Neighborhood Notice: Vote By Mail Information for 2nd Ward Voters

Dear Neighbors,

As of December 24, 2025, the United States Postal Service will not guarantee a same-day postmark on your Vote By Mail return ballot envelope. Because any ballot postmarked after Election Day on March 17 cannot be accepted per Illinois Law, USPS recommends voters take additional precautions and mail their completed Vote By Mail ballots at least one week (TODAY - March 10) before Election Day.

However, voters have other options available to them in addition to returning their ballots via USPS:

• Drop your ballot off into any of 52 Secure Drop Boxes located at all Early Voting sites in Chicago – even on Election Day. Locations in or near the 2nd Ward: 
  • Near North Library - 310 W Division St
  • Lincoln Park Library - 1150 W Fullerton Ave
  • Lawson House - 803 N Dearborn St
• Deliver your ballot directly to 69 W. Washington St. – either at the First-Floor lobby drop box or in the 6th Floor office

Still prefer to mail your ballot? Go to your nearest post office counter and request a manual postmark (hand-cancelling), provided free of charge at a customer’s request. Locations in or near the 2^nd Ward:

• Streeterville - 355 E Ohio St Ste 200 (click here for info) 
• John Hancock - 875 N Michigan Ave Ste GP-07 (lower level, across from 360 Chicago lobby) (click here for info)
• Fort Dearborn - 540 N Dearborn St (click here for info)
• Lincoln Park Postal Store - 2405 N Sheffield Ave (click here for info)

All qualified ballots properly postmarked by Election Day (March 17) and received up to 14 days after (March 31) will be processed and counted for the 2026 Primary Election. 

The Chicago Board of Elections will send you emails both when it receives your ballot return envelope and again when your ballot has been processed and counted.

Please note: Precinct polling places on Election Day do not have drop boxes. Precinct election judges cannot accept Vote By Mail ballots, and VBM ballots returned at precinct polling places will not be processed. Voters instead can use any of 51 Vote Centers open on Election Day to return their Vote By Mail ballots, including the new downtown voting Supersite at 137 S. State St.

Don’t risk a late postmark on your ballot – take any of the steps above to make sure your vote counts!