Hinsdale residents who vote early at Village Hall could see that option delayed or eliminated this November if a $2.5 million funding dispute between DuPage County Clerk Jean Kaczmarek and the county board isn't resolved.

Kaczmarek says her office cannot run the Tuesday, Nov. 3 general election without additional money, the Chicago Tribune reported. The potential consequences: fewer polling places across DuPage County's 600 precincts, a later start to early voting and fewer election judges.

"I've had 11 flawless elections since I've been in office," Kaczmarek said Saturday, Aug. 22. "I'm sad to think that we're at this point that the last election will not be flawless unless we get the money, and I will not take responsibility for it."

The county board is expected to take up the funding question at its Wednesday, Aug. 26 meeting. Kaczmarek says she does not plan to attend.

The numbers

The DuPage County Board approved a 2026 election budget of $7.47 million for the clerk's office, a 14% increase over what was spent in the 2022 gubernatorial election cycle. Kaczmarek says it's still roughly $2.5 million short.

Budget figures show the strain. The clerk's office has burned through 99.8% of its postage budget ($276,569 of $277,050) and 74% of its printing budget ($351,126 of $474,700), with November ballot printing costs still ahead. Deputy chief Adam Johnson said those figures primarily reflect costs from the March 2026 primary and that nothing has been prepaid for November.

Kaczmarek had originally requested $734,672 for postage and $623,226 for printing. The county approved far less. County officials say Kaczmarek did not submit her budget in the required format last year, forcing the finance department to build it on her behalf.

A dispute with history

The funding standoff is the latest chapter in a multi-year conflict between Kaczmarek and county leadership over budget authority. In June 2025, her office had roughly $1.2 million in unpaid election vendor invoices, and a DuPage judge was asked to intervene.

Kaczmarek says the board has known about the $2.5 million gap since at least October 2025, when she and Johnson told board members at a finance committee meeting that the proposed budget would leave her office short.

DuPage County Board Chair Deb Conroy disputes that characterization. In an Aug. 13 email to Kaczmarek, Conroy urged the clerk to formally request additional funds. As of Friday, Aug. 21, Conroy said Kaczmarek had not provided specifics or made any formal request.

Conroy told the Tribune the money is available if the clerk asks for it, and accused Kaczmarek of "obstructing the election" by refusing to submit a formal funding request.

Political backdrop

Kaczmarek lost her reelection bid in the March 2026 primary. The November election will be the last she administers. The woman who defeated her, county board member Paula Deacon Garcia, now holds a dual role: she sits on the board that controls the purse strings while running to replace Kaczmarek as clerk.

Deacon Garcia said no one in the budget process can expect a blank check.

Kaczmarek said she is reviewing her options with her office's election attorney.

What it means for Hinsdale

Hinsdale Village Hall at 19 E. Chicago Ave. is listed as a permanent early voting location for the Nov. 3 election, with voting tentatively set to begin Monday, Oct. 19. The county's early voting page notes that locations may change, with a finalized list expected by Thursday, Sept. 17.

If the funding gap forces cuts, Hinsdale voters could see that start date pushed back or their local polling site affected. The county has not specified which precincts or locations would be cut first.

The county board meets Wednesday, Aug. 26. We will file a follow-up after that meeting with any action taken on election funding.

Hinsdale government week ahead

• Wednesday, Aug. 26: DuPage County Board regular meeting. Election funding dispute expected on the agenda. Check dupagecounty.gov for time and public comment sign-up.
• Thursday, Sept. 17: DuPage County Election Division expected to publish finalized early voting locations for the Nov. 3 general election.