EDWARDSVILLE – Madison County Clerk, Linda Andreas, announced that the recent United States Supreme Court decision regarding vote-by-mail ballots does not require any changes to how vote-by-mail ballots are administered or counted in Madison County.
The court upheld the authority of states to count vote-by-mail ballots that are postmarked by Election Day and received within the time period established by state law. Illinois has long provided that vote-by-mail ballots postmarked on or before Election Day may be counted if they are received within the statutory deadline.
“As election officials, our responsibility is to faithfully administer Illinois election law,” said Madison County Clerk Linda Andreas, “this ruling provides clarity and confirms that the procedures already established under Illinois law remain in effect”.
The impact of this decision can be seen in Madison County’s most recent general election. The Madison County Clerk’s Office issued 16,851 vote-by-mail ballots. Of those, 6,157 ballots were returned and counted before Election Day, while 822 (11.8%) additional ballots were received after Election Day and counted during the official canvass in accordance with Illinois law because they met the statutory requirements.
For Madison County voters, the decision means:
- Vote-by-mail ballots must still be completed and postmarked by Election Day.
- Ballots received after Election Day may still be counted IF they meet the requirements established by Illinois law.
- Election results reported on Election Night remain unofficial until all eligible vote-by-mail ballots, provisional ballots, and other legally authorized ballots have been processed and canvassed.
Madison County has long followed these procedures in accordance with Illinois law. The canvassing process is designed to ensure every legally cast ballot is counted while maintaining the security and integrity of the election process.
The Clerk’s Office encourages voters who choose to vote by mail to return their ballots as early as possible to avoid delays in mail delivery.
Additional information regarding vote-by-mail, election deadlines, and voter registration is available through Madison County Clerk’s Office.
