Tips To Ensure Your 'Vote-By-Mail' Ballot Is Counted In The Nov. 3 Midterm Election

PALOS, IL—Registered voters who have requested mail-in ballots for the Nov. 3 gubernatorial election will soon start receiving their ballots in their mailboxes. When you return your completed ballot by mail, the U.S. Postal Service takes one to three days to postmark or process mail.

The League of Women Voters Palos Orland Chapter therefore advises voters using vote-by-mail ballots to put them in the mail by Oct. 20 ahead of the Nov. 3 gubernatorial election.

• Use a secure drop box. Find yours at Cook County Polling Places.

• Go inside the post office and request your ballot be hand-stamped.

• Mail your ballot by Oct 20, 2026. However, due to USPS procedures, codified in December 2026, your ballot may not receive a date stamp.

If you received a mail-in ballot, you may still go to the early voting place or your polling place and vote in person. However, it is against the law to use the mail-in ballot and vote in person, and it will be investigated.

Victoria L. Cerinich, President

League of Women Voters of Palos-Orland Area