Macon Reporter

State Senator Erica Harriss encouraged residents to register to vote, stating, "With the general election just around the corner, now is the perfect time for Illinois residents to learn more about the voting process and how to register!" in a September 23 Facebook post.

"With the general election just around the corner, now is the prefect time for Illinois residents to learn more about the voting process and how to register," said Harriss, according to Facebook.

Harriss’ Facebook post included a link to the Illinois Online Voter Registration website. The website allows individuals to register or update an existing registration and explains the state’s requirements for someone to register to vote: U.S. citizenship, having lived in your precinct for at least 30 days leading up to the election, and all voters must be at least 18 years of age by the general election. In addition, individuals must not be serving a sentence of confinement in any penal institution and must not claim the right to vote anywhere else.

Screenshot of Sen. Erica Harriss' Sept 23 Facebook post | Senator Erica Harriss' Facebook page

According to Harriss' post, individuals can register to vote online or update a registration by answering a few questions. The registration portal has a note that it will close at 11:59 p.m. on October 20 and reopen on November 7.

Individuals can vote by mail in the state of Illinois. They must fill out an application and submit it to the clerk of the county they live in or the board of election commissioners for their county. The web page that focuses on applying to vote by mail warns that residents should not submit the application to the Illinois State Board of Elections because that will at least delay processing of the application. Sending it to the state board of elections could stop that processing altogether.

Individuals can apply for a mail ballot up to five days before an election. For the 2024 General Election, this means the deadline to apply is October 31, 2024. Completed ballots may be mailed or delivered in person to the local election authority or put into a secure drop box. They cannot be delivered to early voting locations, according to the Frequently Asked Questions document for vote by mail.

Harriss has served as State Senator for Illinois' 56th Senate District since 2023. She is a small business owner with experience in marketing and communications; she volunteers with local charity organizations and leads youth groups at Metro Community Church. She also served as a member of the Madison County Board for six years, representing people from its 26th District. Harriss holds a degree in speech communication/public relations from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville and is an alumna of Edwardsville High School.