Late Postmarked Mail-In Ballots Reported Across Central Illinois

County clerks say dozens of votes may have been disqualified due to late postmarks in recent primary election.

Mar. 21, 2026 at 9:18pm

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In the recent primary election, county clerks across Central Illinois are reporting dozens of mail-in ballots that cannot be counted due to late postmarks. Champaign County Clerk Aaron Ammons said his office received over 9,600 vote-by-mail ballots, but 53 of those were marked March 18 and therefore cannot be counted. Other counties like Vermilion and Macon have also reported invalid mail-in ballots due to late postmarks.

Why it matters

The issue of late postmarked mail-in ballots highlights the importance of voters submitting their ballots well ahead of election day to ensure their votes are counted. Even a small number of disqualified ballots could potentially swing the outcome of a close election.

The details

County clerks in Central Illinois are reporting dozens of mail-in ballots that cannot be counted in the recent primary election due to late postmarks. Champaign County Clerk Aaron Ammons said his office received over 9,600 vote-by-mail ballots, but 53 of those were marked March 18 and therefore cannot be counted. Vermilion County reported 9 invalid mail-in ballots out of more than 500, while Macon County reported 7 out of 1,700.

  • The primary election took place on March 17, 2026.
  • County clerks reported receiving the late postmarked mail-in ballots in the days after the election.

The players

Aaron Ammons

Champaign County Clerk who reported receiving over 9,600 vote-by-mail ballots in the primary election, with 53 of those having late postmarks and therefore unable to be counted.

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What they’re saying

“If you're going to go through the trouble of filling out the ballot and being on the vote-by-mail list, then we would certainly encourage you to turn them in in time, because that vote could swing.”

— Aaron Ammons, Champaign County Clerk

What’s next

County clerks will continue to monitor the situation and work to educate voters on the importance of submitting mail-in ballots well before election day.

The takeaway

This issue highlights the need for voters to be diligent about mailing their ballots with enough time to ensure they are received and counted. Even a small number of disqualified ballots could potentially impact the outcome of a close election.