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PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 13, 2020
Contact: Robin M. O'Connor
847-377-Vote (8683)
WAUKEGAN, Illinois – Because of COVID-19, one of the many new mandates for the November election set forth in a public act is to encourage people to vote by mail. Almost 149,000 Lake County voters have chosen to vote by mail and are currently receiving their ballots. Already, 4200 citizens have returned their vote by mail ballots through the postal system or the postage-free drop boxes. Just about 4000 early voters have traveled to the Lake County Main Courthouse to cast a ballot in person. If you are planning to vote by mail, here are a few helpful guidelines.
Do your Part to Make Sure your Vote by Mail Ballot Counts!
Included with your ballot are informational sheets explaining how to complete your ballot, your options for returning it, and the location of exterior and interior postage-free ballot drop boxes.
- Mark your ballot choices with a blue or black ink pen (no markers, please);
- Fold your ballot, place it in the ballot certification envelope, seal the envelope;
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Important - On the front of the ballot certification envelope sign above "Signature of Voter";
- Place the ballot certification envelope inside mailing envelope
- Add your return address; and
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Important - Seal the mailing envelope.
 Some of our ballot certification envelopes were printed with a black signature line; others had a red one. Our outside print vendor used one color, and we used the other.
If your ballot certification envelope is missing or not signed, your signature doesn't match your voter registration record, or the mailing envelope is not sealed, your ballot is NOT discarded. To make sure your vote counts, election judges will send you a letter describing the issue with your ballot and give you the instructions on how to correct it.
Protect your ballot. If someone offers to return your ballot for you, be sure it is someone you know and trust.
Options for Returning your Mailed Ballot
- Place one first-class stamp on the mailing envelope, have it postmarked by Election Day, and delivered to the Lake County Clerk's office by November 17.
- Hand deliver it to the Lake County Clerk's office before 7 PM on Election Day.
- Deposit your ballot in one of the postage-free ballot drop boxes. Exterior drop boxes are available 24 hours a day/7 days a week until 7 PM on Election Day. (Photos are included below)
- One interior drop box is in the Lobby of the Lake County Main Courthouse, 18 N. County S., Waukegan. Face covering is required to enter the building.
- Other interior boxes will be available when Early Voting starts on October 19.
Early Voting Sites Finder
https://maps.lakecountyil.gov/EarlyVotingSites/
- If you want to vote in person after receiving your vote by mail ballot, you can bring your ballot with you to the Early or Election Day voting site, surrender it to the judges, and receive a new ballot to mark and cast in the voting site. If you cannot surrender your ballot, election judges will help you through the process.
Track your Ballot
You can track the status and the Lake County Clerk's receipt of both your vote by mail ballot application and ballot by logging onto LakeVoterPower.info or calling our Voter Registration Services Department at 847-377-Vote (8683).
 For more information on Lake County Clerk services and up-to-the-minute election news, visit LakeCountyClerk.info, follow us at twitter.com/LakeCountyClerk, join our page at facebook.com/CountyClerk, or call 847-377-2400.
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