While early voting and voting by mail are scheduled to begin on February 4th, County Clerk Pete Duncan has annnounced that delays with the state certifying Presidential candidates may cause delays.

Currently eight objections on seven Presidential candidates are yet to be decided by the State Board of Elections. According to the State Board, final decisions on these objections are not anticipated to be made until after the start of the early vote and vote by mail period. Because Macoupin County's ballots can not be printed and voting tabulators programmed until the State completes these hearings and certifies which Presidential cndidates are to be listed on the ballot, voting will be delayed until the final cetification is received.

Duncan says voters can apply for a vote by mail ballot and have it mailed to them as sooon as the ballots are printed.

Duncan advised that voters can check the County's Election website, www.macoupinvotes.com, or the County Clerk's webpage for updates on when early voting and vote by mail will start.