USPS postmark change could 'threaten' mail-in voters, Cook County officials warn

As the Illinois primary election draws near, mail-in voters may need to submit their ballots earlier to ensure they are counted under a new U.S. Postal Service rule.

Under the new policy, mail will be postmarked, the date stamped, on the day it is processed at the post office, rather than the day it is dropped in a mailbox.

This could affect voters who choose to mail in their ballot for the March 17 election, Cook County Clerk Monica Gordon said at a news conference Wednesday at the Cook County Clerk's Office.

“While this change has been described as ‘minor,’ its impact on elections could be anything but,” Gordon said.

Because mail is often processed days after it is dropped off, if ballots are postmarked after Election Day it could jeopardize whether votes are counted. Mail-in ballots must be postmarked by Election Day and received within 14 days to be counted.

The policy change went into effect Dec. 24.

USPS officials said the agency did not change their postmarking practice, instead it made "adjustments to our transportation operations that will result in some mail pieces not arriving at our originating processing facilities on the same day that they are mailed.”

Gordon said the change could affect voters in rural areas, disadvantaged communities and elderly voters, who often rely on the postal service to cast their ballots.

“Every vote matters, and no voters should lose their voice because of confusion or delay,” said Gordon.

Gordon said it is “possible” the new policy could be seen as a form of “voter suppression” and added that her office would provide residents with the information they need to ensure their votes are counted.

“Across the country historically, we have seen efforts of sophisticated voter suppression,” she said. “In Cook County we will not allow our voters, our votes, to be suppressed. We will not allow our voters' voices not to be heard.”

To ensure ballots arrive on time, Cook County officials urged voters to mail them as soon as possible and ask postal clerks to postmark ballots at the counter. The county will also offer 55 drop box locations for mail-in ballots, which will be collected at least once a day and delivered to Cook County Elections for processing.

Gordon said she was unsure how many voters could be affected by the policy change, but noted that 192,000 mail-in ballots were cast in the 2024 primary election.

Early voting will begin Feb. 18 at the 69 W. Washington Pedway, courthouses at suburban Bridgeview, Markham, Rolling Meadows, and Skokie and at the Melrose Park Village Hall. Early voting will begin March 2 at all other county sites.