How To Vote In Buffalo Grove

BUFFALO GROVE, Ill. - The 2020 Presidential Election is just 44 days away, and with the COVID-19 pandemic still widespread, alternatives to in-person voting are being pushed like never before. While going to polling places and casting a ballot will still definitely be an option, many people, especially those who are high risk, will likely be staying home.

This may end up causing a lower turnout than usual, especially when a large portion of Americans don't vote anyways. That is why it is so important to make sure to get registered to vote (if needed), apply for a ballot, and mail that ballot back to ensure that your vote is counted.

Luckily, the Village of Buffalo Grove is making it as easy as possible to access alternative voting measures. That being said, there are a few different options to cast a vote. All of this information is courtesy of the Lake County website, and even more information can be found at a variety of other online resources.

Here are the options:

• Voting By Mail- Every registered voter in Illinois should receive a ballot application in the mail. A ballot application can also be filled out online at elections.il.gov. Alternatively, this application can be printed out and sent to the Lake County Clerk's office in Waukegan. Ballots will begin to be mailed out starting on Sep. 24. The completed ballot can be returned to the Lake County Clerk's office, a voting site, or a ballot drop box. Buffalo Grove will have a ballot drop box set up in Peterson Park on Buffalo Grove Road from Oct. 19 to Nov. 1.
• Early Voting- Early voting will start forty days before the election on Sep. 24, but only at the Lake County Clerk's office in Waukegan. For all other Lake County early voting locations, they will open starting fifteen days before the election. This is a great option for those looking to avoid any potential crowds. During early voting, any convenient polling place can be used, not just your designated polling place.
• Election Day Voting- Voting on Election Day, Nov. 3, will start at 6 a.m. and run until 7 p.m. It is recommended to get in line and vote as early as possible to avoid any potential crowds. The CDC has released a set of guidelines to adhere to while in polling places to try and maintain safety. If voting on Election Day, you must vote at your designated polling place, which can be found online at the voter registration website.

Any one of these three options can be used to cast a ballot, and early voting, as previously stated, begins forty days before the election- Thursday, Sep. 24. The 2020 Election is Nov. 3.