Absentee voting for the upcoming April 9 election is now available at the County Clerk's Office in the St. Clair County Building in Belleville.

Likewise, absentee voting began in Madison County on Feb. 28 and will continue through April 8.

The consolidated election features multiple contentious races and referendums.

Mayoral races will be held in Edwardsville and Belleville, and O'Fallon School District 90 and Grant School District 110 in Fairview Heights are asking for tax increases.

And Mascoutah School District 19 is asking permission from voters to build a new elementary school.

Absentee ballots can be cast from 8:30 a.m. until 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 8:30 a.m. until noon on Saturdays at the St. Clair County Building. Madison County voters may cast absentee ballots at the clerk's office located at 157 N. Main St. in Edwardsville.

Early voting for the upcoming election in St. Clair County will be held from March 25 until April 6 at the clerk's office. Voters from every precinct in St. Clair County, except East St. Louis, can then cast their ballots.

Early voting will be held on the same dates in Madison County at multiple locations.