Early Voting Starts Monday

Rockford, Illinois- Vincent Ingrassia is leaving for a vacation to the southern states and won`t be back until after Thanksgiving, after Election Day. With early voting, casting a ballot can now be part of his pre-trip errands. "I was dropping off some laundry, stopping by the bank, getting things ready so I can leave town," says Ingrassia. Ingrassia is casting his ballot at the first opportunity, the first day of early voting. "Because it`s our right and if we don`t, we have no right to complain," says Ingrassia. Debbie Hopkins works at the board of elections. She says legislators were very specific in their intent when they created early voting. "To try and get more people out to vote," says Hopkins. "Sometimes at the last minute they find out they won`t be able to get to their polling place or if someone doesn`t want to go to their polling place they can come in here now and vote early." She says, right now, roughly 82,000 registered voters cast a ballot in the general election. With early voting, that number is expected to go up. "I think traditional voting will always be in place, but I do feel that this early voting will pick up more and more as people find out and become more familiar with it," says Hopkins. "Maybe it will get more people out to vote because it`s our right and we should do that," says Ingrassia. And for Ingrassia, it`s all about convenience. "Just come in and vote, it`s a lot easier," says Ingrassia. Early voting starts Monday and runs through November 2nd. All ballots must be cast from 9am-5pm Monday through Friday and 9am-12am on Saturdays at the board of elections at 301 South Sixth Street in Rockford. You must bring an I.D. If you miss early voting, but can`t cast your ballot on November 7th, regular absentee voting starts November 3rd.