With the 2024 Presidential Primary Election on March 19, Cook County Clerk Karen Yarbrough is issuing a warning about voter registration scams and is reminding suburban Cook County voters who have questions or concerns about election misinformation to visit the Trusted Source webpage for detailed facts on all aspects of election operations.
The clerk’s office has been alerted to a recent voter registration scam in which some Illinois voters have received a text message that includes the recipients’ home address and asks them to click a link to confirm their voter registration status or to register to vote.
Yarbrough said the clerk’s office never sends requests for personal information and voters should never click on any links, return calls or emails, or provide personal information for any requests concerning elections or voting from any unknown or unidentified source.
“The Cook County Clerk’s Office is the trusted source for all election information, and we want to remind voters that they can rely on us for any questions they may have to get the real facts about our election process,” Yarbrough said. “As the election authority for suburban Cook County, nothing is as important as ensuring that voters have complete faith and confidence in the security of our elections and that they understand that the integrity of the voting process is staunchly defended and protected.”
Limited early voting for the March 19 primary is already underway at the Cook County Courthouse in Markham. Expanded early voting at more than 50 suburban locations will begin Monday, March 4, including Prairie State College in Chicago Heights.
The Trusted Source webpage contains detailed FAQs about voter identification, early voting, the processing of ballots and mail ballot drop boxes. There are separate, detailed sections that focus on questions about voting by mail, and the methods that are used to ensure election transparency and integrity. The page also provides a list of other trusted election sources at the national, state, and local levels.
Important Dates for the March 19 Presidential Primary Election for suburban Cook County voters:
- Sunday, March 3 – Last day to register to vote by online application.
- Monday, March 4 – First day of expanded early voting.
- Thursday, March 14 – Last day to request a mail ballot, including military and overseas voters.
- Monday, March 18 – Last day of expanded early voting.
- Tuesday, March 19 – Election day/last day mail ballots can be postmarked.