Polling Place Runs Out of Ballots on Election Night in Chicago

An official said the Sherman School of Excellence polling location on Chicago's South Side ran out of physical ballots.

Mar. 17, 2026 at 10:26pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A polling place on Chicago's South Side, the Sherman School of Excellence, ran out of physical ballots on election night, according to an official. This occurred during a Democratic primary race for Cook County Board President that has seen heavy campaigning and advertising from the candidates.

Why it matters

The shortage of ballots at this polling location could have impacted voter turnout and access to the democratic process, raising concerns about election integrity and the ability of all eligible voters to cast their ballots.

The details

The polling place that ran out of ballots was the Sherman School of Excellence, located on Chicago's South Side. This occurred during a heated Democratic primary race for Cook County Board President, where incumbent Toni Preckwinkle is facing a challenge from downtown Chicago Alderman Brendan Reilly.

  • The ballot shortage occurred on election night, March 17, 2026.

The players

Toni Preckwinkle

The incumbent Cook County Board President who is seeking her fifth term in office.

Brendan Reilly

A downtown Chicago Alderman who is challenging Preckwinkle for the Cook County Board President seat.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“You've seen lot of rhetoric about Donald Trump, while all Democrats running oppose his policies at the end of day it will likely decided on meat and potato issues,”

— Brendan Reilly, Alderman (abc7chicago.com)

“We're going to continue doing the good things that we've done with American rescue plan act resources, like eliminating medical debt, and we're going to do the best to defend ourselves against the assaults of the federal government,”

— Toni Preckwinkle, Cook County Board President (abc7chicago.com)

What’s next

Election officials will need to investigate the cause of the ballot shortage and take steps to ensure all eligible voters can cast their ballots in future elections.

The takeaway

This incident highlights the importance of election officials properly planning and preparing for high-turnout elections to ensure the democratic process functions smoothly and all voters have access to cast their ballots.