Make Your Vote Count, Then Follow the Results Live on Patch

This long campaign that began a year ago has all come down to zeroes on the countdown timer.

We thank all of the candidates running for local office; good people who want the same things the rest of us want: safe neighborhoods, good schools, nice parks and a thriving local economy. It takes courage to put yourself out there as a candidate, and you have our respect.

Oak Lawn and Hometown polls are open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday, April 9. If you still haven’t made up your mind and want to know more about the local candidates, visit Election Central 2013.

Winners will be announced tonight, so here is our advice to you:

• Get out and VOTE. Hundreds of thousands of dollars have been spent to get you to do exactly that.  Do it.
• Get your friends and neighbors to the polls. Give 'em a ride or walk with them if they need help getting there.
• Bring a government-issued ID with you to the polls. It's not required, but in case there is a problem at the polling place it’s good to have it on hand. Don't lose your right to vote: Bring your driver's license, state ID or passport with you.
• If you see anyone being harassed, if you see voter fraud, if you see something that's not right, call the Cook County Clerk’s office at 312-603-0236.
• Some Oak Lawn and Hometown precincts have changed locations since the last election, so check out the most current list of local polling places. If you’re still not sure where to go vote, you can plug your address into eVoter Illinois to determine the address of your polling place.
• Be patient with election volunteers, poll watchers and election judges. They are community members who don't do this very often.
• Most importantly, remember that someone will win and someone won't.  Feelings will be raw for a while after these hard-fought, emotional, expensive races. But we'll all still be neighbors come April 10. Be kind to each other, okay? No gloating.

Follow Local Election Results Live on Patch:

After the polls close, come back and watch the election returns come in on Oak Lawn Patch. We’ll be posting LIVE election results for the contested Oak Lawn Village Board and Worth Township races.

Get the latest election updates by:

• Suscribing to Oak Lawn Patch breaking news alerts.
• Liking us on Facebook.
• Add your conversation to our comments section or on our Facebook page.

Your local Patch editors, Lorraine Swanson and Dan Lambert will be hunkering down at our election night headquarters at Huck Finn Donuts, before we fan out to talk to the winners and losers. Stop by and say hi if you’re in the neighborhood.