Registering to Vote
More information about how and where to register to vote can be found on the Lake County Clerk's Voter Services page.
Register in Person
You can register in person at:
- The Lake County Clerk’s office, 18 N. County Street, Waukegan
- The Illinois Department of Motor Vehicle facilities (when there for other services).
Register Online
If you have a valid Illinois Driver's License or State ID number and a Social Security Number you may register online while voter registration is open. (You will be asked to provide the date your license was issued and your birth date.) The library has computer access and can assist you with online registration.
If you miss the registration period you have the option of registering to vote at an Early Voting location, but you will be expected to cast your vote at that same visit.
Register BY MAIL
You may register to vote by mail. The Library can print the form and mail it in for you if you do not have a printer at home. Completed applications must be postmarked or delivered to the Lake County Clerk’s office 28 days prior to Election Day. If your identity cannot be verified or sufficient proof of identity is not provided with your application, you must vote in-person the first time and present valid identification then.
Election Day Voting
- Polls are open from 6:00am to 7:00pm.
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Registered voters can find their preferred voting location here, however, voters who reside in Lake County may now vote at any Lake County polling site on election day, including the library.
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No identification is required for voters correctly registered with their current name and address.
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Your identity is verified by matching your ballot application signature with the signature on your voter registration record.
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Every site is ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) compliant and handicap accessible.
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Grace Registration is available for eligible, unregistered voters at any election day voting site.
Voting in Lake County, Illinois
Aug 5
First day to submit Vote by Mail applications
Sep 24
First day of Early Voting at the County Clerk's Office
First day requested Vote by Mail ballots are sent
Oct 6
Voter Registration closes (registration available while voting early or on Election Day)
Oct 19
First Day for Countywide Early Voting
Oct 29
Last day to request a Vote by Mail ballot
Nov 2
Last day of Early Voting
Nov 3
General Election Day
Helpful Links
"Find Your Representative" feature (enter your zip code where prompted)
Illinois State Board of Elections Districts and Officials Search to find your elected officials.
Lake County Clerk's Website - or call their office at 847-377-2400
Federal Voting Assistance Program provides information on voting for U.S. citizens living outside of the United States, including uniformed service members.
U.S. Election Assistance Commission - Provides election calendars, voter registration forms, and access to surveys and studies about U.S. elections along with the National Voter Registration Act.
Voter Information
The following resources are credible, free and nonpartisan.
Ballotpedia - This "Encyclopedia of American Politics" covers local, state and federal politics. Their content includes neutral, accurate, and verifiable information on government officials and the offices they hold, political issues and public policy, elections, candidates, and the influencers of politics.
C-SPAN Video Library - The Video Library offers more than 223,000 hours of video and is updated on a daily basis. Part of C-SPAN's mission is to provide "live gavel-to-gavel proceedings of the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate, and to other forums where public policy is discussed, debated and decided––all without editing, commentary or analysis and with a balanced presentation of points of view."
Commission on Presidential Debates (CPD) - The Commission on Presidential Debates (CPD) is a nonpartisan corporation that sponsors and organizes debates for U.S. presidential and vice presidential candidates. Users can access brief histories of debates dating back to 1858 along with transcripts of select events.
Judicial Evaluations and Advisory Polls - The Illinois State Bar Association (ISBA) utilizes a rigorous multi-step process to evaluate applicants for appellate and supreme court judge vacancies before making recommendations about them to the public. In counties outside of Cook, ISBA conducts an advisory poll. The advisory poll is conducted electronically and by mail and is sent to all ISBA members in the circuit or district from which a candidate seeks election.
OpenSecrets - OpenSecrets is a product of the nonpartisan research group Center for Responsive Politics. It allows users to search for and find campaign contributors as well as campaign finance data, reports, articles and more. Background information on lobbying, interest groups, and political action committees (PACs) is easy to locate.
RealClearPolitics - A daily roundup of poll results and news coverage from multiple sources.
Vote Smart - Vote Smart's mission is to provide free, factual, unbiased information on local and national candidates and elected officials to all Americans.