By Townhall Chicago News Staff
The Chicago Board of Elections on Monday reported 69,819 uncounted ballots remaining from the 2026 midterm general election as the city continues to finalize results from last week’s vote.
The tally includes several categories of ballots still being processed and provides a public accounting of outstanding votes as closely watched races await certification.
Of the uncounted total, 51,054 are mail-in ballots that were sent to voters but not yet returned, according to the board’s report. Another 14,127 mail-in ballots have been received but not yet counted. The remaining 4,638 are provisional ballots.
All ballots cast on Election Day and during early voting have been counted, according to the report.
Vote-by-mail and provisional ballots will continue to be processed and added to unofficial results through Nov. 17, the board said.
Provisional ballots are cast when a voter’s eligibility cannot be confirmed at the polling place on Election Day. Each provisional ballot must be individually reviewed and verified before it can be counted. Mail-in ballots postmarked by Election Day may still arrive and be processed during the canvassing period under Illinois law.
The update is part of the board’s standard transparency protocol following elections. The 51,054 outstanding mail ballots represent ballots sent to registered voters who requested them but had not returned them as of the reporting date. Many of those ballots may never be returned.
The board’s public affairs office is the designated media contact for further updates. The board is headquartered at 69 W. Washington St. in Chicago.
Final certification of results is expected after the canvassing period concludes.
Source: Chicago Board of Elections
