Precinct locations, absent voter information

By Jim Newell
Managing Editor
jnewell@mihomepaper.com
 ORION TWP. — There will be at least three new members on the Orion Township Board of Trustees after the November general election, but contested races in the clerk’s and treasurer’s positions in the primary could increase that number after the election on Tuesday.
The primary election is Aug. 6 with polls opening at 7 a.m. and closing at 8 p.m. (See page 30 for precinct locations.)
In Orion Township – including the Village of Lake Orion – there are 32,072 registered voters on the voting rolls, with 7,329 absentee ballots sent out for the primary, said Orion Township Clerk Penny Shults. So far, only 2,770, 37.8%, have been returned as of Monday.
Shults hopes more absent voter ballots are returned soon so that the sequestered AV counting board can tabulate the results, and that people flock to the polls on election day.
“I always want everyone to get out and vote. I hope we hit 80%. I shoot for 100%, but I’m hoping for 80%,” Shults said.
Orion residents can register for the election in-person at Orion Township Hall, 2323 Joslyn Rd., through election day.
In Orion Township races, Supervisor Chris Barnett and trustee candidates Michael Flood, Jr., John Carson, Carrie Hilgendorf and Jack Lovat are all running unopposed in their election bids. Each will move on to the Nov. 5 General Election where, as of Monday, they were all running unopposed. Incumbent Trustee Brian Birney did not seek reelection.
While there’s still time for someone to start a write-in campaign, the partisan deadlines have passed and the candidates will not face any Democrat challengers.
In the race for Orion Township clerk, incumbent Trustee Julia Dalrymple faces Braden Giacobazzi, while in the hotly contested treasurer’s race incumbent Clerk Penny Shults squares off against incumbent Trustee Matt Pfeiffer.
Early voting
Voters in Oxford, Orion and Addison townships will also be able to vote nine days early in-person at Regional Early Voting Site #18 at Orion Township Hall, 2323 Joslyn Rd. Early voting runs now through Aug. 4, and is administered under the Oakland County Elections Division.
Around 100 people have cast early ballots at Orion Township Hall as of Monday, Shults said.
Michigan voters approved a constitutional amendment in November 2022 that gives voter the right to vote early and in person at early voting sites before statewide and federal elections. Proposal 22-2 requires that early voting precincts must be open for nine consecutive days beginning on the second Saturday before the election and on the Sunday before the election for at least eight hours each day.
For additional information on elections in Orion Township, visit the clerk’s page on the Orion Township website, www.oriontownship.org, contact the clerk’s office at 248-391-0304 ext. 4001 or go in-person to Orion Township Hall.
Precinct locations
Precinct 1: Lake Orion Schools Admin. Building, 315 N. Lapeer Rd.
Precinct 2: The Village of Lake Orion, 21 E. Church St.
Precinct 3: Lake Orion Church of Christ, 1080 Hemingway Rd.
Precinct 4: Orion Township Public Library, 825 Joslyn Rd.
Precinct 5: Good Shepard Lutheran Church, 1950 S. Baldwin Rd.
Precinct 6: The River Church, 3920 S. Baldwin Rd.
Precinct 7: The DPW Garage, 2685 Joslyn Court.
Precinct 8: The Orion Center, 1335 Joslyn Rd.
Precinct 9: Lake Orion Baptist Church, 255 E. Scripps Rd.
Precinct 10: St. Mary’s in the Hills Episcopal Church, 2512 Joslyn Court.
Precinct 11: The Orion Center, 1335 Joslyn Rd.
Precinct 12: Lake Orion United Methodist Church, 140 E. Flint St.
Precinct 13: Mount Zion Community House, 4005 S. Baldwin Rd.
Precinct 14: King of Kings Lutheran Church, 1715 S. Lapeer Rd.
Precinct 15: Orion Township Fire Station #2, 3801 Giddings Rd.