To register to vote you must:

• Be a United States citizen,
• Be at least 18 years of age on or before the next election (17 year old residents may register and vote in primaries if 18th birthday occurs on or before date of the next general or consolidated election),
• Live in your election precinct at least 30 days immediately prior to an election,
• Not be convicted and in jail, and
• Not claim the right to vote anywhere else.

• In person – Open all year except for the 27 days preceding an election. Reopens the second day following an election.
  • At Cook Park Library in Libertyville or Aspen Drive Library in Vernon Hills.
  • The Lake County Clerk’s office, 18 N. County Street, Waukegan during weekday business hours.
  • The Illinois Secretary of State Driver Services Facility when there for other services
  • Most municipal or township offices
  • Precinct committeepersons, or
  • Qualified civic organizations.
• Online (En Español) – Open until 16 days prior to an election.
• By Mail – Postmarked or delivered 28 days prior to Election Day. Download PDF (En Español)

After deputy registrar and mail-in voter registration closes, Grace Period Registration is available and allows you to update your record or register for the first time.

You must:

• Meet citizenship, age, and residency voter registration requirements,
• Provide two forms of valid identification (Both identification documents must have current name, and one must show current physical Lake County Street address), and
• Vote at the time of your registration.

Grace Period Registration is available at:

• The Lake County Clerk’s office, 18 N. County Street, Waukegan during weekday business hours through Election Day.
• Any early voting site when open. Use our locator tool to find a convenient early voting site or the assigned Election Day voting site serving your current address.

• 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.

Use Campaign Legal Center’s Restore Your Vote tool to anonymously answer questions about your situation and find out if you can vote (En Español).

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).

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.