Early voting in the April 5 consolidation elections begins today and ends March 31. 

"Local officials affect lives a great deal, so voter participation is crucial," Cook County Clerk David Orr said in a statement. "Government functions better when more people are heard."

Here's what you'll need
Voters are required to present election officials with "valid identification" before receiving a ballot. According to the clerk's office, valid forms of ID include a current driver's license, state-issued ID card or another government-issued ID with a photograph.

Here's where Wilmette and Kenilworth residents can cast early ballots.
Thanks to touch screens that store different ballot types, registered voters can visit any one of suburban Cook County's 43 early voting locations, which you can find here. But the closest locations for local voters include: 

• Centennial Park, 2300 Old Glenview Road in Wilmette
• Evanston Civic Center, 2100 Ridge Ave. in Evanston
• Skokie Village Hall, 5127 Oakton St. in Skokie
• Skokie Courthouse, 5600 W. Old Orchard Road in Skokie
• Glenview Village Hall, 1224 Waukegan Road in Glenview
• Northbrook Village Hall, 4000 N. Olcott Ave. in Northbrook

All sites are open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays and Saturdays. The Skokie Courthouse location is open Sundays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Have more questions? The clerk's website has a helpful FAQ section, which addresses all types of voter concerns, from instructions on how to send an absentee ballot to securing assistance for voters with disabilities.