Early Early Voter Turnout

In early voting so far, the Democrats are outpacing the Republicans in pulled ballots, but it should be noted that the full early voting options don't start until next week. You can however vote early right now at the Office of the County Clerk at the Brookens Administrative Center, 1776 East Washington Street, Urbana. Other early voting locations will be opening soon.

There is also still the vote by mail option. For those who missed the normal registration deadline, you can also still utilize grace period registration to register and vote. Links to sample ballots, candidate guides, and more election information on the County Cheat Sheet's Elections page. (generally county races occur in even years, while municipal local elections occur in odd years).

Excerpt from the News-Gazette on turnout:

Early tally sees unusually high Dem turnout
Voters haven’t been rushing to the polls ahead of the March 20 primary, say election authorities in Champaign and Vermilion counties.

But the big early voting push in Champaign County is still a week away.

For now, though, those who have voted have chosen Democratic ballots over Republican ones, and that’s atypical of nonpresidential-year primary elections. Champaign County Clerk Gordy Hulten said that 1,892 ballots have been returned or tabulated so far and that the number of Democratic Party ballots cast so far exceeds the number of Republican ballots, 1,024 to 868...

The greater number of Democratic ballots cast so far in Champaign County varies from the county’s tradition. Four years ago, among early and absentee voters, 57 percent took Republican ballots.

And over the past three primaries in nonpresidential years, the number of Republican votes in the county has been about twice what Democrats cast.

Full article here.