LANSING, MI (WKZO AM/FM) — Michigan’s Primary Election is August 4th and there are a number of things voters should keep in mind whether voting absentee or heading to the polls.
— Voting Absentee —
At this point, voters still with absentee ballots should not mail them but instead drop them off at their local drop box or clerk’s office immediately.
Michigan law states all ballots must be received by the clerk by 8 p.m. on August 4 in order to be counted. A list of ballot drop boxes is available online. Voters may only return their ballot to the drop box of their city or township. There are instructions included with the ballot regarding who is eligible to return a ballot on behalf of a voter.
“Voters should get their absentee ballots returned as quickly as possible,” Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson said. “This close to the primary, Michiganders should return their absentee ballots to their clerk’s office directly, or submit them via their local ballot drop box, in order to ensure their vote is counted.”
The absent voter ballot count continues to climb, with more than 900,000 ballots already returned. More than 1.9 million have been issued, coming close to the 2.2 million total turnout for the 2018 primary, the highest primary turnout on record.
— Absentee Ballot Requests —
All absentee ballot requests can be made in person at the clerk’s office, and with the possibility of postal delays ahead of the primary, voters should prepare to both request and vote their ballot in the same visit. Ballots can be requested, filled out and immediately returned to the clerk through 4 p.m. on August 3. Those still needing to register and then request and fill out a ballot can do so at their clerk’s office now through 8 p.m. on August 4.
— Registering to Vote —
Voters should double check to make sure that they are registered to vote here.
Those looking to register can go to their clerk’s office and show proof of residency by showing a physical or digital copy of any of the following documents:
- Michigan driver’s license or State ID card
- Current utility bill
- Bank statement
- Paycheck or government check
- Other government document
To be eligible to vote you must be:
- A Michigan resident (at the time you register) and a resident of your city or township for at least 30 days (when you vote)
- A United States citizen
- At least 18 years of age (when you vote)
- Not currently serving a sentence in jail or prison
— Voting in Person —
Voters can still cast their ballots in person. To do so, search for your polling place here and go there from 7 a.m. and 8 p.m. on Aug. 4. You’re encouraged to bring a photo ID with you (these types count), but you can still vote if you don’t have one or bring one.
Those without proper ID will have to sign a form saying they don’t have it.
— Splitting a Ticket —
You can only vote for one political party in the primary. That means you can’t “split” your ticket — for example, you cannot vote for a Democrat for your U.S. House seat and a Republican for your state House seat.
In November, those rules change and you will be allowed to vote for candidates of any political party.
You also don’t have to vote in every race on the ballot — you can pick and choose the races, ballot issues or millages that you would like to vote in.
— COVID-19 Precautions While Voting —
The Center for Disease Control has a long list of precautions both poll workers and voters should take when heading to the polls. Some of those tips include:
- Practice healthy behaviors to protect yourself and slow the spread of COVID-19
- Wash your hands before entering and after leaving the polling location.
- While in the polling location, use alcohol-based hand sanitizer containing at least 60% alcohol frequently, especially after touching surfaces frequently touched by multiple people, such as door handles or voting machines.
- Cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue or the inside of your elbow. Throw used tissues in lined trash cans. Wash your hands or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer containing at least 60% alcohol.
- Wear a cloth face covering. Children under 2 and anyone who has trouble breathing, is incapacitated or otherwise unable to remove the face covering without assistance should not wear a cloth face covering.
- Maintain at least 6 feet (about 2 arms’ length) of distance from others. It is important to continue social distancing even when you and others are wearing cloth face coverings.
- Avoid crowds
- Use early voting, if available in your jurisdiction.
- Vote at off-peak times, such as mid-morning.
- If driving to the polls and your schedule allows, monitor the voter line from your car and join it when it’s shorter.
- Be prepared
- Check your voting location and requirements in advance because they may have changed due to COVID-19.
- Verify your voter registration information is correct in advance of reporting to the polling location.
- Contact your local or state election officeexternal icon for additional information for voters with disabilities.
- Make sure you have all necessary documents to avoid delays at the polling location.
- If possible, complete any registration forms prior to arriving at the polling location.
- Where possible, review or complete a sample ballot at home to speed the process of casting your ballot at the polling location.
- Bring your own black ink pen.
- Bring a stylus or similar object for use with touchscreen voting machines. Check with poll workers before using.
— Further Information —
Michiganders can visit the Michigan Voter Information Center at www.Michigan.gov/vote for more information about registering to vote and voting, voting equipment, polling place locations, state and local ballots, the candidates, campaign finance and more.
— Election Results —
Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson is warning that it may be one or two days before all the results from the election are known due to the increase in absentee ballots.
WOOD-TV will be updating election results for most of west and southwest Michigan on their website. More information can be found here.
