LANSING, Mich. — Ingham County Clerk Barb Byrum (D-Onondaga) is providing additional information to voters, as her Office, as well as the offices of Local City and Township Clerks have been getting numerous phone calls asking about how, when, and where they can ‘early vote’ in Michigan.
“Voters are engaging with the voting process and that is a good thing for our democracy,” Byrum stated. “They are watching the news and seeing hours-long lines in other states and are seeking information about how to vote, as they would in the polls, prior to Election Day. While there are options to vote your ballot early, in Michigan we do not have polling locations open at this time.”
Voters may go to their local clerk’s office and request their absentee ballot at any time until 4:00pm on the day before Election Day. Many city and township clerks will have a location in their office where voters may privately vote their ballot, before returning it in a sealed, signed envelope to their local clerk.
“Effectively, receiving your absentee ballot, voting that ballot and returning it to your local clerk is Michigan’s option for early voting. It is different from what we see going on in other states because the ballot stays sealed in the envelope and does not go through the tabulator until Election Day,” Byrum stated. “Voters may also take their ballot home, if they desire more time to consider their choices and then return that ballot to their local clerk’s office or drop box so long as they return it before 8:00pm on Election Day, when polls close.”
Voters who choose to vote with an absent voter ballot must make sure to sign the outer envelope. Clerk Byrum encourages those who have their absent voter ballots to return them to their local clerk’s office or drop box as soon as possible.
“Given the COVID-19 pandemic, I am encouraging everyone who can vote via absent voter ballot to do so,” said Byrum. “It is safer, just as secure, and easily done. Voters who have questions are welcome to call my office or their local clerks, and they may also visit www.michigan.gov/vote [michigan.gov] where they can check on the status of their absentee ballot to ensure that it has been sent or received by their local clerk. I also ask that the public be patient with their Election Administrator. We are all working hard to ensure that this Election, as with all before it, runs smoothly. Election Officials have been preparing for this all year and are up to the task.”
Finally, if voters choose to vote on Election Day, polling locations will be open to facilitate those voters as normal. Voters may contact Clerk Byrum’s Office with questions at inghamclerk@ingham.org or at 517-676-7201.
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