LAKE COUNTY, IL — The Nov. 3 general election is approaching, and Lake County voters will decide several major races, including Illinois governor, U.S. Senate, congressional seats and countywide offices.
Illinois 2026 Voter Guide: Pritzker Vs. Bailey Rematch, Other Hot Races To Watch
Voters will also select representatives for the Illinois General Assembly and Lake County Board, while a countywide school sales tax referendum will also appear on the ballot. Early voting is already underway at the Lake County Courthouse in Waukegan, and additional polling locations throughout the county are scheduled to open Oct. 19.
Here's what Lake County voters should know before heading to the polls.
The 2026 general election is Tuesday, Nov. 3. Polls will be open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. In Lake County, voters can cast their ballot at any polling location in the county.
Lake County residents can also vote early or cast a ballot by mail.
The regular voter registration deadline has passed, but Illinois residents still have options.Online voter registration continues through Sunday, Oct. 18. And grace-period registration is also underway and continues through Election Day.
If you think that you may already be registered to vote, you can check by using the State Board of Election's Voter Registration Lookup.
Residents registering during the grace period must provide two forms of identification, with at least one showing their current address. Those who register during the grace period must also vote at the time they register.
Early voting began Sept. 24 at the Lake County Main Courthouse, 18 N. County St. in Waukegan. Through Oct. 16, residents can vote at the courthouse Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Additional early-voting locations throughout Lake County will open Monday, Oct. 19. Nearby locations include:
The Libertyville, Fremont Township, Gurnee and Ela Township locations are scheduled to offer early voting from Oct. 19 through Oct. 31, with hours from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday.
The Diamond Lake Recreation Center and Round Lake Beach Village Hall locations are scheduled to offer extended voting hours, including evening and weekend availability, through Nov. 2.
Residents should confirm individual site schedules before visiting.
A complete list of locations and hours is available on the Lake County Clerk's early-voting website.
Illinois voters do not need an excuse or specific reason to vote by mail, and the deadline for election officials to receive applications for vote-by-mail ballots is Thursday, Oct. 29. You can find the applications for all counties in Illinois here.
Completed ballots must be postmarked by Election Day and received within the period allowed under Illinois law. McHenry County also provides ballot drop boxes for voters who prefer to return their ballots without using the mail.
All McHenry County voters will have several statewide contests on their ballots.
Other independent or minor-party candidates may appear in some statewide contests. Voters should consult their sample ballot for the complete candidate list.
Voters in Grayslake, Libertyville and surrounding communities will also choose representatives in Congress and the Illinois General Assembly in the Nov. 3 election.
The races appearing on individual ballots depend on legislative district boundaries, which can divide communities.
The 10th Congressional District covers Grayslake, Libertyville and other portions of Lake County.
The 11th Congressional District covers other portions of Lake County, including communities farther west.
30th Senate District
Johnson is running unopposed for another term.
32nd Senate District
The 32nd District includes portions of northern Lake County and McHenry County.
61st House District
The district includes portions of northeastern Lake County, including Gurnee, Gages Lake and Lindenhurst.
Residents can confirm their congressional and legislative districts and view a personalized sample ballot through the Lake County Clerk's election website.
Several countywide offices are on the ballot this November.
Not every race will appear on every ballot. Residents can view the candidates specific to their voting address through the Lake County Clerk's election website.
Lake County voters will also consider a countywide referendum asking whether to approve a 1 percent sales tax to support school facilities and other authorized school-related expenses. Revenue from the proposed tax could be used for school construction and renovations, certain school safety expenses, mental health professionals and other eligible purposes.
A yes vote would authorize the tax, while a no vote would reject it. The tax would apply to certain retail purchases in Lake County, with exemptions for some categories of goods.
School districts could also use the revenue to pay certain existing building debts, potentially reducing reliance on property taxes. However, any property tax savings would depend on decisions made by individual school districts.
For full coverage of the 2026 election in Illinois, go here.
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