Advance voting continues through noon April 4 for folks looking to personally cast their votes for Lawrence City Commission, Lawrence school board and other area races before Election Day arrives.

And Jamie Shew, Douglas County clerk, is willing to accept ballots early and often.

“It’s a convenience factor,” Shew said. “We start advance voting 20 days prior to the election. There’s really no excuse not to participate.”

Registered voters may cast their ballots in advance from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays at the Douglas County Courthouse, 11th and Massachusetts streets.

Voters who need to register may also fill out forms there; Monday is the registration deadline for the April 5 election, and elections personnel will keep the clerk’s office open until 7 p.m. Monday to accommodate people wanting to make themselves eligible to cast ballots.

Voters also may request ballots to be sent to them in advance by mail. Such applications are available at the clerk’s office or may be printed off the clerk’s website at Douglas-County.com. Completed ballots must be returned to the clerk’s office by 7 p.m. April 5 to be counted.

One more scheduling item: For voters casting ballots in person, the clerk’s office will be open from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, April 1.

Shew also will have personnel posted in Baldwin City, Eudora and Lecompton to accept advance ballots cast in person.