A nonpartisan resource for the April 4, 2023 Consolidated Election
Essential Resources | Registration & Early Voting | Important Dates | FAQs | Election Authorities | Education/News | Political Parties
Consolidated election: “An election where more than one jurisdiction is holding an election on the same day, and participating jurisdictions take an official action to combine elections on the same ballot.” –U.S. Election Assistance Commission
ELECTION RESULTS
ESSENTIAL RESOURCES FOR VOTERS
Lake County Voter Power – A powerhouse research tool for currently registered voters. (En Español)
- View a copy of your ballot
- See a list of districts
- Find your polling place
- Request a vote-by-mail ballot by providing some basic information (i.e. name, date of birth, etc.).
Voter’s Bill of Rights – Know your rights as a voter.
VOTER REGISTRATION & EARLY VOTING
HOW TO REGISTER
Voting privileges are extended to U.S. Citizens at least 18 years or older that have been a resident of their precinct for 30 days prior to an election and can provide two forms of valid identification.
- Lake County Voter Registration Information
- In person at Cook Park Library or Aspen Drive Library (thru March 7).
- In person at any early voting site March 20-April 3 and on election day at your assigned polling place.
- Online (thru March 19).
- By Mail (postmarked or delivered 28 days prior to Election Day) – download PDF or complete online form and print. Requests to vote by mail must be received by the Lake County Clerk’s office by 5 pm on March 30.
- Automatic Voter Registration – Automatic Voter Registration, commonly known as “AVR,” is a bipartisan initiative and establishes electronic voter registration at multiple Illinois state agencies, including at Secretary of State Driver’s Services facilities.
- Restoration of Voting Rights after a felony conviction.
EARLY VOTING
Early voting starts March 10 at the Lake County Clerk’s office (18 N. County Street Room 101, Waukegan, IL 60085).
Vote at Early Voting Sites starting March 20.
Check back for information on early voting locations and hours from the Lake County Clerks office. Or, lookup your polling place with the IL State Board of Elections tool.
IMPORTANT DATES
| March 7 | Last day of voter registration with a deputy registrar. |  |
| March 8 | Grace period registration begins at Lake County Clerk's office. | |
| March 10 | First day of early voting at Lake County Clerk's office. | |
| March 17 | Last day of early voting at Lake County Clerk's office. | |
| March 19 | Last day to register to vote online. | |
| March 20 | First day of early voting and grace period registration at Early Voting Sites | |
| March 30 | Last day to request vote by mail ballot. | |
| April 3 | Last day for early voting/grace period registration at Early Voting Sites. | |
| April 4 | Consolidated Election. Polls open 6 AM to 7 PM. | |
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
If you have moved to Lake County from another county in Illinois or from a different state:
- Complete a NEW voter registration application.
If you have moved addresses within Lake County:
- Complete the form on the back of your Voter's Certificate of Registration Card and return to the Lake County Clerk's office.
- Registered voters may apply for a vote-by-mail ballot for the current election beginning 90 days before the election.
- You may also register for permanent vote-by-mail status to receive a mail-in ballot for all subsequent elections.
You have the legal choice of registering to vote in your home state of Illinois or the state where you attend college, but not both. For more information on your options, read this short article on Vote.org.
Yes. Persons experiencing homelessness can register and vote in all 50 states. For more information read Voting and Homelessness (Nonprofit VOTE).
Yes. Under the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act, qualified servicemembers, their families, and U.S. citizens living overseas may register to vote and request a vote-by-mail ballot simultaneously. Additional information and assistance may be found on the Federal Voting Assistance Program website.
According to the Lake County Clerk's office, pollwatchers must be registered to vote in Illinois and be affiliated with the political party or the organization for which they are poll watching.
Pollwatchers must have proper credentials which are issued by the local election authority or the Illinois State Board of Elections after being first authorized by one of the following:
- The state or local political party; or
- A candidate; or
- The presiding officer of a civic organization; or
- The chairman of the proponent or opponent
- Group (of a public question).
Click here to learn more and download the Lake County Clerk Pollwatcher Guide
ELECTION AUTHORITIES
Office of Lake County Clerk – The official website of the Lake County Clerk; with answers to questions like “Who can register to vote?”, “Where do I vote?” and voting options. (En Español)
Illinois State Board of Elections – A quick and easy way to find candidate filings, general election information, and to verify if you are registered to vote in Illinois.
USA.gov – An interagency portal of the United States government including information on voting and the election process.
EDUCATING VOTERS
BallotReady – A one stop shop where you can check your registration, make a plan to vote, and research every name and measure on the ballot.
Ballotpedia– “The Encyclopedia of American Politics” including sample ballots and candidate profiles.
Local Election News Coverage:
- Daily Herald Politics and Elections
- Chicago Tribune Elections
- Chicago Sun Times Elections
- Cook Library Newsstand Page. If you’re hitting the paywall on news sites, use your library card for free digital access provided by the library. Access the Daily Herald, New York Times, Washington Post, Wall Street Journal, and more.
Vote411 – A “one-stop-shop” for voter and election information launched in 2006 by the League of Women Voters Education Fund. (En Español)
TurboVote – Sign up to receive text reminders about upcoming elections including: dates, how to check voter registration or request a vote-by-mail ballot/vote early, and the address of your election day polling place.
POLITICAL PARTIES
DEMOCRATIC PARTY – National | Illinois | Lake County
GREEN PARTY – National | Illinois | Lake County
LIBERTARIAN PARTY – National | Illinois | Lake County
REPUBLICAN PARTY – National | Illinois | Lake County
This page is compiled and maintained by librarians at the Cook Memorial Public Library District. Links to political parties are for informational purposes only and do not in any way constitute an endorsement.
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Last updated February 8, 2023
