Cook County Clerk Warns Voters of USPS Postmark Change Ahead of March 17 Primary (Cook County, IL) – With the Illinois primary election less than six weeks away, Cook County Clerk Monica Gordon is urging voters who plan to vote by mail to take extra steps to ensure their ballots are counted, following a recent change in United States Postal Service postmark policies.
Effective Jan. 1, the USPS implemented a nationwide change redefining how postmarks are applied. Under the new policy, a postmark no longer reflects the date a ballot is received by the postal service. Instead, it reflects the date the mail is processed—a step that can occur days after a ballot is dropped in the mail.
In Illinois, vote-by-mail ballots must be postmarked by Election Day and received within 14 days in order to be counted. Election officials warn that the policy shift could result in ballots being postmarked after Election Day, even if voters mailed them on time.
“While this change has been described as minor, its potential impact on elections is anything but,” Gordon said in a statement. “Under this new rule, voters who mail their ballot on time could still see their ballot postmarked late and not counted through no fault of their own.”
To reduce the risk of ballots being rejected, the Cook County Clerk’s Office is advising voters not to wait until the final days before the March 17 primary to mail their ballots. Officials also recommend bringing ballots directly to a local post office as early as possible and requesting a postmark to help ensure timely processing.
Beginning March 2, when early voting starts, voters will also have the option to place their mail ballots in one of 55 secure drop box locations that will be available throughout suburban Cook County.
Gordon emphasized that voting by mail remains a secure and reliable option, and said her office remains committed to protecting the integrity of the election process.
“We have worked hard to build public confidence in vote by mail,” she said. “Any policy change that introduces uncertainty for voters is deeply concerning.”
Voters seeking more information about vote-by-mail options, early voting, or drop box locations are encouraged to visit the Cook County Clerk’s Office website at www.cookcountyclerk.com/elections.
Cook County Clerk Warns Voters of USPS Postmark Change Ahead of March 17 Primary
