County clerk announces early voting requirements

[OCT. 31, 2006]  Sally J. Litterly, Logan County clerk, has announced that voters may cast a ballot prior to Election Day without offering a reason or an excuse for wanting to vote early.

Early voting for the November general election runs through Nov. 2. The early voting is being conducted Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., at the Office of the County Clerk, Logan County Courthouse, 601 Broadway in Lincoln.

New state law requires that a registered voter show valid photo identification before voting early.

Voters casting an early ballot must display a current driver's license, a state-issued ID card or another government-issued ID with a photograph. The law prohibits a person who voted during the early voting period from voting at the polls on Election Day, Nov. 7. The votes cast during the early voting time period will not be counted until after the polls close on Election Day.

Until this year, voters who wanted to vote early had to request an absentee ballot and offer a reason, such as being physically incapacitated or out of the county on Election Day. Since absentee voting laws remain in place, those people can still cast an absentee vote by mail by providing a reason as required under law.

Approximately 35 other states allow some form of early voting, according to the Illinois State Board of Elections.

For more information about early voting or voting locations, contact the Office of the Logan County Clerk, 217-732-4148.

[News release from Sally J. Litterly, Logan County clerk]