Utah County residents in 11 cities will have a chance to get their election choices in today as early voting begins.

The primary elections for Utah County will be held on Sept. 11, but voters can now participate two weeks early at an early voting location in their hometown. Although early voting has been done for years with absentee ballots, it has only recently been possible in person.

This year will be the first time early voting has been available for city elections, said Kent Clark, Spanish Fork city recorder. It was done in last year's election for federal, state and county offices.

State law requires each city to offer early voting 14 days prior to Election Day, for four days a week and four hours a day.

Clark said Spanish Fork usually receives about 40 absentee votes in an election, but the number of early votes may increase that number.

"It's getting more and more popular," Clark said.

LaNice Groesbeck, Provo city recorder, said she anticipates that voter turnout for early voting may not increase dramatically because the voters will likely be the same people who chose to use absentee ballots in the past.

"We have always done absentee voting so people could come in early to vote," Groesbeck said.

Although the Provo City Recorder's Office is usually closed on Fridays, Groesbeck said the office will remain open each Friday during the early voting period to accommodate those who wish to cast their votes.

Residents need only to find their city's voting location and present photo identification in order to vote early. For more information on early voting, visit www.utahcountyonline.com.

Early Voting Locations (all dates are today through Friday, Sept. 4-7 unless specified otherwise):

Eagle Mountain -- Recorder's Office in City Hall, 1650 E. Stagecoach Run, 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. today - Thursday, 7:30 a.m. to noon on Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Sept. 4 through Sept. 6, and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Sept. 7.

Highland -- Highland City office trailer, 5378 W. 10400 North, 1-5 p.m.

Lehi -- Lehi City Hall, 153 N. 100 East, 1-5 p.m.

Orem -- Orem City Center, 56 N. State St., Suite 200, 1-5 p.m.

Pleasant Grove -- Pleasant Grove City Hall, 70 S. 100 East, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Provo -- City Recorder's Office, 351 W. Center St., 1-5 p.m., open Fridays.

Mapleton (mayor race only) -- Mapleton City Building, 125 W. 400 North, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Elk Ridge -- City Offices, 80 E. Park Drive

Springville -- Springville City Offices, 50 S. Main St., 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Spanish Fork -- City Recorder's Office, 40 S. Main St. Rm. 110, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Woodland Hills -- no information available

This story appeared in The Daily Herald on page A1.