NOTE: This article refers to the 2020 general election and remains on the City’s website for archival purposes. To find your polling location for the current election, visit LakeVoterPower.info.
The 2020 General Election will be held on Tuesday, November 3. The Lake County Clerk is working to ensure that all Lake County voters are able to safely exercise their right to vote during the pandemic. Due to COVID-19 health concerns, the Lake County Clerk encourages voters to plan to vote by mail. Voting by mail is safe and confidential. Information on this page is derived from the Lake County Clerk's Office. For additional information, please visit the Lake County Clerk's Website, Voter Power for Registered Voters, or call 847.377.VOTE (8683).
- Early Voting Information
- Early Voting Location Map (with estimated wait times)
- Election Day Voting Information
- Requesting a Vote-By-Mail Ballot
- Returning a Vote-By-Mail Ballot
- Postage-free Drop Box Locations
- Voter Registration
- COVID-19 Election Day Safety Guidelines (CDC); COVID-19 Election Day Guidelines (IDPH)
Early voting for the General Election is from October 19, 2020 through November 1, 2020 at the Highland Park Country Club located at 1201 Park Avenue W, Highland Park, IL 60035. The hours for early voting are Monday through Friday between 8:30 AM and 7:00 PM and Saturday and Sunday between 9:00 AM and 5:00 PM. Please note that the Highland Park Police Department is no longer an early voting site.
The early voting site at the Highland Park Country Club will also host a secure drop box for Vote by Mail Ballots. Voters may return their voted Vote by Mail ballot to this drop box during early voting hours. Click here for more information on ballot drop boxes. The Lake County Clerk's Office also has an early voting locator tool to find additional convenient early voting sites throughout Lake County.
Election Day Information
On Tuesday, November 3, 2020, Election Day, all polling places will open at 6:00 AM and will close at 7:00 PM. Information regarding where to vote can be found on your voter identification card or by visiting the Lake County Clerk's Office Voter Power website. Individual polling locations are determined by the precinct number that is listed on the Certificate of Voter Registration card.
You can also locate your polling place by accessing the City’s Community Portal. Enter your address, click the magnifying glass and then choose the Government tab. Your polling information will appear under Where to Vote.
For additional information please visit the Lake County website or call the Lake County Clerk's Office at 847.377.2410.
Voters must complete an Application for Ballot in order to receive a vote-by-mail ballot.
For the November 3, 2020 General Election only, the Lake County Clerk has mailed an Application for Ballot to all Lake County voters who:
- Voted in the March 2020 General Primary Election, April 2019 Consolidated Election, or the November 2018 General Election, or
- Registered to vote or updated their address from March 18, 2020 to July 31, 2020
This is not a ballot. In order to vote by mail, voters must return the completed Application for Ballot to the Lake County Clerk by 5:00 PM on October 29, 2020.
All other Lake County voters should request their Application for Ballot using one of the following methods:
- Electronic Application for Ballot via Voter Power
- Paper Application for Ballot, which must be printed, signed and sent to the Lake County Clerk's Office. Click here for detailed instructions.
Ballots will be mailed to your residence or alternate mailing address beginning September 24, 2020. Voters may track their ballot by calling the Lake County Clerk or by logging in to Voter Power beginning September 24, 2020.
Voted ballots must be returned to the Lake County Clerk by November 3, 2020. There are several ways to return your voted ballot:
- Hand deliver your voted ballot to the Lake County Clerk's Office by 7 PM on Election Day. Appointments are required.
- Mail your voted ballot to the Lake County Clerk's Office with a postmark no later than November 3, 2020.
- Bring your voted ballot to the voting site and provide it to the election judges.
- Place your ballot in a postage-free drop box. Click here to download a list of drop box locations.
Postage-free Drop Boxes
Voters may also return their voted Ballot by Mail to the secure drop box located at an Early Voting facility. Please note that the ballot drop boxes located within Early Voting facilities will only be available during Early Voting hours. There is no need to wait in line to deposit your voted ballot in a secure drop box. As a reminder, Lake County voters may early vote at any Early Voting location in Lake County.
You may also return your voted ballot using one of the following methods:
- Hand-deliver your voted ballot to the Lake County Clerk's Office by 7 PM on Election Day. Appointments are required.
- Mail your voted ballot to the Lake County Clerk's Office with a postmark no later than November 3, 2020.
- Bring your voted ballot to the voting site and provide it to the election judges.
Click here for a full list of Early Voting locations and ballot drop boxes, including the four postage-free Ballot by Mail drop boxes that are available 24/7.
Contact the Lake County Clerk's Office at 847.377.VOTE with any questions concerning postage-free drop boxes.
Individuals may view their registration status using Voter Power.
Lake County residents may register to vote online, by mail, or in-person. Individuals may register to vote if:
- You are a United States citizen
- You are at least 18 years old on election day
- You have resided in your voting precinct for at least 30 days
Note: You must register again if your name or permanent address has changed. Voter registration requires two forms of identification, including one with a current address (new residents may use a utility bill, checkbook, etc.).
To register online:
- Visit the Illinois State Board of Elections' website at ova.elections.il.gov.
- You will be asked to provide your valid Illinois Driver's License or Illinois State ID number, last four digits of your Social Security number, date your license or identification was issued, and your birth date. Online registration will close on October 18, 2020.
To register by mail:
- Download the Illinois Voter Registration Application. You may request a Vote by Mail Ballot for the November 3, 2020 General Election using the same form.
- Return the completed application by mail to: Lake County Clerk, Room 101, 18 North County St., Waukegan, IL 60085
To register in-person:
- Moraine Township provides voter registration service is available by appointment: email clerk@morainetownship.org or call 847-432-3240 to schedule an appointment for voter registration assistance.
- Individuals may contact the City Manager's Office at 847.926.1000 to schedule an appointment to register to vote in-person through Tuesday, October 6 for the November 3, 2020 General Election. Individuals are encouraged to use the online or by mail voter registration options.
After in-person 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.
Electioneering & Voter Intimidation
As a reminder, voter intimidation is against the law. Election officials establish a campaign-free zone around the polling place to provide an intimidation-free election environment. Voter intimidation can occur if a voter feels pressured, threatened, or harassed by campaign workers or officials at the polling place. Certain activities, such as wearing campaign buttons, t-shirts, badges, hats, or hats, asking voters to vote a particular way, or leafletting is strictly prohibited within the campaign-free zone. The campaign-free zone will be clearly marked by election officials at the polling place.
Highland Park voters should report incidents of voter intimidation to the Election Judges. Individuals may also contact the Highland Park Police Department at 847.432.7730.