Suburban Cook County voters may now apply for their Mail Ballots in the June 28, 2022, Gubernatorial Primary Election through the Cook County Clerk’s Office website, according to the Office of Clerk Karen A. Yarbrough.
Any registered suburban Cook County voter may request a Mail Ballot using the online application at cookcountyclerk.com/votebymail. Ballots will be mailed to those who have applied beginning in late May.
“Voting By Mail has become increasingly popular in recent years and it’s clear that voters enjoy the simple and convenient option of casting their ballot from the comfort of their own home,” Yarbrough said.
“What makes the process even more accessible is the ability to request your ballot online. Voters can take their time and research candidates and referenda before casting their vote for our democracy.”
Voters may also download, print and sign a paper application to mail into the Clerk’s Office to request a Mail Ballot. The completed Mail Ballot Application should be sent to: Cook County Clerk’s Office, Mail Voting Unit, 69 W. Washington St., Suite 500, Chicago, IL 60602.
Voting by Mail and Early Voting are continuing to trend upward as the preferred methods of voting in suburban Cook County in recent years. Both have increased exponentially, in part driven by the Covid-19 pandemic.
In the 2020 Presidential Election, suburban voters shattered previous records for Mail Voting and Early Voting, with 76 percent of votes being cast prior to Election Day. There was a total of 460,281 mail votes cast and 453,077 suburban residents voted early for a total of 913,358 votes cast before Election Day out of more than 1.1 million ballots cast in total.
The deadline to apply for a Mail Ballot is June 23. Ballots must be postmarked no later than Election Day, June 28, and be received at the Cook County Clerk’s office within 14 days of Election Day.
The Mail Ballot Application can be completed on computers, smartphones, or tablets. Simply visit cookcountyclerk.com/votebymail from an internet-connected device.
To complete an online Mail Ballot Application, a voter will need:
- Email address. (An email will be sent to confirm the application before processing can be completed.)
- Illinois driver’s license or state identification number.
- Last four digits of the voter’s Social Security Number.
- Address where the ballot should be mailed.
While applications will be accepted online, completed ballots must be returned via U.S. mail -- or dropped off at Election Drop Box locations at suburban Early Voting sites, which open on June 13.
Suburban Cook County voters can always check their voter registration and Mail Ballot status as well as other voter information at cookcountyclerk.com/VoterInfo.
Questions can be directed to 312.603.0946 or [email protected].
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