Utah County residents have 11 days to vote in the Nov. 7 election. Most still get it all done the last day.

"Usually I don't even remember until then," Orem resident Shelly Butler said.

But, for those interested, early voting in the general election starts today in the Utah County Administration Building and runs through Nov. 3.

"It's just convenience," said Sandy Hoffmann, the elections coordinator for the county. "I think it's pretty awesome we have 11 days altogether for voting."

Any registered voter who registered or updated his information by Oct. 10, which is 30 days prior to Nov. 7, is eligible for early voting.

In the June 27 primary election, fewer than 1 percent of registered voters took advantage of early voting. Part of that Hoffmann attributed to people not knowing they had the option; she didn't have an advertising budget to alert the public. Davis County, which has fewer registered voters but put up just two billboards advertising early voting, actually had more people vote than Utah County, she said.

On the upside, the primary election, which included most of the races in the general election, had a record turnout, Hoffmann said, although some of that could be attributed to growth.

For the general election, the state elections office got some funding through federal Help America Vote Act grants, which has allowed for some commercials with Lt. Gov. Gary Herbert to be aired.

The process is simple; registered voters show the election clerk their identification and get an electronic card, then vote. It takes about five minutes, depending on where one is voting. Hoffmann said American Fork voters will have the longest ballot because of the Alpine School District $230 million bond and the city's $47 million secondary irrigation system bond. All ballots in Utah County will include a question on a quarter-cent sales tax increase to pay for mass transit and roads. A voter registration card is not needed.

For more information about the ballot questions, go to www.elections.utah.gov/voterinformationpamphlet2006.html.

Heidi Toth can be reached at 344-2543 or htoth@heraldextra.com.

What: Early voting

Where: L900 in the county building, 100 E. Center St., Provo

When: Today-Nov. 3, 8:30 a.m.-5.p.m.

What you need: A picture ID

This story appeared in The Daily Herald on page D1.