Uptick in early voting across Illinois

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. - The executive director of the Illinois State Board of Elections is reporting a significant uptick in early voting totals this year in advance of the Nov. 4 election.

Rupert Borgsmiller told The Associated Press Monday there have been just over 500,000 early voters this year, compared to around 382,000 during the last gubernatorial election in 2010.

Grace period voting is up to around 12,700 voters from around 11,800 voters four years ago. Borgsmiller says around 328,000 absentee ballots were requested this year, up from around 240,000 in 2010.

Early voting ended Sunday, but unregistered voters can still participate in "grace period" registration through Tuesday. Those registering late must show two forms of identification, one of which includes a current address. Grace period registrants must cast ballots during the same visit.