U.S. Senator Dick Durbin says Illinois voters should request and submit their mail-in ballots earlier than the state requires.
This comes after he met with the U.S. Postal Service’s 2020 election mail director, Justin Glass. Durbin said Glass gave recommended dates that came sooner than the deadlines in place under state law.
“My recommendation to voters in Illinois," said Durbin, "If you want to be extremely safe in how you do this, request the ballot no later than October 19th. Return the ballot no later than October the 27th. That, to me, is the bottom line what the postal service is telling us, regardless of what the law says.”
Durbin added that there was one caveat.
“If your mail is postmarked no later than election day," he said, "under Illinois law, if it is received by the election authorities within 14 days after the election, it will be counted.
Senator Durbin noted that while this is the law in Illinois, many states don't have a similar provision.