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QUINCY, ILL. -- Illinois voters can officially head to the polls.

Monday marks the start of early voting for Illinois' primary election, and it's available until March 15.

Voters do not need a reason to vote early in the Democratic and Republican primaries which is official held on March 20.

The voting includes nominating contests for the Illinois House and Senate, county offices, congressional races and several referendum questions.

Voting officials expect the close Republican presidential primary and new candidates vying for redrawn federal, state and county seats to drive early voter participation.

"I think any opportunity in which we can make it easier for the registered voters not only register to vote and change their address, but go out and vote is a good idea," Adams County Illinois County Clerk Georgia Volm said.

Registered voters must show a current driver's license or a valid photo ID to participate.

Early voting locations are available statewide and in Western Illinois most of the early voting polls are at local county clerk offices.

"There is growing trend for people to come in and vote early. In the last presidential election in 2008, we had about 3,000 voters in Adams County either vote early or vote absentee," Volm said.

In Missouri and Iowa, they don't have the actual early voting option, but absentee voting is available. Voters in those states have to declare a reason as to why they're wanting to vote absentee.

If you have any questions about voting in the upcoming primary elections, you can contact either your local county clerk's office or county auditors office.

For information on early voting in:

-  Adams County, Ill. click here
-  Hancock County, Ill. click here
-  Pike County, Ill. click here
-  McDonough County, Ill. click here 
-  Schuyler County, Ill. click here 
-  Brown County, Ill. click here
-  Scott County, Ill. click here