Title
Resolution accepting the Illinois State Board of Elections Polling Place Accessibility Grant and authorizing an emergency appropriation in the amount of $250,000 for the specific purpose of making improvements to Illinois polling places for voters with disabilities.
Staff Summary
• The purpose of this grant is to make improvements to Illinois polling places for voters with disabilities, pursuant to Section 101 of the Help America Vote Act of 2002, (“HAVA”) (52 USC 20901) (CFDA 90.404); funding is prioritized to correct barriers to accessing polling places.
• The proposed project will demolish the existing walkway and install appropriate ADA accessible walkways on the east and west sides of the North Entrance to bring the polling station at 18 N. County Street in full compliance with ADA standards §405.2 (Running Slope of 1:12 max), §405.3 (cross slope), §405.5 (clear width), and §405.8 (handrails).
• Work will include the following: Perform necessary sitework and demolition of existing infrastructure to provide ADA §405.2 compliant slope from N. County St. and Martin Luther King, Jr. Ave. to the Lake County government parking garage entrance.
• The walkway will be of proper width, including handrails, and lighting.
• The $250,000 in grant funding was not previously appropriated because the grant resources were secured after the County’s adoption of the Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 budget.
• This is a reimbursement grant, whereby purchases are made by the County Clerk, and upon presentation of invoices and proof of payment, and approval by the Grants Program Manager, the County is reimbursed for qualified expenses.
• The grant award is for the period of July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2026.
Body
RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, the Lake County Clerk’s Office received a grant from the Illinois State Board of Elections, to make improvements to polling places for voters with disabilities, pursuant to Section 101 of the Help America Vote Act of 2002, (“HAVA”) (52 USC 20901) (CFDA 90.404); and
WHEREAS, these grant funds will be used for the purposes of addressing areas of inaccessibility in polling places, working toward the goal that all Illinois voters are able to exercise their right to vote privately and independently; and
WHEREAS, the proposed project will demolish the existing walkway and install appropriate ADA accessible walkways on the east and west sides of the North Entrance to bring the polling station at 18 N. County Street in full compliance with ADA standards; and
WHEREAS, work will include performing the necessary sitework and demolition of existing infrastructure to provide an ADA §405.2 compliant slope from N. County St. and Martin Luther King, Jr. Ave. to the Lake County government parking garage entrance; and
WHEREAS, the walkways will be of proper width, including handrails, and lighting; and
WHEREAS, the grant amount of $250,000 has not been previously appropriated, having been awarded after adoption of the Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 budget.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by this County Board of Lake County, Illinois, that an emergency appropriation in the amount of $250,000 is hereby authorized in the County Clerk’s budget as identified on the listing of expense and revenue budget modifications attached hereto and made part hereof.
DATED at Waukegan, Illinois, on October 14, 2025.