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2h ago

Illinois Early Voting Opens as Officials Warn USPS Changes Could Put Mail Ballots at Risk

Voters are urged to send mail ballots early or use drop boxes because Postal Service transport shifts may delay postmarks needed for counting.

A pair of campaign workers wait to talk to voters entering the Lake County Courthouse & Administration Building on the first day of early voting on Thursday in Waukegan. (Steve Sadin/For the Lake County News-Sun)
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Cook County Clerk Monica Gordon talks about changes to the United States Postal Service’s new postmarking processes at a news conference on Feb. 4, 2026, in Chicago. In the background is Priscilla Mims from the League of Women Voters. (Antonio Perez/Chicago Tribune)
Gina Eshu fills out an application for a ballot certificate for a registered voter during the Illinois primary election on March 19, 2024, at a polling place at Chicago Filmmakers in Chicago. (Vincent Alban/Chicago Tribune)

Overview

  • Cook County Clerk Monica Gordon cautioned that ballots mailed close to March 17 could be postmarked after Election Day, which would invalidate them under state rules.
  • USPS says it did not change postmarking policy but acknowledges transportation adjustments mean some mail may not reach processing facilities the same day it is mailed.
  • The Postal Service cannot guarantee same‑day postmarks and recommends voters return mail ballots by about March 10 or request a manual postmark at a post office.
  • Early voting is underway in many counties as of Feb. 5, with Chicago opening downtown sites Feb. 12 and suburban Cook County sites on March 2.
  • Cook County plans 55 drop boxes starting March 2, and officials expect about 170,000 suburban mail ballots, which must be postmarked by Election Day and received within 14 days to count.