Public Act 97-0081 signed by the Governor on July 4, 2011 requires those voting by mail to complete an application for each election before receiving a ballot. A completed application must be received by the Clerk's office before a ballot can be mailed to the voter. Call (847) 377-2406 or email VotingByMail@lakecountyil.gov for more information.

You may enroll in one of our programs offering the convenient mailing of an application for a ballot to a specified address and only for the elections selected. Registered voters who enroll will automatically receive an application for ballot prior to each election. Once we receive your completed application, we will mail your Ballot and Certification Envelope to the address specified at enrollment.

As required by state law, voting by mail applications cannot be processed until 40 days prior to each Election Day (or later, subject to final certification of candidates by the State Board of Elections). Military personnel and voters outside the country may apply for a ballot earlier. See section below.

One-time Application for Ballot Request
Voters may make a one-time request to receive an application for ballot by mail 40 days prior to Election Day by visiting Voter Power and clicking the “Application to Vote by Mail” button. For more information, contact the Voting by Mail department by email at VotingByMail@lakecountyil.gov or call (847) 377-2406.

Snowbird Program
This program is intended to simplify voting for registered voters who temporarily vacation or visit outside their precinct each year. Those enrolled will automatically receive an application for ballot by mail as specified. Use the fillable enrollment form which can be printed, signed and mailed to us.

Student Program
Our Temporarily Absent Student Program is available to students away at school. This program simplifies voting for students who wish to receive an application for ballot at their school address prior to each election. A student must be a registered voter in order to enroll in the program. Use the fillable enrollment form which can be printed, signed and mailed to us. Enrollment is valid for two years and each summer our office confirms the student address for the coming year away at school.

Military Voters and U.S. Citizens Residing Outside the Country
The right to vote can be exercised by all United States citizens in every corner of the world. Members of the military, other Uniformed Services, the Merchant Marine and their eligible family members and all U.S. citizens overseas are able to vote under the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (UOCAVA). The Federal Voting Assistance Program (FVAP) provides U.S. citizens worldwide a broad range of non-partisan information and assistance to facilitate their participation in the voting process.

Certain persons who are not registered are eligible to vote by mail:

• Members of the uniformed service or Merchant Marine on active duty, or an eligible spouse or dependent
• U.S. citizens residing outside the U.S. temporarily or indefinitely

Members of the Uniformed Services and their family members may request a ballot by completing and submitting the Federal Post Card Application (FPCA) Illinois law waives voter registration requirements. To apply for a ballot by mail, the local election official must receive your FPCA ballot request no later than 10 days before the election

Download the FPCA form above or contact your Voting Assistance Officer for an application. For additional information, please visit The Federal Voting Assistance Program (FVAP) website.

Requirements and Restrictions for Assisting a Voter
The voter and any person providing assistance must read the following:

To the Person Assisting the Voter: Under Illinois law, only voters who are blind, physically disabled or unable to read or write the English language may be assisted by a relative or friend. Individuals who cannot assist voters include the voter's employer or agent, or officer or agent of the voter's union.

Those assisting must mark the ballot exactly as directed by the voter. Individuals who make any attempt to influence the voter’s choice of candidates, party, votes on public questions, or to mark the ballot other than as directed by the voter, may be guilty of a Class 3 Felony. If the voter does not express their intent, assistance cannot be rendered to mark the ballot in any way. A voter’s instructions on marking the ballot may not be subsequently divulged. Those providing assistance must sign the certification section on the “Certification” envelope.

To the Voter: In signing the certification on the “Certification” envelope, you are attesting that you personally marked the ballot in secret. If you are physically unable to mark the ballot, a friend or relative, after completing the affidavit on the “Certification” envelope, may assist you. Federal and state law prohibits employers, employer’s agents, and officers or agents of a voter’s union from assisting in voting. State Law prohibits a candidate whose name appears on the ballot (unless the physically disabled voter is the spouse, parent, child, brother or sister of the candidate) from assisting a voter.