Registered voters who won’t be able to make it to the polls this Election Day will have no excuse for not voting. Absentee and early voting will be made available to residents of Champaign County starting October 16th, and will continue until November 2nd. Champaign County Clerk Mark Shelden described the process as an easy way of exercising your civic duty before you get too busy, later on in the month.

“In both instances, you come to our office, you bring an ID with you, you’ll give us the ID, we’ll give you a ballot and an application to vote, you’ll sign the application, vote the ballot, and you’ll be finished voting for this election.”

Shelden added that voting through the mail was also an option for anyone unable to make it to the County Clerk’s office. You can call area code 2-1-7 3-8-4 3-7-2-4 to request a mail-in absentee ballot. With all these options available, Sheldon says there are more than enough opportunities for every person in Champaign County to cast a ballot in this year’s elections.