Feds: Illinois ensures ballots get abroad in time CHICAGO (AP) — The U.S. Justice Department has reached an agreement with Illinois on steps to ensure military and other Americans living abroad will get ballots in time to vote for replacement for former U.S. Rep. Jesse Jackson, Jr. A Justice Department press release on Friday says Illinois commits to transmitting absentee ballots to voters by mail or electronically no later than 45 days before a special Feb. 26 primary and the April 9 election.