WAUKEGAN, Illinois - Lake County Clerk Willard Helander announced that grace period registration for residents of North Chicago Wards 2 and 4 and Waukegan Wards 2, 3, 6, and 8 begins Jan. 26 and continues through Feb. 15. Grace period registration aids residents who live in wards active in the Feb. 22 Democratic Party Primary but have not registered for the first time in Lake County, or have moved within the county and need update their registration at the new address.

Grace period registration is available only at the County Clerk's office, 18 North County Street, Waukegan during regular business hours 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays and 8:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Fridays. New registrants must be U.S. citizens, residents of their precinct for 30 days immediately prior to Election Day, 18 years old on or before the election, and must provide two forms of identification. Grace period registrants are required to vote at the Clerk's office at the time of their registration.

Beginning Feb. 24, Deputy Registrars may register residents in North Chicago Wards 2 and 4 and Waukegan Wards 2, 3, 6, and 8 through the March 8 close of registration prior to the April 5 election.

All other residents of North Chicago and Waukegan wards not involved in the primaries are eligible to register to vote during the primary cycle through the close of registration on March 8.

To keep current on County Clerk services and election news, visit LakeCountyClerk.info, follow us at twitter.com/ClerkWillard, join our page at facebook.com/CountyClerk, subscribe to our e-newsletter or call (847) 377-2400.