March 2026
Early Voting Schedule
 Early Voting for the March 17, 2026 General Primary Election
Early voting is now available for the March 17, 2026 General Primary Election, giving voters a convenient way to cast their ballot before Election Day.
March 2 – March 14
Monday – Friday | 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Saturday | 9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Sunday | Closed
Available locations include:
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Deerspring Pool – Deerfield
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Fremont Township Center – Mundelein
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Grant Township Center – Ingleside
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Gurnee Village Hall – Gurnee
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History Center of Lake Forest–Lake Bluff – Lake Forest
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Lake Villa Township Office – Lake Villa
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Lake County Central Permit Facility – Libertyville
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Village of Deer Park Vehe Barn – Deer Park
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Wauconda Township Office – Wauconda
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William E. Peterson Park – Prairie View
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Zion City Hall – Zion
Early Voting Sites with Extended Hours
March 2 – March 8
Mon–Fri: 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Sat: 9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Sun: 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
March 9 – March 15
Mon–Fri: 9:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Sat & Sun: 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
March 16
Mon: 9:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Extended hour locations include:
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Diamond Lake Recreation Center – Mundelein
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Highland Park Library & Community Center – Highland Park
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Lake Barrington Village Hall – Lake Barrington
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Lake County Main Courthouse Lobby – Waukegan
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Lilac Cottage at Bowen Park – Waukegan
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North Chicago Public Library – North Chicago
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Round Lake Beach Village Hall – Round Lake Beach
Unofficial Early Voting Turnout Tool
 Stay informed with our Unofficial Early Voting Turnout Tool! Track total voters, turnout by precinct and location, daily voting activity, and voter age demographics—all in one place. Data is updated frequently; however, please allow a brief delay as information is transmitted from polling sites.
Explore the tool here: https://www.lakecountyil.gov/5239/Unofficial-Turnout
Be Prepared with the Voter Information Guide
Before you head to the polls, take a moment to review our Voter Information Guide for the March 17, 2026 General Primary Election. The guide includes important details about voting options, key dates, what to bring, and answers to frequently asked questions — all in one convenient place.
You can access the Voter Information Guide under the Resources tab on our election webpage:
https://www.lakecountyil.gov/4138/March-17-2026-General-Primary-Election
Stay informed. Make your plan. Vote with confidence!
Vote at Any Polling Place on Election Day
 Did you know? On Election Day, Lake County voters can cast their ballot at any designated vote center in the county — not just one assigned location.
Vote centers offer flexibility and convenience, allowing you to choose the location that works best for your schedule on Election Day. Simply check in, receive your correct ballot style, and vote as usual.
To find vote center locations and hours, visit:
https://www.lakecountyil.gov/343/Voting-Options
Make your plan and vote with confidence!
USPS Election Announcement
The Lake County Clerk’s Office suggests voters who are returning their ballot within one week of Election Day:
- Voters are highly encouraged to sign up for BallotTrax to track their vote by mail ballot to ensure it was received by our office
- personally deliver their ballot to the Lake County Clerk’s Office, or
- stop at a United States Postal Service retail unit and request a manual postmark on their ballot.
Please be sure to include the date you are returning the ballot and your signature on the return envelope which has your completed ballot enclosed.
These suggestions are made in the interest of ensuring that all eligible Vote by Mail ballots are received and counted. All ballots postmarked by Election Day (March 17th) and received up to 14 days after Election Day (March 31st) will be counted for the 2026 General Primary Election. Voters who wish to track their ballot through the Vote by Mail process can sign up at https://lakecountyil.ballottrax.net/voter/.
Judicial Review Cases
In Lake County, there is one current candidate objection in judicial review, two candidates who have recently been removed from the ballot, and one candidate that was returned to the ballot after originally being removed. The first involves a Democratic Primary in County Board District 16 in which the Lake County Electoral Board ruled to keep a challenged candidate (Juan Beto Ruiz) on the ballot. The ruling is currently in judicial review with a hearing set for March 4, 2026. Currently, both candidate names are printed on the ballot pursuant to the ruling of the Lake County Electoral Board.
The second case, involves a Republican Primary candidate, Tedora Brown in the 11th Congressional District. The First District Appellate Court has recently decided to overturn the decision and add her back on the ballot. While there is still the potential for an additional appeal. Her name is printed on the ballot.
The third case, which impacts all of Illinois, involves an objection to Joseph Severino in the Gubernatorial Republican Primary. Mr. Severino was removed from the ballot by a ruling from the Illinois State Board of Elections. Mr. Severino filed for judicial review and the court upheld the decision of the Electoral Board on January 27th. Mr. Severino appealed the decision and the Appellate Court upheld the decision on February 20th. There is still the potential for an appeal. At this time in Lake County, Mr. Severino’s name is on the ballot and any votes for Mr. Severino will not be certified if the current ruling remains unchanged.
The final candidate affecting the voters of Lake County is a Republican Primary candidate for the 51st State Representative District, Tosi Ufodike. Ms. Ufodike was removed from the ballot by order of the court on January 27th, after the ballot creation process was started in Lake County. Any votes for Ms. Ufodike will not be certified.
Before a ballot can be issued to voters, there are multiple steps that our office undertakes including proofing, logic & accuracy testing, printing and preparing vote by mail ballots which takes several days to accomplish. It is a tight sequence of events that ensures ballots are fully ready to be cast by voters.
Our office encourages voters to make a plan to vote including researching candidates before casting their ballot. Go to lakevoterpower.info and check out your sample ballot.
Election Results Schedule
The election results will be posted on the Lake County Clerk’s Election Results website on Election Day (Tuesday, March 17th) after 7 PM. The results for Early Voting and Vote by Mail will be posted at approximately 7:30 PM. The Election Day results will be posted starting at approximately 8:00 PM. Election Day results will be slightly delayed compared to previous elections due to our transition to the vote center model.
The results are not final until 14 days after Election Day and are not official until the certification of the election is signed by the County Clerk on April 6th at 3 PM.
Outstanding ballot counts will be posted on the Election Results page on Thursday, March 19th and will be updated daily after 5 PM.
Following Election Day, results from late arriving vote by mail and provisional ballots will be updated on the following dates after 5 PM:
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Thursday, March 26th; and
The results page will still display the results as “Unofficial” until the County Clerk signs the certificate of election results.
February Recap – Lake County Clerk’s Office
 February was a busy and productive month for the Lake County Clerk’s Office as we continued preparing for the March 17, 2026 General Primary Election.
Voter Experience Event
We were proud to host a Voter Experience Event specifically for young adults with disabilities, reinforcing our commitment to accessible, inclusive, and voter-focused elections. The event provided participants with hands-on experience using voting equipment, the opportunity to ask questions in a supportive environment, and information about the various voting options available.
Engaging directly with young voters with disabilities allows us to better understand their experiences and identify ways to remove barriers. Feedback from participants helps us continuously strengthen accessibility and enhance the overall voter experience across Lake County.
Logic and Accuracy Testing
Our team conducted Logic and Accuracy (L&A) testing on voting equipment and read and scan test ballots to verify that all systems are functioning properly and accurately tabulating votes. This important step ensures transparency, accuracy, and confidence in the election process before ballots are cast.
NBC 5 Interview on Early Voting
Lake County Clerk Anthony Vega appeared on NBC 5 Chicago to discuss early voting options and what voters can expect leading up to Election Day. The interview highlighted key dates, available voting methods, and the importance of making a plan to vote.
For additional election information and personalized voter details, please visit:
www.LakeCountyClerk.info
www.LakeVoterPower.info
You may also contact our office at 847-377-2410 or email Elections@lakecountyil.gov.
Make your plan to vote early and have your voice heard!
Anthony Vega, Lake County Clerk
18 N. County Street, Room 101
Waukegan, IL 60085
847-377-2400
CountyClerk@lakecountyil.gov
LakeCountyClerk.info
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