With early voting underway for the April 1st Consolidated General Election, Sangamon County voters have begun casting their ballots in a variety of local races, including Capital Township Trustee and for school board candidates in the Springfield and Chatham districts.
Sangamon County Clerk Don Gray announced that early voting and vote-by-mail began on Thursday, February 20, following extensive renovations to the county’s early voting site.
“Sangamon County voters are encouraged to plan ahead and vote on your time in advance of the April 1st Consolidated Election, today through March 31st,” Gray said. “After the completion of extensive renovations, Early Voting is located on the 1st floor of the Sangamon County Building. Voters will benefit from expanded space and multiple voter processing stations for a quick, easy, and convenient opportunity to cast their ballot.”
Early voting is available at the County Complex, 200 S. 9th Street, Springfield, with parking in the Adams Street lot across from the BOS Center. In-person early voting hours run from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, until March 31st, with weekend hours available March 22-23 and March 29-30 from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. The county has also already mailed ballots to nearly 23,000 voters enrolled in the Permanent Vote by Mail program.
“This is the 2nd Consolidated Election in which voters that have enrolled in the Permanent Vote by Mail program will automatically receive their ballot by mail, without having to submit a separate application to do so,” Gray said. “Please contact the Election Office at 217-753-8683 with any questions about ballot delivery or access our website at countyclerk.sangamonil.gov to track the status of your mail ballot online. I ask voters to promptly mark their ballot and return them to ensure they are received and processed in a timely manner.”
Vote-by-mail ballots can be returned via USPS with an April 1 postmark, at 24-hour ballot drop boxes at the Sangamon County Complex on Monroe Street or the Juvenile Detention Center on Dirksen Parkway, or by personal or third-party hand delivery to the Election Office. Voters can also track their ballots online for added transparency.