Absentee ballot mail-out deadline is March 20

The last day to mail absentee ballots for the April 2 municipal elections is March 20 - a week later than in previous years.

Cole County Clerk Steve Korsmeyer said this is due to state legislation passed last year.

The clerk's office will be open until 5 p.m. March 20 in case there are last-minute requests. The clerk's office also will be open from 8 a.m.-noon March 30 for voters who want to cast an absentee ballot in the office.

The clerk's office is located on the second floor of the county annex on East High Street, next to the county courthouse.

As of Wednesday, Korsmeyer said, the clerk's office had 344 absentee ballot requests and 165 had been returned. Only been 23 absentee ballots had been cast in the office.