Illinois' senior US Senator Dick Durbin is trying to lead by example.
He cast an early vote Monday in Springfield, and is encouraging others to do the same.
"More and more people in Illinois are voting early. And once you do vote by mail, or come in early, that becomes your way to do things. A pattern of life,” Durbin said.
Early voting has been on the rise in Illinois since it was first offered in 2006.
Before then, anyone unable to vote on Election Day in person had to give authorities a reason for requesting an “absentee ballot.”
Durbin, a Democrat, is a staunch supporter of Hillary Clinton. He's also campaigning for Congresswoman Tammy Duckworth to join him in the US Senate, instead of the incumbent Senator, Republican Mark Kirk.
As he headed to the polls, Durbin said he would vote FOR a constitutional amendment that guarantees transportation funding.
