Some voting deadlines are nearing, including voting by mail.
The last day for the clerk's office to accept an application to have a ballot mailed is Thursday, Oct. 29, said La Salle County Clerk Lori Bongartz.
Any valid registered voters have the option to vote by mail by submitting an application for ballot. Upon receipt of a signed application to vote by mail, the ballot will be mailed to the voter, Bongartz said.
As of 10 a.m. Friday, La Salle County has mailed 12,190 ballots and 3,574 of them have been casted by voters, according to information posted by the Illinois State Board of Elections.
In the 2016 presidential election, La Salle County tallied 6,328 absentee or votes by mail and in the 2018 election the county tabulated 6,697 absentee or votes by mail.
As of Friday, neighboring Bureau has had 4,331 ballots mailed and 2,016 of them casted, Putnam County 833 ballots mailed and 316 returned, Livingston County 3,407 ballots mailed and 1,855 casted, as well as Marshall County 1,411 ballots mailed and 878 casted.
Bongartz reminded residents of La Salle County wishing to register to vote or change their address that they may do so prior to Election Day on Tuesday, Nov. 3, at the La Salle County Clerk’s Office, 707 E. Etna Road, Ottawa
Same-day registration will be available at Bongartz’s office as well as at all 119 precincts in La Salle County on Election Day.
Bongartz is advising people who may need to register and want to avoid long lines on Election Day to take advantage of Grace Period Registration and voting at the county clerk’s Office on Etna Road. People needing to register will need to provide two forms of identification-one must have the person’s name and correct address and the other form will need to verify the person’s name.
As of Friday, La Salle County has had 2,775 early voters and 60 take advantage of the grace period registration.
Grace Period Registration and voting and early voting hours for the final two weeks are as follows:
8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 19 through Friday Oct. 23
8 a.m. to noon Saturday, Oct. 24
10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 25
8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday Oct. 26 through Friday, Oct. 30
8 a.m. to noon Saturday, Oct. 31
10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 1
Additionally, the county clerk’s office will be open for Same Day Registration and Voting from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 3.
Bongartz is encouraging those with questions to contact her office at 815-434-8202.