Deadline for absentee ballots to arrive at election authority

CHICAGO (WLS) -- Tuesday is the state deadline for absentee ballots to arrive at the election authority and be eligible to be counted if they have a postmark of November 3 or earlier.

Initial counts of ballots have to been completed by midnight Tuesday, but reviewing data and making corrections can continue in each election agency until the election agency proclaims their numbers. The deadline for proclaiming numbers is Nov. 25, but the Illinois State Board of Elections will not declare a winner until Nov 30 or Dec. 5. The Chicago Board of Elections says it is still counting ballots.

In the treasurer's race between Republican Tom Cross and Democrat Mike Frerichs, fewer than 400 votes separate the candidates.That would make this the closest statewide race in at least a century.