VOTE BY MAIL
MARCH 17, 2026 PRIMARY ELECTION
IMPORTANT POSTMARK CHANGES

Returning Your Mail Ballot?  USPS Postmark Rules Have Changed!

Voters planning to vote by mail should be aware of a recent USPS postmark policy change that could affect the timely counting of ballots.  

Because postmarks now reflect when mail is processed – not when it is dropped off – ballots mailed close to Election Day could be postmarked late and rejected.  Cook County Clerk Monica Gordon is encouraging suburban voters to return mail ballots early, request a postmark at a post office, or use an official ballot drop box beginning March 2, 2026.

To get a list of locations and availability of mail ballot drop boxes, go to www.cookcountyclerk.com/MBdropbox.

WHAT'S CHANGED:
Effective January 1, the U.S. Postal Service changed how postmarks are defined. Postmarks now reflect the date mail is processed - not the date it is dropped off.  Processing can occur days after a ballot is placed in the mail.

In Illinois, vote by mail ballots must be postmarked by Election Day and received within 14 days. Because of the change, ballots mailed on or even several days before Election Day could still receive a late postmark and be rejected, through no fault of the voter.

WHAT VOTERS SHOULD DO: 

• Do not wait until the final days – or Election Day – to mail your ballot.
• If mailing, bring your ballot to a post office as early as possible and request a postmark.
• Beginning, March 2, voters may use one of the Cook County Clerk's 55 secure mail ballot drop boxes available throughout suburban Cook County.

WHY THIS MATTERS:
While this change has been described as minor, its potential impact on elections is anything but.  Under the new rule, voters who mail their ballot on time could see it postmarked late and not counted.

A TRUSTED VOTING OPTION:
Vote by mail remains a secure, reliable, and trusted method of voting. These recommendations are intended to protect voters from postal processing delays and ensure every eligible ballot is counted.

View/Download More Information on this USPS Postmark Change and Vote By Mail Ballots