Chicago voters faced significant delays and ballot shortages at several polling locations during the November 3, 2026, midterm elections. While many precincts operated normally, multiple sites in neighborhoods including Uptown, Pilsen, Logan Square, Albany Park, and the Near West Side ran out of paper ballots, forcing residents to wait in long lines or use limited electronic voting machines.
Ballot shortages cause long lines at several precincts
At Goertha Elementary School, two precincts ran out of ballots around 8:15 a.m., resulting in a three-and-a-half-hour delay before more were provided, according to WGN. Maria Flores, who voted at the location, expressed frustration with the lack of preparation.
This shouldn’t have to happen. You know, they should be prepared for this,
Maria Flores
She later added, You know, it happens. It is like my husband said, human error,
Similar disruptions occurred at Roosevelt High School in Albany Park and in Noble Square Tower, where paper ballots were exhausted around 9:30 a.m. Block Club Chicago reported that some voters in Noble Square waited approximately two hours for a single electronic machine to cast their votes, according to Blockclubchicago.
Election officials addressed the scarcity by printing and delivering new ballots to affected precincts throughout the day. Julie Metea, a spokesperson for the Chicago Board of Elections, told Block Club, “We apologize. It is frustrating, but we’re working the problem, investigating and accommodating voters.” It is frustrating, but we’re working the problem, investigating and accommodating voters.
For some residents, the election was driven by recent history. In Little Village, resident Alex Cortez, who was among the first to vote at Madero Middle School, said the experience of Operation Midway Blitz motivated her to participate. That deportation campaign, launched by the Trump administration on September 8, 2025, brought hundreds of federal agents to the Chicago area and resulted in nearly 4,000 arrests.
Similar issues were reported in Wards 25, 32, and 33. At Rockwell on the River, election judge Nergal Malham reported that the limited equipment contributed to a growing backlog. Malham noted the precinct uses three different ballot styles and ran out of one style within a few hours. At Noble Square Cooperative, election judge Dan Doyen reported that judges did not receive more paper ballots until approximately 3 p.m.
High turnout drives demand at polling sites
The shortages occurred amid high voter engagement across the region. In Chicago, the Board of Elections reported that 362,460 voters had cast ballots in person by Tuesday evening, according to the Chicago Sun‑Times.
In suburban Cook County, early voting participation showed a marked increase compared to previous years. As of October 26, the Clerk’s Office reported 83,700 mail ballots had been returned, with an additional 9,761 being tracked through the U.S. Postal Service.
| Location/Metric | Reported Figure | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago In‑Person Votes (by Tuesday evening) | 362,460 | Chicago Sun‑Times |
| Suburban Cook County Early Voting Increase | 30.4 percent | The Lansing Journal |
Election officials deploy investigators and monitors
To manage the high volume and ensure security, the Chicago Board of Election Commissioners increased its staff. Hernandez also noted the Department of Justice notified Chicago authorities that it would send monitors to polling places.
Voter turnout trends in Chicago wards
Data from the Chicago Board of Elections highlighted varying levels of engagement across the city’s predominantly Black wards. A Chicago Crusader analysis showed that 33,921 of 530,029 registered voters in these 17 wards had cast ballots during early voting, a rate of 6.40 percent, according to The Chicago Crusader. This left 496,108 registered voters in those wards who had not yet voted by that time.
Matt Dietrich, a public information officer at the Illinois Board of Elections, noted that the state was seeing a significant increase in both early in‑person and mail‑in voting. We actually saw a 40% increase in voting early statewide and we have an increase of about 36% more mail ballots requested this year,
Dietrich said, according to Alton Telegraph. He added that based on pre‑election reports, the state had already seen 1.8 million ballots cast via mail or early voting, a 30 percent increase from the 2022 midterms.
Politics and community impact
The midterm elections involve several high‑profile races. In Illinois, Governor J.B. Pritzker is seeking a third term in a rematch against Republican challenger Darren Bailey. Other notable contests include the race to replace U.S. Senator Dick Durbin, where outgoing Lt. Governor Julianna Stratton faces Republican Don Tracy.
For some residents, the election was driven by recent history. In Little Village, resident Alex Cortez said the experience of Operation Midway Blitz motivated her to vote.
How Illinois runs its elections is up to us – not the President, no matter what he says. The right to vote is one of our nation’s greatest freedoms, and we're making sure our elections are safe and secure. Here in the Land of Lincoln, your voice, power, and vote are protected.
Non‑partisan organizations have also been active. The NAACP has mobilized 52,000 volunteers as part of its “Election Protection Program.” Derrick Johnson, the president and CEO of the NAACP, stated, We cannot buy into the fear.
Dominik Whitehead, the NAACP’s Chief of Field, Membership Growth and Unit Sustainability, described voting as a “sword and our shield,” noting the organization would be relentless in providing information and protection to communities.
To all those who served today as election judges, supervisors, or poll workers: thank you for your dedication. With your help, voting in Illinois is accessible, safe, and secure. Know that our state — and our democracy — are grateful for your service.