Your Vote: A Guide to the Nov. 6 Election

Oak Park, Forest Park and River Forest residents will be choosing a representative in the 7th congressional district, 39th state Senate district and more on Tuesday, Nov. 6. 

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

There are various Cook County Board of Review seats up for election. Unsure of your precinct? Simply fill out your address on the "Voter Information" page on Cook County Clerk David Orr's website (be patient, the site will be getting a lot of traffic so it might take a minute to load). There, you can find your polling place, the sample ballot and a list of your elected officials, as well as their contact information.

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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.

State Senate

4th District: Kimberly Lightford (D) unopposed (Oak Park, River Forest, Forest Park)

39th District: Don Harmon (D) vs. Daniel Kay (I) (Oak Park, River Forest)

State House

7th District: Emanuel "Chris" Welch (D) unopposed (Forest Park, River Forest)

8th District: LaShawn K. Ford (D) unopposed (Oak Park)

78th District: Camille Lilly (D) unopposed (Oak Park and River Forest)

REFERENDA

Village of Oak Park: Advisory referendum question regarding Fracking

Village of Oak Park: Advisory referendum to amend the constitution to regulate political finanical contributions and to limit the rights of corporations in the political process.

Village of River Forest: Referendum question regarding Home Rule

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 ... 

4th District: Luis Guitierrez (D) unopposed (Forest Park)

7th District: Danny K. Davis (D) vs. Rita Zak (R) vs. John H. Monaghan (I) (Oak Park, River Forest, Forest Park)