Ballot Drop Box Coming To Evanston Ahead Of November Election

EVANSTON, IL — With increased concerns about how the U.S. Postal Service will handle expected record numbers of Americans voting by mail in November due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Cook County Clerk's Office announced Tuesday more than 50 mail ballot drop boxes will be installed around Cook County. One of these drop boxes will be available at the Lorraine H. Morton Civic Center at 2100 Ridge Ave.

The drop boxes will circumvent the USPS as the mail ballots will be securely delivered directly to the clerk's office, according to its website. Mail ballots will be mailed out to all Cook County voters who apply to receive a mail ballot beginning Sept. 24.

The decision to add the mail boxes comes at the same time operational changes within the USPS have reportedly led to widespread mail delays, elimination of overtime for postal workers, carriers being instructed to leave mail behind and the decommissioning of mail sorting machines.

Postmaster General Louis DeJoy, who was appointed by President Donald Trump in May and began in the position in June, has been connected to the changes. Following the filing of a federal lawsuit by 14 state attorneys general —including Kwame Raoul of Illinois — and public outcry, DeJoy said Tuesday the changes will be suspended until after the Nov. 3 election.

There will be postage-paid return envelopes for voters who wish to mail back their ballot, according to the clerk's office. Voters are urged to complete and mail their ballot back as early as possible once they receive it.

Voters can drop off their completed mail ballots between 8:30 a.m. and 7 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 9 a.m.-5 p.m. on weekends at the drop boxes located at early voting sites in Cook County. Mail ballots will be collected on a daily basis and will be time stamped.

Voters who applied for their mail ballot online will receive an email at the time their mail ballot is sent to them, as well as an email notifying them when the completed ballot has been received back from the voter, according to the clerk's office.

Drop boxes for mail ballots will be available beginning Oct. 9 at 69 West Washington St. in Chicago, as well as the five regional courthouses in suburban Cook County located in Rolling Meadows, Skokie, Maywood, Bridgeview and Markham. Drop boxes will be available at the remaining early voting sites beginning Oct. 19.

Other nearby confirmed drop box locations include Centennial Ice Rinks, 2300 Old Glenview Road in Wilmette, and Skokie Village Hall at 5127 Oakton St. Clerk's office officials said a complete list of Cook County drop boxes will be updated when new locations are added or with any changes.

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