# The ballot error hit 24 precincts, the Board of Elections told the Council. Alderpersons described seven-hour waits

*The Board apologized, said it added automated checks and floated printing ballots on demand. Members asked why election judges still wait months for paper checks.*

By Chicago Politics · Updated Nov 10, 2026

The coding error behind Election Day's ballot shortages hit 24 of Chicago's 1,291 precincts, the Chicago Board of Election Commissioners told the City Council's budget committee Monday ([watch](/meeting/1D6DFF77-94C9-F111-AAAE-001DD80B58E5?t=8282)). Each of those precincts got the right total number of ballots, the Board said, but quantities for different ballot styles were switched, so one style ran out.

Why it matters: the Board runs the Feb. 23 election for mayor and all 50 alderpersons. It is asking for $48.5 million for 2027, up about $20.6 million, [Block Club Chicago reported](https://blockclubchicago.org/2026/11/09/officials-say-they-did-a-real-good-job-on-election-day-but-alders-rip-ballot-shortages-long-waits/), and the Council votes on that budget.

This follows [our Nov. 5 story](/on-my-block/chicago-ballot-shortage-coding-error-split-precincts-board-budget-hearing). Last week the Board said 491 precincts were split among more than one ballot style; Monday was the first time it put a number on how many came up short.

## What the Board said

Executive Director Sandra Aspera apologized. "Under my watch, this will not happen again," she said, Block Club reported. She also said staff "did a real good job," which several members disputed, according to Block Club and [ABC7](https://abc7chicago.com/post/alderpersons-grill-chicago-election-officials-glitch-caused-ballot-shortages-2026-day/20028104/).

- The fix: the Board's IT staff added a check that flags ballot quantities before they go to the printing vendor, and Aspera is requiring sign-offs through the process, Block Club reported.
- Ballot on demand: the Board's general counsel said it is weighing printers at each polling place, which would end the guessing over styles. That would come with new voting equipment; the current contract ends in November 2028, Block Club reported.
- Turnout and registration: about 45%, roughly the 2022 midterm's, Block Club reported. The Board's opening statement put same-day registrations at about 40,000, second only to 2024.

## What members reported

- Ald. Leni Manaa-Hoppenworth (48th) said Goudy Elementary, the 21st precinct of her ward, opened with 50 paper ballots and one machine, ran out by 6:30 a.m., and waited until 1:30 p.m. for more. By 5 p.m. it ran out again ([watch](/meeting/1D6DFF77-94C9-F111-AAAE-001DD80B58E5?t=23402)).
- Ald. Byron Sigcho-López (25th) said voters left without casting ballots and asked for the Board's full investigator report on the affected precinct ([watch](/meeting/1D6DFF77-94C9-F111-AAAE-001DD80B58E5?t=16082)). "We lost people's ability to vote and that is just unacceptable," he said, Block Club reported.
- Ald. Michelle Harris (8th) called the shortages "egregious" and asked for the Board's emergency plan for future elections ([watch](/meeting/1D6DFF77-94C9-F111-AAAE-001DD80B58E5?t=8911)).
- Ald. Stephanie Coleman (16th) described a standby judge arriving at her home precinct with no working machines or supplies ([watch](/meeting/1D6DFF77-94C9-F111-AAAE-001DD80B58E5?t=21673)).
- Ald. Monique Scott (24th) asked how the Board's 800 number is managed after she was redirected on Election Day ([watch](/meeting/1D6DFF77-94C9-F111-AAAE-001DD80B58E5?t=15889)).
- Ald. Nicole Lee (11th) said the words Democrat and Republican were left untranslated on traditional Chinese ballots ([watch](/meeting/1D6DFF77-94C9-F111-AAAE-001DD80B58E5?t=13993)).

## Judges paid by paper check

Ald. Jessica Fuentes (26th) said some judges in her ward were not paid for four to six months after the last cycle, and some wouldn't come back ([watch](/meeting/1D6DFF77-94C9-F111-AAAE-001DD80B58E5?t=22918)). The Board's staff said Election Day judges are paid only by paper check, and direct deposit won't be added until after the February election. Manaa-Hoppenworth said she still had 17 open judge slots three weeks before Nov. 3 ([watch](/meeting/1D6DFF77-94C9-F111-AAAE-001DD80B58E5?t=23642)).

## What our records add

At last year's hearing, on Nov. 13, 2025, members raised long lines and rising contract costs ([meeting notes](/meeting/41B45E25-C99F-F011-B4CB-001DD8001AAF)), as we reported last week. Monday's full notes, with every member's questions and links to the video, are on our [meeting page](/meeting/1D6DFF77-94C9-F111-AAAE-001DD80B58E5).

The Board promised several lists "through the chair," including the 24 precincts. They aren't public yet.


## Sources

1. Block Club Chicago: [Block Club Chicago reported](https://blockclubchicago.org/2026/11/09/officials-say-they-did-a-real-good-job-on-election-day-but-alders-rip-ballot-shortages-long-waits/)
2. ABC7: [ABC7](https://abc7chicago.com/post/alderpersons-grill-chicago-election-officials-glitch-caused-ballot-shortages-2026-day/20028104/)
3. City of Chicago: [Neighborhood and community area boundaries (Chicago Data Portal)](https://data.cityofchicago.org/d/y6yq-dbs2)

On the map: [Uptown](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/on-my-block/neighborhoods/uptown), [Pilsen](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/on-my-block/neighborhoods/pilsen), [8th Ward](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/ward/8), [11th Ward](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/ward/11), [16th Ward](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/ward/16), [21st Ward](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/ward/21), [24th Ward](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/ward/24), [25th Ward](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/ward/25), [26th Ward](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/ward/26), [34th Ward](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/ward/34), [48th Ward](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/ward/48)

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Source: https://www.chicagopolitics.org/on-my-block/board-of-elections-24-precincts-ballot-shortage-council-hearing-ballot-on-demand · Chicago Politics, an independent tracker of the Chicago City Council. Guide for agents: https://www.chicagopolitics.org/llms.txt