McHenry voters, start voting early next week

Katherine C. Schultz, McHenry County Clerk, has announced that voters can cast a ballot prior to the Feb. 5 Primary Election without offering a reason or excuse for wanting to vote early.

Early voting will be conducted at the following locations:

• McHenry County Administration Building, 667 Ware Road, 2nd Floor, Conference Room A, Woodstock, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday, Jan. 22-25, 28-31; and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Jan. 19 and 26.

• Algonquin Township Offices, 3702 Route 14, Lower Level, Meeting Room 2, Crystal Lake, 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday-Friday, Jan. 22-25 and 28-31; and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Jan. 19 and 26.

• City of Crystal Lake, Salvation Army, 290 W Crystal Lake Ave, Classroom 134, Crystal Lake, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday, Jan. 22-25 and 28-31; and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Jan. 19 and 26.

• Grafton Township, Huntley Park District, 12015 Mill St., Huntley, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday-Friday, Jan. 22-25 and 28-31; and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Jan. 19 and 26.

• Village of Lake in the Hills, Lake in the Hills Village Hall, 600 Harvest Gate, Executive Session Room, Lake in the Hills, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday, Jan. 22-25 and 28-31; and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Jan. 19 and 26.

• City of McHenry City Hall, 333 S Green St., Court Entrance only, McHenry, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday, Jan. 22-25 and 28-31; and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Jan. 19 and 26.

• McHenry Township Offices 3703 N. Richmond Road, McHenry, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday-Friday, Jan. 22-25 and 28-31. No Saturday hours.

• Nunda Township Offices, 3510 Bay Road, Annex, Crystal Lake, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday-Friday, Jan. 22-25 and 28-31. No Saturday hours.

The state law requires that a registered voter show valid photo identification before voting early. Voters casting an early ballot must display a current driver's license, a state-issued ID card or another government-issued ID with a photograph.

Previously, voters who wanted to vote early had to request an absentee ballot and offer a reason, such as being physically incapacitated or out of the county on Election Day. Since absentee voting laws remain in place, those people can still cast an absentee vote by mail by providing a reason as required under law.

Any voter who requests an "Early Ballot" or an "In Person Absentee Ballot" may not go to the polls on Election Day and revoke the ballot he originally requested. The law prohibits any voter who has been issued an in person absentee or early ballot from appearing at his precinct polling place and requesting another ballot.

For details about early voting or voting locations, call the McHenry County Clerk's office at (815) 334-4242.