If you have requested a mail ballot, please fill it out and return it as soon as possible. This will prevent a surge of ballots from coming in at the last minute, and make it easier for the election authority to process ballots.

According to the League of Women Voters of Illinois: “Mail-in ballots are processed as soon as they are received and drop boxes are emptied daily. All mail-in ballots are inspected by election judges who check the signature on the ballot envelope to make sure that it matches the signature on file for that voter. Ballots can be rejected if the signatures don’t match, if the envelope is unsigned or not sealed, or if it is determined that the voter has already voted. Three judges must be unanimous in their decision to reject a ballot for any of these reasons. Voters must be notified within two days if their ballot is rejected, and they have until 14 days after election day to resolve the issue with their election authority. “

You can find links to the locations and hours of Lake County’s official ballot drop boxes and early voting sites here.