The campaign season is already here, and partisan ads for the June 28 primary are dominating local broadcasts.

As of Wednesday, voters could begin applying to use the mail to cast their ballots.

All requests for a mail-in ballot must be received by June 23.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, voting by mail and early voting grew rapidly.

Anyone who is registered to vote can apply for a mail-in ballot. At one time, voters had to provide a reason for wanting to vote by mail, but that requirement was dropped in 2009.

Voting by mail begins May 19, and ballots must be postmarked by June 28. Ballots also can be turned in at any drop-off site in the area up to when the polls close on Election Day.

Those who apply now can expect to receive a mail-in ballot by late May.

People who have not received a mail-in ballot by then can call their local election board to check on the status of their application.

Those who are unsure whether they are registered or those who want to know who is on their local election board can go to ova.elections.il.gov/ RegistrationLookup.aspx.

Later this summer, residents also can sign up to have their mail-in ballot automatically sent to their home for every upcoming primary and general election. Get the application beginning Aug. 10 from the county’s election website.

Info on voting by mail in your county

Cook County: cookcountyclerkil. gov/elections/ways-to-vote/vote-bymail DuPage County: dupagecounty. gov/Election/VoteByMail/ Kane County: kanecountyclerk. org/Elections/Pages/Vote-by-Mail. aspx Lake County: lakecountyil.gov/351/ Voter-Power-for-Registered-Voters McHenry County: bit.ly/McHenry- CountyVoteByMail Will County: willcountyclerk.gov/ elections/vote-by-mail/