Illinois Voters Urged to Mail Ballots Early for Primary

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The Illinois State Board of Elections is reminding mail-in voters that ballots need to be submitted a few days earlier than in previous years due to changes in how mail is postmarked. Officials are advising voters to either drop off their ballots a couple of days early or request manual postmarking at a post office retail location to ensure their votes are counted.

Why it matters

The upcoming primary election in Illinois is an important step in the electoral process, and ensuring all valid votes are counted is critical for democracy. The postmark changes could disenfranchise some voters if they are not aware of the new timeline, so the state is proactively informing the public.

The details

Until December, mail was postmarked the day it was mailed. Now, mail is postmarked when it is processed, which is usually one or two days later. This delay could lead to some mail-in ballots not being counted if they are not submitted early enough. Officials are recommending voters either drop off their ballots a couple of days before the March 17 primary or request manual postmarking at a post office.

• The primary election is on March 17, 2026.
• The deadline to apply for a mail-in ballot is March 12, 2026.

What’s next

Voters should plan to submit their mail-in ballots a few days earlier than usual to ensure they are counted in the March 17 primary election.