By Clay LePard
clepard@cbs4qc.com
With a little over a week to go until Election Day, many are already casting their ballot here in the QCA.
Both Illinois and Iowa are seeing huge increases and record crowds for early voting.
"This is quite a spike because of the nature of the race," says Karen Kinney, Rock Island County Clerk.
"It could be close to 50% of the election delivered just in early votes," says Roxanna Moritz, Scott County Auditor. Moritz is up for re-election this fall.
In Rock Island County, long lines are common at some of the early voting places. Kinney says she's never seen them come out early like this.
"I think we have record crowds," she adds. "People are excited, they excited for the future and they're ready to cast their vote and make their voice heard."
As of Friday, Rock Island County had 10,733 early ballots submitted.
And in Scott County, that number is even higher. County leaders say they've received more than 34,000 absentee requests.
"I think they are committed to whoever their candidates are," says Moritz. "You have a congressional seat, the president up [for re-election,] people are engaged and they've been engaged all summer so they are actively out there on the ground working hard to make sure their candidates votes get in."
In 2008, there were 36,000 absentee votes made in total. County leaders say they expect a record 40,000-45,000 absentee votes when it's all said and done.
Early voting continues in both Illinois and Iowa through November 3rd.
But in Iowa, you can actually vote at the Scott County administrative office up until the day before Election Day.
You can also vote early in Scott County at any of the following sites:
- Bettendorf Public Library 2950 Learning Campus Dr, Bettendorf
Monday – Thursday, 12 p.m. – 6 p.m.
Friday/Saturday, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
- Davenport Eastern Avenue Branch Library 6000 Eastern Ave., Davenport
Monday & Wednesday, 12:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.
Tuesday, Thursday-Saturday, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
- Davenport Fairmount Street Branch Library 3000 N. Fairmount St., Davenport
Monday, Wednesday, Friday & Saturday, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Tuesday & Thursday 12:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.
- Scott County Library, Eldridge 600 N. 6th Av., Eldridge
Monday – Thursday, 12 p.m. – 6 p.m.
Friday and Saturday, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
You can vote early in Rock Island County at any of the following places:
- County Clerk's Office, 1504 3rd Avenue, Rock Island, IL
8:00 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. Monday - Friday
9:00 a.m. until 12 noon, Saturday, October 27th and November 3rd
- Western Illinois University, 3300 River Drive, Moline, IL
11:00 a.m. until 7:00 p.m. Monday - Friday
- Silvis City Council Chambers, 121 11th Street, Silvis, IL
10:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. Monday - Friday
- Moline Public Library, 3210 41st Street, Moline, IL
11:00 a.m. until 7:00 p.m. Monday - Friday
- Milan Municipal Building, 405 E. 1st Street, Milan, IL
10:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. Monday - Friday
