Cook County Clerk Report Shows Record Early and Mail Voting in 2026 Primary (Cook County, IL) – The Cook County Clerk’s Office has released its comprehensive post-election report for the March 17, 2026, Gubernatorial Primary, highlighting record participation in early and mail voting and increased voter turnout across suburban Cook County.
According to the report, pre-Election Day voting reached a new milestone, with half of all ballots cast before voters went to the polls on Election Day. A total of 196,729 voters participated through Early Voting, Vote by Mail, or Grace Period Registration and Voting, setting a new record for a gubernatorial primary election in suburban Cook County.
Mail voting saw significant growth, increasing more than 41% compared to the 2022 gubernatorial primary, while Early Voting participation rose nearly 57%.
The report also found overall voter turnout exceeded levels recorded in recent gubernatorial primary elections. Among a record 1,727,843 registered voters, 394,256 ballots were cast, resulting in a turnout rate of 22.82%.
That figure surpassed turnout in the 2022 gubernatorial primary, which recorded approximately 20% participation, and the 2014 primary, which saw turnout of about 16%.
Cook County Clerk Monica Gordon said the report provides important insight into changing voting habits and election administration efforts.
“This report provides valuable insight into how voters are engaging with our elections and how those habits continue to evolve,” Gordon said. “The data helps inform our work as we remain committed to administering elections that are secure, accessible, and transparent for every voter we serve.”
The report also highlights several initiatives introduced during the 2026 primary election cycle, including the Defenders of DA’mocracy civic engagement program. The initiative, developed through a partnership between the Cook County Clerk’s Office and the Chicago Bears, brought fully operational Early Voting sites to 24 suburban high schools, giving students hands-on exposure to the election process.
Another featured initiative was Election Lens, a real-time election analytics platform designed to provide election administrators and the public with enhanced access to voting data and election trends.
The Clerk’s Office said the report offers a detailed examination of voter participation, election trends and election results throughout suburban Cook County.
The full 2026 Gubernatorial Primary Post-Election Report, complete election results and printable election maps are available through the Cook County Clerk’s Office website.
Cook County Clerk Report Shows Record Early and Mail Voting in 2026 Primary
