Vote-By-Mail: A Brief Guide

September 14, 2020

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, voters across the country are urged to cast their ballot by mail. Voting by mail is an easy, safe, and secure voting method, but is also unfamiliar to many people who are used to voting in person. No “excuse” is necessary to receive a ballot in the mail. In Chicago, this information can be found at https://chicagoelections.gov/en/vote-by-mail.html. A step-by-step explanation can be found on that site, as well as below. If you live outside of the City of Chicago, contact your local election authority.

Step 1: Requesting Your Ballot.

In response to the pandemic, the Illinois General Assembly voted to mail most registered voters an application to vote-by-mail. Whether you received an application to vote-by-mail or not, you can apply electronically on the Board of Elections website or download the application to submit manually. (If you apply online, you will receive an email when your ballot is mailed and received.)

The Chicago Board of Elections will begin mailing ballots on September 24th, 2020.

Step 2: Completing Your Ballot

The Chicago Board of Elections recommends using a black or blue pen to fill out your ballot.

When you have completed your ballot, you must follow the return instructions exactly. Failure to complete the process may result in your ballot being disqualified. Check to make sure you have followed the procedures correctly, including signing the envelope.

Importantly, your signature on the envelope needs to match your signature on your voter registration form. Over the years, your signature may have drastically changed. If you are worried about your signature not matching the one on your voter registration, fill out and return the Signature Update form by mail or email it to registration@chicagoelections.gov.

The Chicago Board of Elections supplies all mail-ballot voters with a postage-paid envelope to return your ballot – you do not need additional postage.

Step 3: Returning Your Ballot

In Chicago, you have two options for returning your mail ballot:

1. You can simply mail it back to the Chicago Board of Elections (69 W. Washington St., Ste. 600. Chicago, IL. 60602). The U.S. Postal Service recommends mailing your ballot by October 27th, 2020, to guarantee delivery. In Illinois, your ballot must be post-marked by Election Day (November 3rd, 2020) in order to be counted.
2. You can drop off your ballot at either the Chicago Board of Elections downtown or at a Secured Drop Box at any Chicago Early Voting location. Early Voting will be begin on October 14th, 2020. (Locations will be announced in September).

With the delays in the Postal Service due to cost-cutting measures and the ever-present uncertainty of the COVID-19 pandemic, you should have a plan for when and how you will vote. Do not forget to vote – this election will decide the future of our country, and every vote counts. As a rule of thumb, if you know who you are going to vote for, vote as soon as possible.