ROCK ISLAND, Ill. — They may be called absentee ballots, but voters in Rock Island County are already making their votes count this November.
Early voting began in Illinois on Sept. 26, offering a mix of in-person and mail-in voting to registered Illinois voters. They can cast their ballot Sept. 26 through Nov. 4, the day before Election Day, without having to provide a reason at the office of their local election authority or an early voting center.
Karen Kinney currently serves as the Rock Island County Clerk, a position she was elected to in 2022. One of her many responsibilities is overseeing the county's voting centers as we approach Election Day.
Kinney's office has already received nearly 6,000 ballots. 4,279 of those were mailed in, and the remaining 1,633 were completed in-person at the county office.
Four additional locations will open on Oct. 21. You can place your ballots Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the following locations, unless stated otherwise:
- Western Illinois University - 3300 River Drive, Moline
- Silvis City Council Chambers - 121 11th Street, Silvis
- Milan Municipal Building, 405 E. 1st Street, Milan
- Moline Public Library, 3210 - 41st Street, Moline (11 a.m. to 7 p.m.)
Voting offices in Illinois are not allowed to begin tallying until polls close on Election Day, in an attempt to maintain election accuracy and credibility.
"We run a tight ship here," Kinney said. "Everything is safe, sound and secure. We want everything to go by the law. We follow the law here."
There are a little more than three weeks left until early voting closes. You have until Oct. 31 to apply for a mail-in ballot.
The Rock Island County Clerk's office will be closed this Monday for Indigenous Peoples' Day. Election judges will still report for duty, however, which means you can cast your ballot.