State Board of Elections records show 12% of Illinois' 8 million registered voters have cast ballots ahead of next week's presidential election. The total includes those who voted in person, by mail or used grace period registration, which lets people register and vote simultaneously. Over 1 million Illinoisans have voted. Most cast ballots in person.
Registered voter numbers are expected to increase because Illinois allows registration through Election Day. Election officials say early voting is increasingly popular, Illinois has expanded its early voting period.
Officials say during 2012's general election, nearly 16% of registered voters voted early at polls, representing 22% of the nearly 5.3 million votes.
