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PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 4, 2024
Contact: Kania Robinson, PIO
(847) 377-2312
Lake County Unveils State-of-the-Art Vote-By-Mail Processing Center, Enhancing Accessibility and Efficiency in Election Administration
 Photographed from left to right: Kenneth Klomp - Vote-by-Mail Elections Clerk, Steven Hlavik - Vote-by-Mail Elections Clerk, Daniel Thelen - Director of Elections, Jonathon Tillis - Vote-by-Mail Elections Clerk, Sandy Hart - Lake County Board Chair, Anthony Vega - Lake County Clerk, Valentino Guyett - BlueCrest Director of Mail Operations, Jennifer Clark - Lake County Board Member, Gina Roberts - Lake County Board Member, Paul Frank - Lake County Board Member and Mary Peavey - Supervisor of Voter Services
WAUKEGAN, Illinois –
The Lake County Clerk's Office proudly inaugurated its cutting-edge Vote-By-Mail Processing Center today, a significant milestone in the county's commitment to accessible, secure, and efficient election administration. The ribbon-cutting ceremony marked the official opening of this innovative facility. Funded by federal dollars, this groundbreaking project is a testament to the County Board's dedication to advancing voting accessibility for all residents.
Speakers for today's event included:
- Sandy Hart, Lake County Board Chair
- Valentino Guyett, BlueCrest Director of Mail Operations
- Anthony Vega, Lake County Clerk
The Vote-By-Mail Processing Center boasts impressive capabilities, with the ability to compile an outstanding 1,200 ballots per hour, setting new standards in processing efficiency. Moreover, the Processing Center's infrastructure enables the swift handling and processing of each ballot on the same day that it is returned to the Clerk's Office.
 Photographed from left to right: Sandy Hart - Lake County Board Chair, Anthony Vega - Lake County Clerk, & Valentino Guyett - BlueCrest Director of Mail Operations
"BlueCrest, the nation’s leading provider of automated, high integrity mail ballot solutions, is proud to partner with the Lake County Clerk’s Office and support its implementation of their ReliaVote Solution. This state of the art technology automates the entire mail balloting process, including: ballot printing, envelope assembly and mailing to the voter, as well as the verification, sorting and opening of envelopes upon their return. This ReliaVote solution ensures the growing volume of mail ballots expected in Lake County are handled with optimal efficiently and processed within required timeframes, while upholding the high degree of accuracy and transparency that is essential to maintain voter confidence in the process." - Valentino Guyett, BlueCrest Director of Mail Operations
Clerk Vega emphasized that this initiative places Lake County at the forefront of election administration, showcasing its commitment to innovation. The Processing Center, alongside other recent accomplishments, solidifies Lake County's position as a leader in fostering transparent, secure, and accessible elections.
"As we unveil our state-of-the-art Vote-By-Mail Processing Center, we take a monumental step towards revolutionizing how our community engages in the democratic process. This cutting-edge facility epitomizes our commitment to making voting more accessible and efficient for all voters of Lake County. Today, Lake County solidifies its position as a leader in innovative election administration, ensuring every voice is heard and every vote counts." - Anthony Vega, Lake County Clerk
Acknowledging the collaborative effort behind this accomplishment, County Clerk Anthony Vega also expressed heartfelt gratitude to Carl Kirar, Director of Facilities for Lake County, the facilities team, the County Board, & BlueCrest in his remarks.
“Lake County continues to be one of the leaders in the State of Illinois committed to improving and making the voting process more accessible and equitable for all residents thanks to the efforts of the County Clerk’s Office, Lake County Board, and our staff, “ said Sandy Hart, Lake County Board Chair. “Today is a great day for Lake County and our commitment to the voting process.”
The Lake County Clerk's Office remains committed to upholding the integrity of the democratic process while ensuring every citizen has the opportunity to exercise their right to vote conveniently and securely.
 Photographed from left to right: Vote-by-Mail Elections Clerks Kenneth Klomp, Steven Hlavik, & Jonathon Tillis, Sandy Hart - Lake County Board Chair, Anthony Vega - Lake County Clerk, Valentino Guyett - BlueCrest Director of Mail Operations, Mary Peavey - Supervisor of Voter Services, and Daniel Thelen - Director of Elections
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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