KALAMAZOO, MI (WKZO AM/FM) — With a week to go until the General Election, Kalamazoo City Clerk Scott Borling is reminding city residents of important voting deadlines.
In order to make voting more accessible, the City of Kalamazoo recently passed a resolution that, among other provisions, will include expanded hours for requesting an absentee ballot.
By Monday, October 26, Borling said that 20,405 absentee ballots have been issued, of which 14,390 have been returned. 55,556 voters have registered, which is an increase from the August Primary.
At this point in the election, state officials say all ballots that have yet to be returned should be hand-delivered to local Clerk’s office or drop box, as they may not be delivered by mail in time to be counted.
During a virtual city meeting Monday night, Borling reiterated the options that voters have to cast their ballots, as well as the important deadlines coming up.
Deadlines –
- In-person voter registration must be complete by Election Day at 8 p.m.
- Requests for absentee ballots by mail must filed by Friday, October 30 at 5 p.m.
- Requests for receiving an absentee ballot in person must be received by 4:00 p.m. on Monday, November 2, and returned by 8 p.m. on Election Day
Borling says that requesting an absentee ballot by mail is risky in the sense that it may not be received by the voter in time to be mailed back before deadline.
“We can put an absentee ballot in the mail for you, but we are coming up on a deadline, and that is Friday at 5 p.m.,” Borling said. “We have to have your request in by that time in order for us to put a ballot in the mail. We really are encouraging people now, if you can, come in person to get your absentee ballot. But this option for doing it by mail is good for those people who can’t get to the Clerk’s office.”
He also recommends one of the many drop boxes around the city as a means of returning a ballot.
In addition to the drop box located behind City Hall, there are four other drop box locations that can be utilized:
- Douglass Community Association, 1000 W. Paterson Street
- Eastside Neighborhood Association, 1301 E. Main Street
- City of Kalamazoo Stockbridge Offices, 415 E. Stockbridge Avenue
- Kalamazoo Public Safety Station 7, 2331 Parkview Avenue
Votes that are received after Election Day will not be counted, which is why it is important they are returned as soon as possible, Borling said.
“Where that came from was in September, the Michigan Court of Claims issued a decision stating Clerk’s had to accept ballots that were postmarked either the day before the election or prior, and we had to accept those ballots for up to 14 days after the election,” Borling said. “A week and a half ago, the Michigan Court of Appeals struck that down and said the ballots have to be in the Clerk’s office by 8 p.m. on Election Day. That law stands.”
Voter registration and absentee voting services are available both at City Hall and the Bernhard Center at the campus of Western Michigan University (WMU).
On Tuesday, October 27, the Clerk’s Office will be open until 9:00 p.m..
The Clerk’s Office will also be open for eight hours on the weekend prior to the election as required by the Michigan Constitution (Saturday, October 31 from
10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.), according to city documents.
Deadlines during election week –
- Voter registration will be available at the Clerk’s Office in City Hall and the Bernhard Center at WMU’s campus from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. on Monday, November 2.
- Voter registration will also be available on Election Day from 7 a.m. – 8 p.m.
- Absentee voting will be available Monday, November 2 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Citizens can still register to vote on Election Day and return them in one trip.
New polling locations for some precincts –
Borling and Commissioner Jeanne Hess are also reminding city voters that some polling locations have changed as of August due to space limitations.
Precinct 6 had previously voted at Friendship Village and is now held at the KRESA West Campus, Borling said.
Precincts 1 and 3 had previously voted at First United Methodist Church, but now vote at Faith Temple Church of God.
A map of voting precincts and their polling locations in Kalamazoo can be viewed at this link.
Voter Registration –
“At this point, the only way you can register to vote is in person at your local Clerk’s office, so that’s wherever you reside,” Borling said. “If you reside in the City of Kalamazoo, that would be with us. If you reside in one of the townships, that would be with your township clerk. That’s where you need to go.”
Proof of residency will be required when showing up to register, and a photo I.D. will be requested, Borling says. However, those without an I.D. will have some options.
“You’ll be asked to show photo I.D., but if you don’t have one, you can still register to vote, you can sign an affidavit,” Borling said.
In-Person voting –
All information about in-person voting locations, registration status, and sample ballots can be viewed at the State of Michigan voting page.
Voters who are choosing to vote in-person are asked to wear masks while on the premises.
“We ask that you please wear a mask,” Borling said. “We can’t force people to wear a mask, we’re not going to keep a person from voting, we can’t send them away, but we’re asking for the safety of our poll workers and the other voters there, please wear a mask when you come.”
Borling adds that having a Plan “B” might be a good move for voters, especially with health concerns.
“Just within the last week or so, we’re seeing a rising volume of positive COVID tests, and we’re starting to hear from people saying, ‘my plan was to vote in person, but now I’m quarantined, what do I do?'” Borling said. “The answer for someone in that situation is call us, let us know, and we’ll try to figure out a way to get you a ballot. But I would urge people to think about that, think of a plan B if you’re concerned about safety.”
Further reading –
Meanwhile, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) issued safety guidelines Tuesday for safe in-person voting. Those guidelines can be viewed at this link.
More information on the local elections in Kalamazoo can be viewed at the City website.
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