Save time Apply Online to Vote by Mail

Save time Apply Online to Vote by Mail.

If you endured massive lines when voting early or on election day during the last election – Vote by Mail! Due to COVID-19, voters are encouraged to use Vote By Mail or Early Voting before Election Day on Nov. 3, 2020. The deadline to have a Vote By Mail application submitted online or at the offices of the Board of Elections is 5 pm on October 29 for the November 3, 2020 Election. Ballots are being mailed out between Sept. 24 and Oct. 5, 2020. How to register to vote in Chicago

Vote By Mail Ballot Return Envelopes may be completed and submitted at a Secured Drop Box at any Early Voting site or at the Election Board no later than 7 p.m. on Election Day, Nov. 3, 2020. If mailed, the Ballot Return Envelope must be postmarked before or on Election Day, Nov.3, 2020.

NEW THIS FALL: Secured Drop Boxes will be available at every Early Voting site for any Chicago Vote By Mail voter to submit the signed and sealed Ballot Return Envelope.

Don’t vote during Early voting or on Election Day – Poll worker shortages and missing polling places

If you recall there were long lines and chaos during both early voting and on Election Day during the Primary. There is going to be a shortage of poll workers and polling sites again this election due to covid. I won’t be working the Election because of Covid. And I didn’t work the Primary because the Board of Elections couldn’t find a polling place for my precinct. The building where it’s usually held refused to host us because of the virus. There will be a repeat of this in November.

Save time Apply Online to Vote by Mail – Don’t wait for your ballot to come – sign up to receive one now

Governor ~~No toilets~~ Pritzker just signed a new law whereby election authorities must mail or email the Vote-by-Mail ballot applications to voters who voted in the 2018 general election (mid-terms), the 2019 consolidated election (Mayoral election) or the 2020 general primary election (March 2020), as well as to voters who registered or changed addresses after the March primary. Any eligible voter who submits an application by Oct. 1 will receive their ballot by Oct 6.

Voters whose completed Vote By Mail applications are received on or before Sept. 24 should receive their ballots between Sept. 24 and Oct. 5; After Oct. 4, the Board will mail ballots within two business days of receiving complete applications.

COTC tip: The Board of Elections will be swamped trying to implement this. Apply for your ballot now so you’re guaranteed to get it in time.

Upcoming elections:

November 3, 2020 Presidential Election

Voting by mail

Any Chicago voter may apply online now to Vote By Mail ahead of the Nov. 3, 2020 Election. No reason or excuse is needed to Vote By Mail. Mail-in application form

COTC tip: Many people think that vote by mail ballots are only counted if the election is close. That is NOT TRUE. I always vote by mail and I work on election day at my precinct and my vote is always counted before election day.

COTC tip 2: I would recommend that when you receive your vote by mail ballot that you return it as soon as possible. That way if there is any issue you have time to correct it. I would not turn it in on election day because Illinois does not have any remedy to correct a voting error after election day.

COTC tip 3: If you get a Vote by Mail ballot and decide not to Vote by Mail or make a mistake YOU MUST bring the “spoiled” ballot with you to Early Voting or on Election Day and you can exchange it for a new ballot. Don’t throw it away.

Save time Apply Online to Vote by Mail – Overview

When you apply online, the Board of Election Commissioners will:

Send you an email to confirm that your online application has been received;
Send you an email to notify you when your ballot is being mailed; and,
Send you an email to let you know when the Board has received your ballot.

Then when you get your ballot fill it out and mail it back. It comes with a postage paid envelope.

For the April 2, 2019 Run off Election I applied for my ballot on March 15, received it on March 22 and mailed it back on March 25. I received email notification that my ballot was accepted March 29.

Register to vote or check to see if you’re registered

Who to vote for

There are a number of voting guides available. Google “November 3, 2020 Presidential Election Chicago” and pick a guide that matches your political affiliation.

Details

Any registered voter may Vote By Mail. Voters do not need a reason or excuse to Vote by Mail.

Apply to Vote By Mail

Any Chicago voter may file online here to Vote By Mail for the November 2020 Election. No reason or excuse is needed to Vote By Mail.
Mail-in application form

The Board anticipates that ballots will be available to be mailed in mid- to late-February 2020.

Vote and Return Your Ballot: Be Sure to read the instructions before you get your ballot

Follow all instructions that come with your ballot and make sure to vote in secret. A mail ballot must be postmarked (or in the absence of a postmark or Postal Service intelligent mail bar code data, certified by the voter) on or before Election Day November 3 in order to be counted.

NOTE: When marking your ballot, use a black or blue ballpoint pen or a felt-tip pen (Sharpie). Do NOT use a red pen, because red ink cannot be read by the ballot scanners.\

NOTE: The Board supplies all Vote By Mail voters with postage-paid Ballot Return Envelopes to return the ballots.

The signed and sealed Ballot Return Envelope may be returned:
– through the U.S. Postal Service or licensed couriers such as FedEx or UPS, OR
– by personal delivery to the Election Board at 69 W. Washington, Sixth Floor, OR
– NEW: starting in mid-October, at any Secured Drop Box, which will be available at every Early Voting site in Chicago.

Especially in the two weeks before Election Day, Chicago voters are encouraged to use a Secured Drop Box at any Chicago Early Voting site to return the signed and sealed Ballot Return Envelope.

Once a mail ballot has been returned to the Board, it cannot be retrieved or withdrawn. The same voter cannot vote in person in the polling place on Election Day unless he or she brings the mail ballot (or a portion of it) to the election judges OR completes an affidavit stating the mail ballot was never received by the voter or that it was received and lost.

Note: Any mail ballot that is postmarked Wed., Nov. 4 or later cannot be counted, by law. If a ballot envelope is placed in a mail drop box on or near Election Day, that envelope may be postmarked late and will not be eligible to be counted.

If you could not apply for a mail ballot by the Oct. 29 deadline, OR if you applied and did not receive your mail ballot, or if you lose the ballot, or if you cannot return the ballot with a postmark on or before Election Day:

– Call 312-269-7967 on or before Thurs., Oct. 29 to alert us that you have not received your ballot; OR

– Use Early Voting through Tue., Nov. 3; OR

– Cancel your mail ballot and receive and cast an Election Day ballot at the polling place assigned to your precinct on Tues., Nov. 3. If the voter has the mail ballot, that ballot should be surrendered to the election judges. If the voter does not have the mail ballot, the voter may cast a provisional ballot after completing a provisional-ballot affidavit.

Save time Apply Online to Vote by Mail – NOTICES TO VOTERS RELATED TO VOTE BY MAIL

• Due to Covid-19, voters are encouraged to use Vote By Mail or Early Voting before Election Day on Nov. 3, 2020;
• Voters may apply to Vote By Mail using this online system, or in person at the Chicago Election Board, or by mail, or by email;
• Voters whose completed Vote By Mail applications are received on or before Sept. 24 should receive their ballots between Sept. 24 and Oct. 5;
• After Oct. 4, the Board will mail ballots within two business days of receiving complete applications;
• Voters may ask to have the ballots sent to their registration addresses or to another valid mailing address for that voter;
• Vote By Mail Ballot Return Envelopes will have postage paid;

• Vote By Mail Ballot Return Envelopes may be completed and submitted at a Secured Drop Box at any Early Voting site or at the Election Board no later than 7 p.m. on Election Day, Nov. 3, 2020. If mailed, the Ballot Return Envelope must be postmarked before or on Election Day, Nov.3, 2020;
• The Ballot Return Envelope must be signed and dated by the voter, and that signature will be compared to the voter’s registration record;
• Warning: Knowingly providing false information on an application to Vote By Mail or on Vote By Mail materials is a Class 3 felony.

These are the questions you need to answer when you apply for a Vote-by-Mail Ballot

I certify that I reside at the address specified above, that I have lived at such address for 30 days or more preceding this election, that I am lawfully entitled to vote in such precinct at said election to be held therein, and that I wish to Vote By Mail.

I hereby make application for an official ballot or ballots to be voted by me at such election, and I agree that I shall return such ballot or ballots to the Chicago Board of Elections prior to the closing of the polls on the date of the election, or, if returned by mail, postmarked by Election Day, for counting no later than during the period for counting provisional ballots, the last day of which is the 14th day following Election Day.

I understand that this application is made for an official Vote By Mail ballot(s) to be voted by me at the election specified in this application and that I must submit a separate application for an official Vote By Mail ballot or ballots to be voted at any subsequent election.

Under penalties as provided by law pursuant to 10 ILCS 5/29-10, the undersigned certifies that the statements set forth in this application are true and correct.

Your application for a Vote By Mail ballot has been submitted.

Voters whose completed Vote By Mail applications are received on or before Sept. 24 should receive their ballots between Sept. 24 and Oct. 5;
After Oct. 4, the Board will mail ballots within two business days of receiving complete applications;
The website chicagoelections.gov will provide updates on the mailings of ballots to voters and the status of returned Vote By Mail Ballot Return Envelopes;
The website chicagoelections.gov will list locations of secured drop boxes that voters may use to submit their Ballot Return Envelopes if the voters do not wish to use the US Postal Service to return the Ballot Return Envelopes;
Voters who don’t receive their ballots or who have other questions may call 312-269-7867 or write to VoteByMail@chicagoelections.gov

Save time Apply Online to Vote by Mail

Don’t vote during Early voting or on Election Day – Poll worker shortages and missing polling places