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Request an Application for Absentee Ballot
Request Absentee Ballot for November 4, 2008 General Election
Illinois Election law provides that the first day to mail an absentee ballot is 40 days before the election (providing certification of candidates has been completed). Who May Vote by Absentee Ballot?
By applying to receive and vote an Absentee Ballot, the voter will not be able to vote in-person at the polling place on election day.
Persons who are registered voters in Lake County are eligible to cast an absentee ballot only if they meet one of these conditions:
- Persons expecting to be absent from Lake County on election day
- Persons physically incapacitated or hospitalized
- College or university students temporarily residing away from their home precincts
- Persons who will be serving as election judges outside their precinct on election day
- Officials employed by the County Clerk or a law enforcement agency
- Persons serving on jury duty on election day,
- Persons who are observing a religious holiday
- Persons in jail as pre-trial detainees not serving jail sentences
- Persons unable to enter their voting site due to Illinois Code 720 ILCS 5/11-9.3
In addition, the following unregistered voters are eligible to vote by absentee ballot:
- Members of the Uniformed Service or merchant marine on active duty, or eligible spouses or dependents
- U.S. citizens temporarily residing outside the U.S.
- U.S. citizens overseas by virtue of employment or accompanying their spouses or dependents,
- Other U.S. citizens residing outside the U.S.
Military personnel and voters outside the United States may apply 100 days prior to the election.
Absentee Voting by Mail
Step 1 - Request, complete and return an Application for Absentee Ballot to the Lake County Clerk's office.
Request an Application for Absentee Ballot via email or call the Lake County Clerk's office at 847.377.2406. The Lake County Clerk's Office will need the voter's name, residence address, mailing address and date of birth at the time of request. A packet which includes Application for Absentee Ballot, the ballot, Instructions for Voting by Absentee Ballot, certificate envelope and a return mailing envelope will be mailed to the voter. Our office may not mail ballots more than 40 days or less than five days prior to the election.
Step 2 - Upon receipt of the absentee ballot packet, follow all instructions on how to vote and return the ballot to the County Clerk's office. Returned absentee ballots by mail must be postmarked by midnight on the day before the election and received within 14 days after the election. Voted ballots personally delivered to the County Clerk's Office by the voter must be received no later than election day. There is a limited exception permitting ballot return by a spouse, parent, child, sibling, or a licensed delivery service where the authorization form (found on reverse side of instruction sheet) is completed by the voter and included with the ballot.
Absentee Voting in Person
Any qualified voter may cast an absentee ballot in person at the Lake County Clerk's office not more than 40 days or less than one day prior to the election. The Lake County Clerk's office and other offsite voting locations offer early voting to any registered voter without reason (i.e. not required to be absent, physically disabled, etc.). Early voting commences 22 days prior to an election and ends five days prior to the election. Offsite voting locations will offer absentee voting Friday, Saturday (some locations) and Monday prior to election day. For more information, call the Absentee Department at 847.377.2406.
Instructions for Voting by Absentee Ballot
Unfold the optical scan ballot. Your official ballot lists all applicable units of government, the offices for election and all candidates for each office, as well as any public questions.
1. Use only a black or blue ink pen or #2 pencil to fill in the oval to the left of the candidates of your choice or for public questions. Completely darken the oval and keep your marks inside the oval area. Read both sides of the ballot.
If you require assistance in marking your ballot, you and the person assisting are required to read and comply with statutory restrictions. (See reverse side of instruction sheet.)
2. To cast a write-in vote, fill in the oval to the left of the blank line provided under the appropriate unit of government and write the candidate’s name on the line.
3. If you make a mistake marking your ballot, another ballot can be requested. The spoiled ballot must be returned to the Lake County Clerk’s Absentee Department. Call the Absentee Department at 847-377-2406 to ask for a new ballot.
4. After voting, refold the ballot along the fold lines.
5. Place your ballot in the white Certification Absentee Ballot Envelope. Fill out completely all the requested information on the envelope, including the number of years and months you have lived at your residence address. Your signature must appear on the bottom. If you are unable to sign, make and "X" in the presence of a witness and have the witness sign next to your mark, and write his or her address in the line provided.
6. Complete the Absentee Ballot Application located on the back of the Certification Absentee Ballot Envelope. Check a reason for voting absentee. Sign the application.
7. Place the white Certification Absentee Ballot Envelope in the tan mailing envelope provided and complete your return address. Mail will not be delivered without postage. Mail your ballot promptly. Voted ballots postmarked by midnight on the day before the election and received within 14 days after the election will be cast at the County Clerk's office at the same time as provisional ballots, provided all requirements are met.
8. As an alternative to mailing, you may personally return the ballot or authorize in writing (Absentee Ballot Authorization Form on reverse side) delivery as provided by law. A ballot returned by delivery through other than the U.S. Post Office or the voter, will not be accepted without the signed authorization form.
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 Absentee Ballot envelope.
To the Voter
In signing the certification on the Absentee Ballot Envelope, you are attesting that you personally marked the absentee ballot in secret. If you are physically unable to mark the ballot, a friend or relative, after completing the affidavit on the Absentee Ballot 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.
Absentee Voting by a Physically Incapacitated Person
Any voter who is either temporarily or permanently incapacitated qualifies to vote by absentee ballot. Please see Requirements and Restrictions for Assisting a Voter. Certain incapacitated voters may also qualify for additional absentee voting privileges as follows:
Disabled Voter Program
An individual who, due to a physical disability of a relatively permanent nature and is unable to go to the polling place on election day, may enroll in this program. Once enrolled the voter will automatically receive an Application for Absentee Ballot for all elections during a five year period. Enrollment forms are available by calling the Absentee Department at 847.377.2406.
Licensed Nursing Home Residents
Registered voters residing in licensed nursing homes vote either on the Friday or Saturday preceding an election. For complete information on nursing home voting procedures, contact the Absentee Department at 847.377.2406.
Voter Admitted to Hospital, Nursing Home or Rehabilitation Center
A registered voter who is admitted to a hospital, nursing home or rehabilitation center not more than five days before an election may request that an absentee ballot be delivered in person to him or her in the hospital, nursing home or rehabilitation center. An affidavit must be completed by the voter, his or her attending physician, and the relative (or registered voter of the same precinct) who delivers the absentee ballot to the hospital. Call the Absentee Department at 847.377.2406 for complete details.
Curbside Voting
Any handicapped or elderly voter who is physically unable to enter the polling place may request voting assistance outside the polling place, usually at curbside in a car. The voter should notify our office of this request by calling 847.377.2406 at least one day in advance of election day.
Military Voting
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.
Registering and Requesting an Absentee Ballot
Members of the Uniformed Services and their family members may request an absentee ballot by completing and submitting the Federal Post Card Application (FPCA). Illinois waives your registration. To apply for an absentee ballot the local election official must receive your FPCA ballot request no later than 10 days before the election.
You can either download the FPCA form below or contact your Voting Assistance Officer for an application.
For additional information, please visit the Federal Voting Assistance Program (FVAP) website.
Other Absentee Programs
Temporarily Absent Student Program
Students who temporarily live outside their precinct while attending school may enroll in this program. We will automatically send an Application for Absentee Ballot to the school address for a two-year period. Each summer the school address is confirmed by a mailing to the home (permanent) registration address. The program is renewable. Call us at 847.377.2406 to enroll.
Snowbird Program
Voters who reside in Lake County but spend part of the year outside of the county (usually winters) may enroll in our Snowbird Program for convenient absentee ballot voting. During the periods requested, absentee ballot applications will automatically be mailed to the alternate mailing address provided. Call the Absentee Department at 847.377.2406 for more information.
If You Registered by Mail
Voters who registered to vote on the mail-in form provided under the National Voter Registration Act must vote the first time in person, either by in-person absentee ballot, early voting, or at their polling place on election day.
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