Board of Election Commissioners for the City of Chicago
Commissioners
Langdon D. Neal, Chairman
Richard A. Cowen, Secretary/Commissioner
Marisel A. Hernandez, Commissioner
Lance Gough, Executive Director
Kelly Bateman, Asst. Executive Director
Military/Overseas Voters
Military/Overseas Voter Information - April 9, 2013 Special Election - Second Congressional District Only
This section of the web site now offers the online ballot access and marking system for qualified military/overseas voters who are eligible to participate in the April 9, 2013 Special Election for the Second Congressional District.
With this system, any eligible military/overseas voter with a valid Federal Post Card Application on file with the Chicago Board of Elections is able to log in to access and mark his or her ballot. After completing this process, the voter then may print out the ballot and the supporting documents to mail the ballot and documents to the Chicago Board of Elections.
This new system is possible through a grant from the Federal Voting Assistance Program and the U.S. Department of Defense.
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Notice to Voters in the Military and Citizens Temporarily or Permanently Residing Outside the United States Who Use the Federal Post Card Application (FPCA) To Register and Vote by Absentee Ballot
Under the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (UOCAVA) and the Military and Overseas Voter Empowerment (MOVE) Act, each State must permit absent uniformed service voters and overseas civilian voters to use absentee registration procedures and to vote by absentee ballot in all elections that include one or more federal offices. This notice is intended to inform military and overseas voters of the procedures used to apply for, mark and return absentee ballots.
No later than Fri., March 8, 2013, the Absentee Ballot Department will send the Special Write-in Absentee Voter's Blank Ballot ("Special Absentee Ballot") to all eligible FPCA applicants. Special Absentee Ballots will be sent by email, fax and mail. In addition to the Special Absentee Ballot, the Board also will mail an official ballot to you when the ballots become available. You may cast your absentee ballot by using either the Special Absentee Ballot or the official ballot. Or, you may mark and return both ballot forms; however, in the event multiple ballots are returned from the same voter, the Board will count only one of such ballots, as explained below.
Deadlines for Military/Overseas Voters
If you previously submitted the Federal Post Card Application (FPCA) for the Feb. 26, 2013 Special Primary Election, your application is still valid for the April 9, 2013 Special Election, and you are not required to submit the application again.
If you did not submit the Federal Post Card Application (FPCA) for the Feb. 26, 2013 Special Primary, the deadline to file the FPCA is Mon., April 1, 2013 in order to receive a full absentee ballot for the April 9, 2013 Special Election for the Second Congressional District.
Registering To Vote / Applying for Absentee Ballot
All applicants may submit the completed and signed Federal Post Card Application (FPCA) to the Board:
- by email at fpca@chicagoelections.com or
- by fax to 312-269-0626 or 312-263-3649
If you do not have access to a fax machine or the ability to scan documents, you may mail your completed and signed form to:
Board of Election Commissioners
Absentee Ballot Department
69 W Washington St - Suite 600
Chicago, Illinois 60602-3012
Returning Your Voted Ballot and Certification
Place your voted Special Absentee Ballot inside a small envelope and mark the envelope, "BALLOT ENVELOPE." Next, place your Ballot Envelope and the completed Certification inside a larger envelope. Use this label for the larger mailing return envelope. Voted ballots must be returned: by mail; in person; by the spouse, parent, child, brother or sister of the voter; by a licensed motor carrier such as FedEx, UPS or DHL; or submitted to a U.S. consulate or a U.S. embassy for return to the United States. (You must include postage to return your ballot and supporting documents. You may avoid postage only if the ballots are returned from a location inside the United States or through a U.S. consulate or a U.S. embassy, and so long as you adhere the printed sample envelope to the face of your mailing envelope.)
Ballots will be accepted if they are postmarked or certified or have a certification on or before Mon., April 8, 2013, and if they are received no later than 5 p.m. on Tue., April 23, 2013. Voted ballots that are submitted electronically must be received by our office by 7 p.m. on Tue., April 9, 2013.
If multiple ballots are received from one military/overseas voter
If only one ballot (whether the Special Absentee Ballot or the official ballot) is received by the Board within the time allowed, the Board will count that ballot. If the Board receives both the Special Absentee Ballot and the official ballot before the absentee ballot counting commences, the Special Absentee Ballot will be voided and the official ballot will be counted. If a second ballot is received after the Board has counted the first ballot, the second ballot will be voided, regardless of whether it is the Special Absentee Ballot or the official ballot.
The central counting of absentee ballots for the April 9, 2013 Special Election in the Second Congressional District will commence on Election Day after 7 p.m. and will conclude at 5 p.m. on April 23, 2013.
News: Jan. 8, 2011 - Military/overseas voters first to receive Municipal Election ballots