Winthrop Harbor, Illinois Public Records

Public safety in Winthrop Harbor is the responsibility of the Winthrop Harbor Police Department, which serves the community's 6,693 residents. The department's website provides information on crime statistics, most-wanted lists, and the local sex offender registry. Residents can also use the Illinois State Police's online tools to conduct criminal history checks and report missing persons. For inmates currently incarcerated within the state's correctional system, the Illinois Department of Corrections offers an inmate search feature to help locate individuals and access basic information about their status.

Winthrop Harbor voters are served by the Lake County Clerk's Office, which administers all elections in the county. The Elections Division is located at 18 N. County Street, Waukegan, IL 60085 (phone: 847-377-2406, website: lakecountyil.gov/1713/Elections). Illinois residents can register to vote online at ova.elections.il.gov, by mail, or in person; online registration requires a valid Illinois driver's license or state ID. The voter registration deadline in Illinois is 16 days before any election, with online registration closing at 11:59 p.m. on that deadline date. Illinois also offers grace period registration starting 16 days before through Election Day at early voting sites and polling places, though voters must provide proof of residency. Winthrop Harbor, as an incorporated village, holds municipal elections for Village President (mayor), Village Clerk, and Village Board of Trustees on a consolidated election schedule. Village officials serve four-year staggered terms, with elections typically held in April of odd-numbered years. The next Winthrop Harbor municipal election is scheduled for April 6, 2027, when three trustee positions will be on the ballot. Candidates for village offices file nominating petitions with the Lake County Clerk's office during the filing period in December preceding the April election. Local referenda and advisory questions may also appear on village ballots when placed by petition or board action. Winthrop Harbor voters can find their assigned polling place by using the Illinois State Board of Elections polling place lookup tool at ova.elections.il.gov/PollingPlaceLookup.aspx or by contacting the Lake County Clerk's Elections Division. Under Illinois law, voter registration lists are public records available for purchase for political and election-related purposes. Campaign finance disclosure reports for local candidates are filed with the Illinois State Board of Elections and searchable at elections.il.gov, showing contributions and expenditures. Precinct-level election results for Winthrop Harbor are published by the Lake County Clerk after certification, available at lakecountyil.gov/1713/Elections. In the November 2024 presidential election, Lake County reported approximately 63% voter turnout with over 265,000 ballots cast from the county's approximately 420,000 registered voters. On November 3, 2026, Winthrop Harbor and Lake County voters will decide several significant races: the U.S. Senate seat currently held by Senator Tammy Duckworth is not up for election in 2026 (her term expires in 2028); however, voters will elect state constitutional officers including Governor and Lieutenant Governor (four-year terms), Illinois State Senate and House seats representing Winthrop Harbor's districts (the village is in the 31st Senate District and 62nd House District), Lake County Board members, the Lake County Clerk, Lake County Sheriff, Lake County Treasurer, and various judicial retention questions for circuit and appellate court judges. Illinois offers several methods for voting by mail: any registered voter can request a vote-by-mail ballot without providing a reason by applying online at lakecountyil.gov/1816/Vote-By-Mail, by mail, or in person at the County Clerk's office. Applications must be received by the Thursday before Election Day for regular processing, though grace period applications are accepted through Election Day. Early voting in Lake County typically begins 40 days before elections at the County Clerk's office and other designated early voting sites throughout the county, including locations in Waukegan and other municipalities, with expanded hours during the final weeks before Election Day.