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If your voter registration record reflects your current name and physical Lake County street address, you will not be required to present any identification when you are voting by mail, during early voting, or on Election Day. According to Illinois election law, your identity is verified when the election judges compare and confirm that the signature on your registration record matches the one on your ballot application in each election.

Additional identification is only required in the following special circumstances:

• You registered to vote by mail AND did not supply sufficient proof of identity.

  In these cases, the Lake County Clerk’s office first tries to verify your identity through your Illinois Driver’s License, Illinois State Identification number, or the last four digits of your Social Security number. If these efforts are unsuccessful, the Lake County Clerk’s office will mail you a notice giving you the opportunity to submit your identification documentation before voting begins.
  
  Required documents: One piece of valid identification showing current name and physical Lake County street address.
  
  

• Your registration record is marked as “inactive” because the U.S. Postal Service returned mail sent by the Lake County Clerk’s office, or if you are in the voting site and an election judge, pollwatcher or another voter challenges your registration record address.

  
  If you claim to still reside at your registration record address, you can provide current identification, complete an affidavit, and continue voting.
  
  Required documents: Two forms of valid identification, both showing current name and physical Lake County street address or a witness who is a registered voter residing in the same precinct.
  
  

• You are registering to vote for the first time or updating your existing registration name or address during Grace Period Registration. 

   
  Required documents: Two forms of valid identification, both showing current name, and one must show current physical Lake County street address.

Can't provide identification in the voting site?

If identification is required during early voting or on Election Day but you can’t provide it, you are entitled to vote a Provisional Ballot. Your ballot is not cast in the ballot bin but secured by the election judges. You have seven days after Election Day to provide the Lake County Clerk’s office with the required documentation.

List of acceptable forms of identification

• Illinois Driver's License
• State of Illinois Identification card
• Utility or service contract service bill addressed to applicant at physical Lake County street address postmarked no more than 30 days prior
• Firearm Owner’s Identification (FOID) card
• Personalized check or bank statement
• Car registration or proof of insurance bearing the applicant’s name and address

In addition to one of the above, you may use:

• U.S. passport
• Military, employee, student, or welfare identification card
• Certified copy of birth certificate
• Social Security or Veteran’s Administration Patient card
• Civic, union, or professional membership card
• Check cashing, debit, or credit card
• Library (some) or insurance card
• Certified copy of marriage license or divorce papers
• U.S. naturalization papers

Expired documents are not acceptable.