17-year-olds allowed to vote in Illinois primaries

By Ryne Turke on August 10, 2016 at 7:00am

Morgan County Clerk Jill Waggener hopes younger voters turnout to the polls for the November Election.

Soon-to-be voters are getting more options in Illinois as Governor Bruce Rauner recently signed a law that allows 17-year-olds to vote in local primaries, as long as they turn 18 before election day. The law also permits the voter to circulate petitions for candidates.

In 2014, a state law allowed soon-to-be voters to cast their ballot in Presidential primaries. Waggener says only a “handful” of individuals took advantage of the opportunity.

Waggener hopes more issues on the ballot leads to more voters in 2016.

“I know that a lot of things have been changed and legislation has been passed to get people more involved in the voting process. I don’t know if it really helps or not. I think if people want to vote then they will.”

Here’s a list of other important information for Morgan County voters.

Vote by mail requests start on Wednesday and ballots will be mailed out September 29th, which happens to be the first day of early voting.

Grace period registration starts October 12th. An interpreter will be present at the Morgan County Courthouse from 1:30-3:30 p.m. On October 13th.

Saturday voting hours are available on October 8th, 22nd and November 5th from 9-noon.