September 7, 2022
In this Issue: Start Now to Make Sure Your Vote Will Count in November ● Democrats Mingle with Voters at Buffalo Grove Days ● Democrats Join the Parade in Round Lake ● Candidates Q&A: Holly Kim and Jennifer Clark ● Precinct Committeeperson/Activist Training Coming Sept. 14 ● Volunteer Spotlight ● Upcoming Events
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Start Now to Make Sure Your Vote Will Count in November
With Labor Day behind us, it’s time to focus in earnest on the November 8th Election. First item on your to-do list? Make sure you’re registered to vote at your current address. Second item on your to-do list? Make sure to vote!
The best way to make sure to vote? Request a vote-by-mail-ballot. Then, whether you can get to a polling place or not once in-person voting begins, you can make sure your vote will count.
Here are answers to some questions you may have:
How do I request a vote-by-mail ballot?
Go online to the Lake County Clerk’s website, follow the sign-in instructions, and click the button to request a vote-by-mail ballot. It takes less than five minutes to click through the form and submit the request.
When will I receive my vote-by-mail ballot?
Starting on September 29, 2022, County Clerks will mail ballots to all registered voters who requested one. After that date, ballots will be mailed as requests are received.
How do I send in my completed vote-by-mail ballot?
You can return your vote-by-mail ballot by U.S. Mail or take it to the Lake County Clerk’s office in person, as soon as you receive it. A mailed ballot takes a regular first-class stamp, but if you forget to put a stamp on the envelope, the post office is legally required to deliver it to the County Clerk’s office.
Starting on October 24, 2022, you’ll have the option of depositing your vote-by-mail ballot in a secure Drop Box. Every Early Voting site in Lake County will have a Drop Box that you can access without waiting in the line for in-person voting.
What’s the deadline for sending in my vote-by-mail ballot?
Your ballot must be returned to your County Clerk in person or via Drop Box no later than 7 p.m. on Election Day, November 8, 2022. If you send your ballot by U.S. Mail, it must be postmarked no later than 7 p.m. on Election Day, November 8, 2022, and will be accepted as long as it is received within 14 days after Election Day.
What if I have questions about how to fill out and return my ballot?
Your vote-by-mail ballot should come to you with clear, illustrated instructions. The single most important step? Sign the Certification Envelope in which you place your completed ballot the same way you sign your name when you go to vote in person.
If you find that the instructions for completing and returning your mail-in ballot are unclear, simply call the Democratic Voter Assistance Hotline at 847‑432‑VOTE (8683), and we’ll walk you through the process.
What if I change my mind and want to vote in person?
Bring your ballot and the certification envelope that came with it to the polling place once in-person voting begins, hand them to an Election Judge, and say you want a regular ballot to vote then and there. If you misplaced your vote-by-mail ballot, tell that to the Election Judge, and they still will be able to give you a ballot to vote that day.
Still have questions? Call the Democratic Voter Assistance Hotline at 847‑432‑VOTE (8683).
Democrats Mingle with Voters at Buffalo Grove Days
Judges Chris Kennedy and Elizabeth Rochford greeted voters at the Lake County Democrats Booth at Buffalo Grove Days. Judge Kennedy is seeking an Appellate Court seat and Judge Rochford is running for Illinois Supreme Court.
State Representative Dan Didech, left, joined other Democrats greeting visitors to the Lake County Democrats booth during Buffalo Grove Days.
Democrats Join the Parade in Round Lake
Democrats reached out to voters at the Fiestas Patrias celebration in Round Lake. Above, Alex Sulzer is holding one side of the Lake Dems banner as Bill Holland carries the flags.
Democrats, including Lake County Clerk Candidate Anthony Vega, Sheriff John Idleburg, and Lake Villa Trustee Allena Barbato, Candidate for State Senate, were out in force for the Fiestas Patrias parade in Round Lake.
Candidates Q&A
How Have You Helped the People as Treasurer?
Lake County Treasurer Holly Kim
Growing up a child of immigrant business owners who also volunteered in the community, my platform has been about service.
- Lowered mobile home tax penalties, which includes senior living subdivisions like Saddlebrook. Penalties had been up to 200% of their tax bill and unfairly punishing poverty.
- Community reinvestment through 50+ proactive financial literacy and tax sessions, I’ve been accessible to answer questions, and increased office transparency.
- You can now pay by eCheck anywhere in the world for $0.
- Launched eBilling.
- Added our first credit union to our property tax collector sites.
- Donated over $120K all over Lake County to help civic causes.
- Changed what we invested in. Now I can pay for my own budget, and give millions back to Lake County General fund.
The biggest help was a four-payment option during the height of COVID.
During the housing crash of the ’80s, the ’90s, 2000s with the dot com bubble, and the great recession of 2009, the Treasurer’s office never did any “relief” to help the people. While doing this option meant doubling the workload and created issues operating in two fiscal years, I was determined to help the people.
Visit VoteHollyKim.com to learn more about Holly.
Why Should Voters Reelect Jennifer Clark to the County Board?
Jennifer Clark, District 15 Lake County Board Member Seeking Reelection
Jennifer is currently the Lake County Board Commissioner for District 15, representing Libertyville and parts of Mundelein and is also on the Lake County Forest Preserves Board.
As a Lake County Board Member, Jennifer is proud to serve as Chair of the Public Works, Planning and Transportation Committee and Vice Chair of the Rules Committee. She is also the Chair of the Legislative Committee and Rules Committee for the Lake County Forest Preserves and a member of the Operations Committee.
In addition to her work as a Lake County Board Member, Jennifer is an educator who teaches Economics at Carthage College in Kenosha, Wisconsin. Her research focuses on smart economic development, advances in technology and sustainable stewardship of our natural resources.
Jennifer really enjoys being able to bring her knowledge of economic policy and development to her work on the Lake County Board. Her students also enjoy her real-life examples and stories from her government work.
Find out more about Jennifer at her website.
Precinct Committeeperson/Activist Training Coming Sept. 14
It’s never been more vital to the future of our country to elect Democrats. Join us on Wednesday, September 14, at 7 p.m. via Zoom for a training for Precinct Committeepersons and grassroots Democratic activists. Any Democrat committed to electing our candidates is welcome to attend.
The training will focus on best practices for effective voter contact, door-knocking, and persuasion. Talking to voters face-to-face is the single most effective way to persuade voters to support our candidates. Success in the 2022 midterms will depend on all of us, and the more people we get talking to voters, the more successful we will be.
Volunteer Spotlight
Lake Dems is grateful for our many active volunteers:
Skip Jacobs is the best kind of volunteer – he can almost always be counted on for an enthusiastic “Sure I can.” Can you take a shift or two during Buffalo Grove Days? Can you bring these checks to the bank and deposit them? Can you make sure these banners get to the parade? Can you carry a banner in the parade? How about printing letters? Folding them and stuffing envelopes? Taking them to the Post Office? Picking up the mail while you’re at it? Yes, yes, and yes. Skip has driven to almost every corner of Lake County supporting Democrats, including talking to voters for hours at our Buffalo Grove Days booth this past weekend. Skip’s “can-do” attitude is something we can’t do without!
Upcoming Events
Events below are taken from the complete list of Upcoming Events at LakeDems.org/events. To submit your event for consideration, click here.
WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 7
Brad Schneider’s “Congress on Your Corner” in Beach Park. 6pm, in-person and streamed on Facebook. More.
Lake Villa Dems Monthly Meeting. 6:30-8:30pm, Lindenhurst. Lake County Clerk candidate Anthony Vega will discuss election integrity. More.
THURSDAY, SEPT. 8
Reception Supporting Judge Chris Kennedy for Appellate Court. 5-6:30pm, Libertyville. More.
Cocktail Party with Brad Schneider and Julie Morrison, Bob Morgan, Jonathan Carroll and Scott Britton. 6:30-8pm, Winnetka. More.
The Myth of “Soft on Crime” with Lake County State’s Attorney Eric Rinehart. From 7-8pm, Grayslake. More.
FRIDAY, SEPT. 9
Waukegan Township Democrats GOTV Unity Fundraiser. 6pm, Waukegan. More.
SATURDAY, SEPT. 10
Democratic Day of Action with Brad Schneider. 9:30am-1pm, Mundelein. More.
Sticky Note Palooza for County Board Member Jennifer Clark. 10am-noon, Vernon Hills. More.
Day of Action for State Representative Joyce Mason and Lake County Board Candidate Carissa Casbon. 10am-2pm, Gurnee. More.
An Afternoon with Lake County Clerk Candidate Anthony Vega. 3-4:30pm, Mundelein. More.
Lake Villa Celebration of Fall. 3-8pm. More.
SUNDAY, SEPT. 11
“Love is Blue,” a Concert in Support of Carissa Casbon for Lake County Board. 3-5pm, Gurnee. More.
Wine & Cheese Fundraiser Supporting Reelection of Marah Altenberg to Lake County Board. 4-6pm, Long Grove. With Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky. More.
MONDAY, SEPT. 12
From Abortion to Democracy: What’s at Stake in 2022. 5:30-6:30pm, online via Zoom. Illinois Women’s Institute for Leadership Training Academy presents the Annual Dawn Clark Netsch Policy Forum. More.
Antioch and Grant Township Democrats September Meeting. 6:30-7:30pm, Lake Villa. More.
TUESDAY, SEPT. 13
Conversation with Illinois State Treasurer Mike Frerichs. 5:30-7pm, Evanston. More.
Reducing the Plague of Gun Violence Here, There, Everywhere. 7-9pm, online via Zoom. League of Women Voters of Lake County sponsors a presentation with Jose Santos Woss, Director of Friends Committee on National Legislation; Kris Brown, President of the Brady Campaign, and Eric Rinehart, Lake County State’s Attorney. More.
WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 14
Winning Elections: Training for Precinct Committeepersons and Grassroots Activists. 7pm, online via Zoom. Sponsored by Lake County Dems. More.
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How Do I Join Lake County Democrats?
Lake County Democrats is made up of people like you, people who are passionate about building better communities and a better world. We’re a grassroots political organization, working with Democrats in all parts of Lake County – from Antioch to Highland Park, Libertyville to Waukegan, Barrington to Zion. Become a member online now or send a check payable to Lake County Democrats to P.O. Box 671, Lake Zurich, IL 60047. Questions? Contact info@lakedems.org.
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