Be a Voter

• Tuesday, March 19, 2024 – Illinois Spring Primary Election. 
• Feb 8 to March 1 – vote early at the Lake County Clerk’s office
• February 20 – last day to register to vote at the Library.
• March 3 – last day to register to vote online.
• March 4 to March 18 – vote early at your early voting location county-wide. Early voting sites throughout Lake County.
• “Super Tuesday” – March 5. There is no election in Illinois on this day.
• March 14 – last day to request a vote-by-mail ballot.
• March 19 – Polls are open at your day-of-election location from 6 am to 7 pm. Voting Sites by assigned precinct number.

• The date of the November General Election is Tuesday, November 5, 2024.
• August 7 – Lake County Clerk begins accepting vote-by-mail applications.
• September 20 – Lake County Clerk starts mailing vote-by-mail ballots to people and voting-eligible family members of the United States Service and voters residing overseas.
• September 26 – Early voting begins at the Lake County Clerk’s office. Lake County Clerk begins mailing ballots to residents.
• October 8 – Last day to register to vote at the Library.
• October 20 – Last day to register to vote online.
• October 21 – Early voting begins county-wide. Early voting sites throughout Lake County.
• October 31 – Last day to request a mail-in-ballot.
• November 4 – Last day of early voting.
• November 5 – Day of General Election. Polls are open at your day-of-election location from 6 am to 7 pm. Voting Sites by assigned precinct number.

• General Primary: Third Tuesday in March.
  Nomination of Federal, State, and County candidates by an established political party.
• General Election: First Tuesday after the First Monday in November.
  Election of Federal, State, and County officials.

• Consolidated Primary: Last Tuesday in February.
  Nomination of Township and Municipal Candidates. Some precincts might not have a consolidated primary.
• Consolidated Election: First Tuesday in April.
  Election of Township, Municipal, Park District, Library District, School District, and Fire District officials.

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. Find more information with Campus Vote Project.

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

Find election results on the county clerk’s website under “election results.” Choose “Lake County Archived Election Results,” or click the link here for results in English. Haga clic aquí para ver los resultados en Español

According to the Lake County Clerk’s Office you have the right to:

• Cast your ballot in a non-disruptive atmosphere free of interference.
• Vote if you’re in line by 7 PM.
• Vote by provisional ballot if your registration is not found.
• Vote at your old voting site if you have moved within 30 days of the election.
• Request assistance in voting, if qualified.
• Bring newspaper endorsements or sample ballots into the voting booth but take them with you when you finish voting.
• Protect the secrecy of your ballot.
• Receive a new ballot if you make a mistake or change your mind.
• Screen your ballot after voting to ensure it is complete and correct.
• Have your ballot counted fairly and impartially.

If you believe these rights have been violated, call the Lake County Clerk’s office at 847-377-2400.