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Illinois State Board of Elections advises patience on final vote count

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Illinois

* Illinois State Board of Elections…

With record-setting vote-by-mail volume in the 2020 general election, the Illinois State Board of Elections advises media and voters to be aware that unofficial vote totals reported on election night may change significantly in the two weeks to follow.

As of Nov. 2, Illinois’ 108 local election authorities reported up to 587,000 mail ballots that had not yet been returned by voters. While some of these ballots will arrive in time to be processed and included in election night reporting, many are likely to arrive after Election Day and be added to unofficial totals. Illinois allows ballots that are postmarked no later than Election Day to arrive and be counted for two weeks afterward, so totals could change through Nov. 17.

The Illinois State Board of Elections will regularly update the statewide totals for mail ballots on its website, but does not report any election results until it certifies the vote on Dec. 4. Unofficial results before certification may be obtained from local election authorities.

The following background information may be useful to news media covering election results in the two weeks to come:

• As of Nov.2, Illinois election authorities had sent 2.35 million ballots to voters and 1.76 million of those ballots had been returned by voters. (The complete report, including totals from individual election authorities, is attached following this release.)
• With 1.83 million in-person early votes cast as of Nov. 2, Illinois had cast nearly 3.6 million votes before Election Day.
• In 2016, voters cast 370,740 votes by mail and 1,520,694 in-person early votes, for a total of 1,891,434 votes cast before election day.
• Illinois has more than 8.3 million registered voters for the 2020 general election, which is an all- time record. Unofficial pre-election reports indicate that 43 percent of registered voters have already voted.
• The constitutional amendment on this year’s ballot can pass if it receives 60 percent approval from voters who vote on the question or a simple majority of affirmative votes among all ballots cast in the election. Because of this formula, the fate of the amendment may not be known on election night even when accounting for mail ballots not yet returned.
• As mail ballots arrive in the days after Nov. 3, it is likely that close races may see leads change as results are reported. Reporters should check with local election authorities for updated vote counts and make readers, viewers and listeners aware of why these numbers are changing.
• The certification schedule after Election Day is as follows:
o Nov.17:Local election authorities must complete counting of mail and provisional ballots
o Nov. 24: Local election authorities must transmit results to the State Board of Elections
o Dec. 4: State Board of Elections certifies the vote and publishes official results
• From 1976-2016, turnout in presidential elections in Illinois has averaged 73 percent. If statewide turnout for this election matches 2016’s 70.56 percent, 5.87 million votes will be cast.
• Voters needing assistance locating polling places or with other voting-related questions or concerns on Election Day can call the State Board of Elections at (217) 782-4141 or (312) 814- 6440. The Board of Elections website, elections.il.gov, will feature a special landing page for voter assistance beginning at midnight on Nov. 3.

The attachment is here.

posted by Rich Miller
Monday, Nov 2, 20 @ 4:45 pm

Comments

So what you’re saying is we’ve got two whole weeks to look forward to the Eastern Bloc’s antics.

Comment by Candy Dogood Monday, Nov 2, 20 @ 4:49 pm
We need something to watch other than non-moving election returns.

I nominate Scott Kennedy to set up a Zoom event where we can just watch him click through spreadsheets for a few hours and talk about vote shares and past races. Just to get our numbers fix in.

Comment by Ok Monday, Nov 2, 20 @ 4:55 pm
= two whole weeks to look forward to the Eastern Bloc’s antics=

The shops on Michigan and State streets are not being boarded up because of Eastern Bloc antics.

https://tinyurl.com/y4zvm69e

Comment by Donnie Elgin Monday, Nov 2, 20 @ 5:01 pm
Need a whole week of libations instead of one day’s worth.

Comment by Da Big Bad Wolf Monday, Nov 2, 20 @ 6:36 pm
We requested two mail in ballots for our household. We did so as a contingency in the event we weren’t able to vote early or on election day. Ultimately we vote early so our mail in ballot was surrendered. I wonder if those numbers are included in the 587K or so outstanding ballots or if there are folks that we’ll be voting in person tomorrow in lieu of mail in. Have to believe a lot of us went this route this year given the unpredictable nature of things. Hopefully that means the number of outstanding ballots isn’t as great as we think it is.

Comment by Pundent Monday, Nov 2, 20 @ 7:06 pm
Here is where we insert the meme from the “Airplane” movie Where Leslie Nielsen says” Good luck, and we’re counting on you…” And nationally, where thenJoke from “The Dark Knight” says “And here…we… go…”

Every election, Rich does this incredible marathon effort, and before it starts, I just want to say “thanks” “Good Luck”, and pace yourself on the drinking, everybody….

Comment by Give Us Barabbas Monday, Nov 2, 20 @ 7:58 pm
The shops on Michigan and State streets are not being boarded up because of Eastern Bloc antics.

Exactly. It’s a sad day. But don’t worry. Illinois State Police will be out in force writing mask tickets.

Comment by Birds on the Bat Monday, Nov 2, 20 @ 8:21 pm
=The shops on Michigan and State streets are not being boarded up because of Eastern Bloc antics.=

Really? There xenophobic and barely camouflage d racism is in part responsible for the ongoing oppression of people of color.

Comment by JS Mill Monday, Nov 2, 20 @ 9:24 pm
=== The shops on Michigan and State streets are not being boarded up because of Eastern Bloc antics.

Exactly. It’s a sad day. But don’t worry. Illinois State Police will be out in force writing mask tickets.===

Lemme guess, those blocking the Biden bus off the road and blocking NJ’s turnpike are the good folks on “both sides”

The thoughts of racism as a dividing thing, choosing the wrong side here isn’t signaling the way you want it. Promise.

Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Nov 2, 20 @ 10:53 pm
The ends to which people justify burning and looting is truly amazing.

Comment by Birds on the Bat Monday, Nov 2, 20 @ 11:00 pm
“The ends to which people say racist thoughts and ignore how Trumpkin racists act so they can signal to others is amazing”

:)

Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Nov 2, 20 @ 11:15 pm
=== The ends to which people justify burning and looting is truly amazing.===
People disagreeing with your grumpy comment equals “justifying burning and looting?”
Ok Karen.

Comment by Da Big Bad Wolf Tuesday, Nov 3, 20 @ 6:11 am
JSMill, Willie, Da Big Bad Wolf:

Great job (banned punctuation).

Keep up the good work, and pace yourselves today (double banned punctuation).

Comment by Lynn S. Tuesday, Nov 3, 20 @ 9:00 am