Village of Deerfield pledges as America250 Community

In celebration of the 250th anniversary of the United States on July 4, 2026, the Village pledged as an America250 community. This statewide and nationwide commemoration brings together communities across Illinois and the country to recognize this historic milestone. The Village also established an America250 Committee, composed of 16 members representing 13 organizations, tasked with coordinating local programming, partnerships and community engagement efforts aligned with broader state and national initiatives. For more information on events and this initiative visit the Illinois America 250  website.  

Early Voting Starts 

Early voting is officially open at the Lake County Clerk’s Office! It also marks the first day ballots are being mailed to voters who requested vote by mail. Residents can learn more about voting at the Lake County Clerk’s website.

The Lake County Clerk's Office is issuing important guidance regarding recently implemented changes by the United States Postal Service (USPS) that may affect voters who plan to use vote by mail for upcoming elections. As part of nationwide adjustments to postal operations under the USPS "Delivering for America" plan, the Postal Service has clarified how postmarks are applied to mail pieces, including vote by mail ballots. Under updated guidelines, the date printed on a postmark may reflect when mail is first processed at a USPS facility rather than the date it was deposited in a mailbox. This adjustment, which took effect in the middle of the 2025 holiday season, could mean that mail pieces, including vote by mail ballots, may receive a later date stamp than the date on which the voter mailed them.

What this means for Lake County Voters

As eligibility of a vote by mail ballot in Illinois is determined by the postmark date on the return envelope, the Lake County Clerk’s Office strongly recommends the following: 

• Ensure the return vote by mail ballot envelope is signed and dated. 
• Mail the vote by mail ballot to our office as early as possible.
• Drop off a vote by mail ballot at secure drop box location across Lake County. 
• Request a manual postmark at a USPS retail counter - especially if any voter is returning their vote by mail ballot within one week of Election Day.
• Vote by mail voters should sign up for BallotTrax to track their vote by mail ballot to ensure it was received by the office. Voters can sign up online.  

Library Summer Reading Logo Contest

The Deerfield Public Library invites artists in grades 5 through 12 who are Deerfield residents to submit their designs for consideration in their Summer Reading Program logo contest. Logo submissions may be featured on the Library’s social media accounts and publications; the artist’s first name and grade level will be included in the post. 

Contest Dates: Friday, February 13 – Friday, March 13
Winner announcement: Monday, March 30
Eligible participants: Deerfield residents & Deerfield students in grades 5 through 12

Learn more details about the contest by visiting their Summer Reading Program page.