: Find Your Polling Place for Nov. 6

LOCAL RACES

Because of redistricting required after the 2010 census, all 18 seats on the DuPage County Board are up for grabs this election. There are 29 candidates running in six districts, 18 of which are Republicans and 11 Democrats.

Because of redistricting, winners will not immediately know the length of their terms. A lottery will be held after the election to determine which seats are four-year terms and which are two-year terms.

The DuPage County Forest Preserve will also see several new faces following Tuesday's election. In Districts 1, 2 and 3, Republican incumbents are all facing Democratic challengers. In Districts 4, 5 and 6, there are no incumbents running.

Like the county board, the forest preserve commission will hold a lottery after the election to determine term lengths.

DuPage County Board, District 2

• Elizabeth "Liz" Chaplin (D)
• Peter DiCianni (R)
• Sean T. Noonan (R)
• Elaine Zannis (R)

DuPage County Board, District 3

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

DuPage County Forest Preserve, District 2

• Joe Cantore* (R)
• Don Kirchenberg (D)

DuPage County Forest Preserve, District 3

• Linda Painter* (R)
• Steve Leopoldo (D)

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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 Chicago Southland, the GOP challengers are a mix of first-time office seekers and candidates who've battled the Democratic Machine in the past.

41st Senate: Christine Radogno (R) unopposed

43rd Senate: Pat McGuire (D) vs. Sandy Johnson (R) 

81st House: Ron Sandack (R) unopposed

82nd House: Jim Durkin (R) unopposed

85th House: Emily McAsey (D) unopposed

REFERENDA

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:

• 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)

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

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