SPRINGFIELD -- As politicians begin their campaigns in earnest, Illinois voters will have a little easier time voting and getting registered for the February primary election.

Changes in state law mean voters no longer need to give a reason for voting with an absentee ballot. Before, they needed an excuse such as plans to be out of state on Election Day.

Other changes will give voters a chance to register up until a week before the primary election in a special grace period. In addition, centers that host early voting will have to be open through the final weekend of the early voting period.

Early voting will run from Jan. 11 to Jan. 28 of next year.

The Illinois Board of Elections issued reminders about the changes Thursday. Candidates' campaigns became official earlier this week, leading to more attention on election season. The 2010 general election isn't until November 2010, and the primary election is Feb. 2, 2010.

But through absentee voting through the mail or early voting in person, many Illinoisans will cast their ballots well before Election Day.

McLean County elections administrator Linda Shriver said she doesn't think the new rules on absentee ballots will lead to many more of them. She said people who wanted to vote before Election Day without a reason could already use early voting.

When early voting was first instituted in Illinois several years ago, county clerks had to find ways to set the program up.

Macon County Clerk Stephen Bean said the new changes in the law won't cause his office many problems and will give people more opportunities to vote.

Bean said having the primary election early in the year means he might have trouble scheduling staff around the holidays as voting season gears up.

And the county is waiting for approval of voting equipment.

"That's more scary than all these other things," Bean said.