By Townhall Chicago News Staff
The Chicago Board of Elections on Tuesday reported 64,107 uncounted ballots remaining from the Nov. 3 midterm general election, a routine disclosure that provides voters with a snapshot of how many ballots are still being processed.
The report breaks down the uncounted ballots into four categories: 51,054 mail-in ballots that were sent but not yet returned, 8,415 mail-in ballots received but not yet counted, 4,638 provisional ballots and zero outstanding ballots cast on Election Day or during early voting, according to the board’s posting.
The board said vote-by-mail and provisional ballots will continue to be processed and added to unofficial results through Nov. 17.
The disclosure is a standard transparency measure following elections, giving the public visibility into how many votes remain to be tabulated. Final certified totals could shift margins in close races as the remaining ballots are processed.
The 2026 midterm general election marked a milestone for Chicago governance. All 50 wards had polling places and Universal Vote Centers open on Election Day, and the election represented a historic transition toward a fully elected Chicago Board of Education, according to the board.
The board reported that 211,657 in-person early voting ballots were cast by the end of the early voting period, which closed Nov. 2. Expanded in-person early voting opened Oct. 19 across all 50 wards and three Chicago-area universities, according to the board.
Approximately 210,500 vote-by-mail ballots were mailed ahead of the election, the board reported in an October announcement. Voters were also able to view precinct-specific sample ballots through the voter lookup tool on chicagoelections.gov.
The uncounted-ballot report does not indicate any irregularities. Provisional ballots are cast when a voter’s eligibility must be verified, a common occurrence in every election. Vote-by-mail ballots that were sent but not returned are included in the total because they remain outstanding until the processing deadline.
The board is simultaneously handling preparations for the 2027 municipal and aldermanic election. Public viewing of record examinations for that race has been extended through Friday at 11 E. Adams St., Suite 300, the board announced separately.
Candidate petition filing for the 2027 election took place in October, and the board is now reviewing objections to candidate petitions, according to the board’s postings.
Voters with questions about their ballot status or the counting process can contact the Chicago Board of Elections at 312-269-7900 or visit chicagoelections.gov.
