Information for Voters
Voter's Bill of Rights
You have the right to:
- Cast your ballot in a non-disruptive atmosphere free of interference.
- Vote if you're in line by 7 PM.
- Vote by provisional ballot if your registration is not found.
- Vote at your old polling place if you have moved within 30 days of the election.
- Request assistance in voting, if needed.
- Bring newspaper endorsements or sample ballots into the voting booth, but take them with you when you finish voting.
- Protect the secrecy of your ballot.
- Receive a new ballot if you make a mistake or change your mind.
- Screen your ballot after voting to ensure it's complete and correct.
- Have your ballot counted fairly and impartially.
If you believe these rights have been violated, call the Lake County Clerk's office at 847.377.2328.
What to Know Before Going to the Polls
- All Election Day voting sites open at 6:00 a.m. and close at 7:00 p.m. Refer to Early Voting for hours and locations for voting during the 22 day period.
- If you are incapacitated, you may vote by mail or request curbside voting on Election Day. Call the County Clerk’s office at 847.377.2406 for more information.
- Voters who registered by mail on the Federal Registration form, and do not provide sufficient proof of identity, must vote in person the first time they vote.
- If you requested a ballot by mail, you may not cast a ballot on Election Day.
- If you vote early, you may not vote on Election Day.
- If you damage or mark your ballot incorrectly or change your mind about your ballot choices when voting a ballot by mail, you may request another ballot and must return the spoiled ballot. Similarly, on Election Day, you may request a new ballot before your ballot is deposited in the ballot counter. No ballot may be retrieved from the ballot bin.
- Cellular telephones should not be used in the voting site. Using a cellular telephone in the voting site may constitute electioneering, distract other voters or delay the voting process.
- Write-in votes will count only for candidates who have filed a Declaration of Intent to be a Write-In Candidate.
- Your ballot may be different than your closest neighbor’s ballot. Precinct boundaries and local government districts cannot always coincide and when they intersect, the ballots will contain different offices and candidates. Ballot styles are specific to those candidates and issues for which you are entitled to vote.
- Illinois does not have a political party registration system. In a primary election, voters are required to declare a party to vote on party nomination ballots. If there are referenda or public questions, nonpartisan ballots are available and contain no partisan candidates.
Optical Scan Voting
In February, 2001, the Lake County Clerk's office converted to Optical Scan voting, which is fast becoming the standard for the nation.
How to Vote on an Optical Scan Ballot (PDF format 17KB)
How to Cast a Write-In Vote on an Optical Scan Ballot (PDF format 13KB)