EDWARDSVILLE — The Madison County Clerk’s Office is responding to recent public questions and social-media claims concerning vote-by-mail ballots for the November 3, 2026 General Election.
There has been no change to Madison County’s current vote-by-mail procedures, and the Clerk’s Office is not holding back vote-by-mail ballots.
Under Illinois law, election authorities may begin mailing regular vote-by-mail ballots 40 days before the election. For the November 3 General Election, the Illinois State Board of Elections has established Thursday, September 24, 2026 as the first day regular vote-by-mail ballots may be mailed.
Voters have been able to submit applications for vote-by-mail ballots beginning August 5. Applications received before ballots are legally permitted to be mailed are processed and maintained by the Clerk’s Office so that eligible voters can receive their ballots beginning September 24.
An online confirmation stating that an application will be “processed” and that the voter will be notified does not mean that a ballot can be mailed immediately. The timing of ballot mailing is established by Illinois election law.
Recent social-media posts have also stated or implied that President Trump’s executive order has “banned mail voting” or that the United States Postal Service is currently preventing Madison County from mailing ballots. That is not an accurate description of the current situation.
Vote by mail remains available to eligible Illinois voters. Federal litigation concerning proposed changes to Postal Service procedures remains ongoing, and additional court proceedings are expected. At this time, those proceedings have not changed the Madison County Clerk’s Office’s existing process for receiving and processing vote-by-mail applications.
The Clerk’s Office will continue to follow the Illinois Election Code and official guidance from the Illinois State Board of Elections.
Voters who have already submitted a vote-by-mail application do not need to submit another application simply because they have not yet received a ballot. Regular vote-by-mail ballots are not scheduled to begin mailing until September 24.
Madison County voters with questions about the status of their vote-by-mail application are encouraged to contact the Madison County Clerk’s Office directly rather than relying on information circulating on social media.
“Our responsibility is to administer the election according to the law and to provide voters with accurate information,” County Clerk Linda A. Andreas said. “Vote-by-mail applications are being processed in the normal course of business. We are not withholding ballots. When Illinois law allows those ballots to be mailed, they will be mailed.”
The Madison County Clerk’s Office will continue providing updates if any federal court decision, United States Postal Service directive, or Illinois State Board of Elections guidance requires a change in election procedures.
