Vote By Mail Drop Boxes Will Be Available In Suburban Cook County

CHICAGO — After a weekend of protests around the country calling for an immediate halt to changes to the U.S. Postal Service that have delayed mail service around the country, activists say the changes implemented by postmaster general Louis DeJoy, a major GOP fundraiser and ally of President Donald Trump, are an attempt to suppress the vote in the upcoming presidential election.

Many voters have requested information on where mail-in ballots can be securely delivered and not using the USPS. The Cook County Clerk’s Office is planning to deliver over 50 secure drop boxes to early voting sites throughout the suburbs. Starting Oct. 9, drop boxes will be available in the county building a 69 W. Washington St. in downtown Chicago.

Drop boxes will become available Oct. 19 at early voting suburban sites, as well as the five suburban Cook County courthouses in Bridgeview, 10220 S. 76th Ave, and Markham, 16502 S. Kedzie Ave. Voters can drop off their completed mail ballots from 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekends.

The mail ballots will be collected daily and time-stamped. Voters who applied for a mail ballot will receive an email when their ballot is being sent to their address, as well as an email notifying voters when their ballots is received at the Cook County Clerk’s Office.

Drop boxes will be available at these south suburban early voting sites beginning Oct. 19:

South Chicago Heights Senior Center (NEW)
3140 Enterprise Park Ave.

Prairie State College
202 S. Halsted St., Chicago Heights

Oak Forest City Hall
15440 Central Ave.

Prairie Trails Library District
8449 Moody Ave., Burbank

Andrew Biela Senior Center
4545 Midlothian Turnpike, Crestwood

Oak Lawn Village Hall
9446 S. Raymond Ave.

Orland Township Hall
14708 S. Ravinia Ave., Orland Park

Tinley Park Village Hall
16250 S. Oak Park Ave.