By Illinois Radio Network/Benjamin Yount

SPRINGFIELD – Election day is still five weeks away, but voters can head to the polls today. Early voting in Illinois started Thursday.

State law allows voters to cast a ballot at the courthouse, election office, or special poll 40 days before Election Day.

McLean County Clerk Kathy Michael said voters and election managers have had years to get used to early voting, and she says it works – for the most part.

“The negative is the expense,” Michael said. “We have so many expenses in elections. We’re all set up, we have nine judges out in the hallway and a lot of equipment, so that’s extra pay for our judges.”

Michael said the price tag for early voting varies from year to year and that early voting includes voting in person, and by mail.

“There’s been a push, by all parties, to get vote by mail in,” Michael said. “Those are already registered voters. So would they have voted anyway? Time will tell. Normally, the average for a gubernatorial election turnout is 50 percent.”

Michael said that early voting typically peaks in presidential elections and dips in local elections. So far this year, Michael said she’s seen an unprecedented number of vote-by-mail ballots.