This year’s general election will be on Nov. 3. But in Illinois, registered voters can cast their ballots now.
And Henry County Clerk Barbara Link said Tuesday that she thinks interest in the election is strong, and she expects a high voter turnout.
“People are very much taking interest in this election,” Link said.
In Illinois, the county clerks are the election authorities for their county.
Illinois’ early-voting period started last Thursday.
Voters can cast general-election ballots at the Henry County Courthouse in Link’s office during working hours.
The county clerk’s office will also be open for early voting from 8 a.m. to noon on three Saturdays in October — on the 17th, 24th and 31st.
Link said 50 people came to the office to vote Thursday. “That tells me that the interest is there,” she added.
“The law prohibits a person who voted during the early voting period from voting at the polls on Election Day,” according to the county clerk’s website.
Votes that were cast early won’t be counted until after the polls close on Election Day.
Illinois also offers voting by mail. Anyone wanting to vote by mail can contact the county clerk’s office at 309-937-3575.
On Sept. 24, the clerk’s office mailed about 4,000 ballots to people who had registered to vote by mail.
Ballots can be mailed or dropped in the secure drop box with the deputy inside the front door of the courthouse.
Ballots submitted by mail must be postmarked by midnight on Election Day to be counted.
“However, voters are encouraged to return ballots as early as possible to be sure they are received on time to be counted,” the website says,
Applications to vote by mail must be filed by Oct. 29.
Voters can also apply to vote by mail permanently. This includes for primary elections, for which the voter must specify their party on the application.
The USPS had adopted a rule restricting voting by mail. But a note on the county clerk’s website says, “The Supreme Court’s recent decision blocking the U.S. Postal Service’s unlawful rule means voting by mail will continue as usual.”
