Thank you for your interest in the 2026 General Primary Election!
Please note that the Clerk’s Office and staff cannot offer any legal advice as to the legality or completeness of nomination petitions and/or objectors petition. Candidates and objectors are urged to seek their own legal counsel.
Illinois State Board of Elections
Our office encourages all candidates to review all materials published by the Lake County Clerk and Illinois State Board of Elections including the 2026 Candidate’s Guide and the 2026 Election and Campaign Finance Calendar. These materials are available by visiting elections.il.gov and selecting “Running for Office” from the main navigation menu.
Filing Period The Lake County Clerk’s Office will be accepting nomination papers from candidates for office from Tuesday, August 5, 2025 – Monday, November 3, 2025 at the Lake County Clerk’s Office, 18 N. County Street, Waukegan, IL 60085.
Statement of Economic Interests Required by the Illinois Governmental Ethics Act, this form must be filed with the Lake County Clerk and a receipt issued. Candidates may file their statement online on the Candidate Statement of Economic Interests page or by printing the form included in the petition packet above (also available separately). A candidate who filed a Statement of Economic Interests for the same unit of government within the calendar year does not need to re-file. NOTE: Precinct committeepersons are not required to file a Statement of Economic Interests.
Review of Nominating Papers The Lake County Clerk and staff cannot provide legal opinions or review nomination papers. Prospective candidates are strongly encouraged to consult legal counsel regarding qualifications to seek office and preparation of nomination papers. Nomination papers cannot be amended once filed. Only a receipt for filing the required Statement of Economic Interests may be added until 5:00 PM on the last day to file.
Objections to Nominating Papers A candidate’s nomination papers are subject to challenge by qualified objectors who believe the papers are incomplete or do not meet the guidelines of apparent conformity. Appointments for reviewing the voter registration records of petition signers should be made by contacting the Voter Services Department at 847-377-2410.