While Michigan doesn’t offer ‘early voting?, it’s not too late to vote by absentee ballot, says Rob Coffman, Genesee County elections director.
A national media broadcast this week stating Michigan participates in early voting was misleading, Coffman said in an Oct. 18 interview with The Citizen.
‘We don’t have early voting in Michigan,? he said. ‘Michigan has absentee voting, but you could treat it like early voting.?
While Michigan voters can technically vote early by casting an absentee ballot in person at the township clerk’s office, absentee voting differs from early voting, in which polling locations are set up throughout early voting states’like Florida’weeks before election day.
Residents wishing to cast their votes via absentee ballot are required to select from a list of acceptable reasons: being out of town on election day, physical reasons for being unable to vote at the polls, being 60 years or older, working in an election, or being in jail awaiting arraignment or trial.
Township clerks? offices will be open until 2 p.m. the Saturday prior to the election for registered voters to pick up absentee ballots.
Atlas Township Clerk Tere Onica recommends bringing in a voter registration card and photo identification, in the event a name is omitted from the qualified voter file.
Although it’s the voter’s option whether to mail the ballot, residents waiting until late October to vote may wish to mark and turn in ballots in their secrecy envelopes on-site, she said, as mailed ballots must be received back at the township clerk’s office by Nov. 2.
Special township clerk ballot pick-up times
n Brandon Township: 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Oct. 30 at the Brandon Township Hall, located at 395 Mill St. in downtown Ortonville. Details: (248) 627-2851.
n Atlas Township: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Oct. 30 at the Atlas Township Hall, located at 7385 Gale Road in Atlas Township. Details: (810) 636-2548.