Election Calendar

  1. Upcoming Elections
    March 19, 2024 - General Primary Election
    November 5, 2024 - General Election

Abbreviated Elections Calendar 

2024 General Primary Election

The following dates are for the 2024 General Primary Election to be held on March 19, 2024. The dates included in this abbreviated calendar are not comprehensive of all dates surrounding the election and do not include all relevant details. For additional detail and statutory references for any of the dates in this calendar, please consult the 2024 Election and Campaign Finance Calendar.

September 5, 2023
  • Petition Circulation Begins for General Primary Election
    • First day to circulate petitions for established party candidates seeking nomination in the 2024 General Primary Election. Note that this does not include candidates circulating for President, Delegate, or Alternate Delegate.
October 7, 2023
  • Petition Circulation Begins for President and Delegate Candidates
    • First day to circulate petitions for President, Delegate, and Alternate Delegate.
November 27, 2023
  • First Day to File Nominating Petitions for the General Primary Election
    • First day to file nominating petitions for established party candidates for the 2024 General Primary Election. Note that this does not include candidates for President, Delegate, or Alternate Delegate.
December 4, 2023
  • Last Day to File Nominating Petitions for the General Primary Election
    • Last day to file nominating petitions for established party candidates for the 2024 General Primary Election.
December 11, 2023
  • Last Day to File Objections to Nomination Papers for General Primary Election
    • Last day to file objections to nomination papers of established party candidates.
December 18, 2023
  • Last Day to File Petitions for Questions of Public Policy for the General Primary Election
    • Last day to file petitions with the local election official for the submission of questions of public policy. Exceptions to this date apply for various binding questions or backdoor referenda. Please refer to the authorizing statute for the question to confirm the deadline.
December 20, 2023
  • First Day to Submit Vote by Mail Applications
    • First day to apply for a vote by mail ballot for the 2024 General Primary Election. Please note that election authorities will not begin mailing ballots until Thursday, February 8, 2024.
December 26, 2023
  • Last Day to File Objections to Petitions for Questions of Public Policy for the General Primary Election
    • Last day to file objections to petitions for the submission of questions of public policy with the local election official.
January 2, 2024
  • Last Day for Resolutions for Public Questions
    • Last day for local governing boards to adopt a resolution or ordinance to allow a binding or advisory question to be placed on the ballot at the 2024 General Primary Election.
January 11, 2024
  • Public Question Certification
    • Last day for the circuit court clerk or the local election official to certify any binding public question or advisory referenda to the election authority having jurisdiction over the political subdivision.
January 18, 2024
  • Write-In Candidate Filing Deadline
    • Last day a person may file a notarized Declaration of Intent to be a write-in candidate with the proper election authority or authorities.
February 2, 2024
  • Vote by Mail Ballots – UOCAVA
    • First day for the election authority to mail ballots to persons in the United States Service, their spouse, and/or their dependents of voting age, citizens temporarily residing outside the territorial limits of the United States and nonresident civilians.
February 8, 2024
  • Early Voting Begins at County Clerk's Office
    • First day for early voting at the office of the election authority.
  • Voting by Mail Begins
    • First day for the election authority to mail an official ballot to a voter who has applied for a vote by mail ballot.
February 20, 2024
  • Voter Registration Closes
    • Last day for voters to register by mail or with a deputy registrar. Grace period registration and voting available at the office of the election authority.
March 3, 2024
  • Online Voter Registration Closes
    • Last day for voters to register online with the State Board of Elections.
March 4, 2024
  • Early Voting Begins County-wide
    • First day for early voting throughout Lake County.
March 14, 2024
  • Last Day to Mail Vote by Mail Ballots
    • Last day for the election authority to receive, by mail, an application for a vote by mail ballot and mail that ballot to the voter. (Note: 1. An earlier deadline is applicable to UOCAVA voters; 2. In-person applications are still accepted until March 18, 2024).
March 18, 2024
  • Last Day for Early Voting 
    • Last day for early voting for the 2024 General Primary Election.
March 19, 2024
  • General Primary Election Day

2024 General Election

The following dates are for the 2024 General Election to be held on November 5, 2024. The dates included in this abbreviated calendar are not comprehensive of all dates surrounding the election and do not include all relevant details. For additional detail and statutory references for any of the dates in this calendar, please consult the 2024 Election and Campaign Finance Calendar.

March 26, 2024
  • Petition Circulation Begins for New Party and Independent Candidates
    • First day to circulate petitions for independent candidates and new political party candidates seeking election in the 2024 General Election.
June 17, 2024
  • First Day to File New Party and Independent Candidate Petitions
    • First day for independent and new party candidates to file original nomination papers.
June 24, 2024
  • Last Day to File New Party and Independent Candidate Petitions
    • First day for independent and new party candidates to file original nomination papers.
July 1, 2024
  • Last Day to File Objections to New Party and Independent Nomination Papers
    • Last day for filing objections to the nomination papers of all candidates who filed during the June 17-24, 2024 filing period.
August 5, 2024
  • Last Day to File Petitions for Questions of Public Policy for the General Election
    • Last day to file petitions with the local election official for the submission of questions of public policy. Exceptions to this date apply for various binding questions or backdoor referenda. Please refer to the authorizing statute for the question to confirm the deadline.
August 7, 2024
  • First Day to Submit Vote by Mail Applications
    • First day to apply for a vote by mail ballot for the 2024 General Election. Please note that election authorities will not begin mailing ballots until Thursday, September 26, 2024.
August 12, 2024
  • Last Day to File Objections to Petitions for Questions of Public Policy for the General Election
    • Last day to file objections to petitions for the submission of questions of public policy with the local election official.
August 19, 2024
  • Last Day for Resolutions for Public Questions
    • Last day for local governing boards to adopt a resolution or ordinance to allow a binding or advisory question to be placed on the ballot at the 2024 General Election.
August 29, 2024
  • Public Question Certification
    • Last day for the circuit court clerk or the local election official to certify any binding public question or advisory referenda to the election authority having jurisdiction over the political subdivision.
September 5, 2024
  • Write-In Candidate Filing Deadline
    • Last day a person may file a notarized Declaration of Intent to be a write-in candidate with the proper election authority or authorities.
September 20, 2024
  • Vote by Mail Ballots – UOCAVA
    • First day for the election authority to mail ballots to persons in the United States Service, their spouse, and/or their dependents of voting age, citizens temporarily residing outside the territorial limits of the United States and nonresident civilians.
September 26, 2024
  • Early Voting Begins at County Clerk's Office
    • First day for early voting at the office of the election authority.
  • Voting by Mail Begins
    • First day for the election authority to mail an official ballot to a voter who has applied for a vote by mail ballot.
October 8, 2024
  • Voter Registration Closes
    • Last day for voters to register by mail or with a deputy registrar. Grace period registration and voting available at the office of the election authority.
October 20, 2024
  • Online Voter Registration Closes
    • Last day for voters to register online with the State Board of Elections.
October 21, 2024
  • Early Voting Begins County-wide
    • First day for early voting throughout Lake County.
October 31, 2024
  • Last Day to Mail Vote by Mail Ballots
    • Last day for the election authority to receive, by mail, an application for a vote by mail ballot and mail that ballot to the voter. (Note: 1. An earlier deadline is applicable to UOCAVA voters; 2. In-person applications are still accepted until November 4, 2024)
November 4, 2024
  • Last Day for Early Voting
    • Last day for early voting for the 2024 General Election.
November 5, 2024
  • General Election Day

Even Numbered Year Elections

  • General Primary: Third Tuesday in March
    Nomination of Federal, State, and County candidates by an established political party
  • General Election: First Tuesday after the First Monday in November
    Election of Federal, State, and County officials

Odd Numbered Year Elections

  • Consolidated Primary: Last Tuesday in February
    Nomination of Township and Municipal Candidates
  • Consolidated Election: First Tuesday in April
    Election of Township, Municipal, Park District, Library District, School District, and Fire District officials