COUNTY CLERK ANNOUNCES EARLY VOTING REQUIREMENTS FOR THE FEBRUARY 5^TH, 2008 PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY

Bill Downey, Clark County Clerk, announced that voters can cast a ballot prior to Election Day beginning January 14^th without offering a reason or an excuse for wanting to vote early.

For the Presidential Primary election, early voting runs until Thursday, January 31^st.

Early voting will be conducted at Downey’s office in the courthouse in Marshall Monday through Friday from 8 AM - 4 PM and the Saturdays of January 19^th and 26^th from 8 AM – 12 PM.

The 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 early during the early voting period from voting at the polls on Election Day. The votes cast during the early voting time period will not be counted until after the polls close Election Day.

Previously, 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.

Absentee Voting will begin on December 27^th and continue through February 4^th.

For more information about early voting  or voting locations contact the County Clerk’s office at 217-826-8311.

Clark County Illinois