KALAMAZOO COUNTY, MI (WKZO AM/FM) — Monday, Kalamazoo County Clerk Tim Snow spoke with WKZO with details about the upcoming election on Tuesday, November 3.
To begin with, Snow says that as of 10:30 a.m., 93,641 absentee ballots have been issued, and 80,320 have been returned, or about 86 percent. However, Snow noted that those numbers are constantly changing.
“Well get a lot in today, but of course people can still get them in tomorrow,” Snow said. “So long as we’re close to that 90 percentile today on Monday, I think we’re gonna be in really good shape. Considering the number that we have issued, that return rate is really good.”
When it comes to voting in person, Snow is providing County residents with tips to consider when doing so. That includes same-day voter registration.
Voting in person, returning a ballot
“To vote on Election Day, go to your City or Township Clerk, not the County,” Snow said. “You can complete the form, they’ll verify that you’re not registered. If you are registered somewhere else, your registration will be moved. You will have an opportunity to either go to your precinct if you want to vote in person, or you can do an absentee ballot and vote it right there in the Clerk’s office.”
Those who still have absentee ballots should return them as soon as possible.
“Take them to your city or township clerk, again, not the County,” Snow said. “Look at the address on your envelope, and that’s where it needs to go.”
Snow reminds voters that, although the City of Kalamazoo is offering ballot drop boxes as an option to return votes, those services are strictly for those who live in the city.
“Anybody from the City of Kalamazoo only can use those drop boxes,” Snow said. “If you’re in another jurisdiction, do not drop your ballot in the Kalamazoo City drop box.”
Turnout Expectations
For voters casting in person, Snow estimates that the lines may be shorter with absentee voting considered. He said over 50 percent of county residents have already voted absentee.
“Certainly, the large precincts may still have some lines here and there,” Snow said. “It may be steady, but I don’t think we’ll see too many lines, just because of the volume that has already voted.
COVID-19 Health Protocols
Snow says anyone voting in person should be aware of established health guidelines under the COVID-19 pandemic. Snow says voters should bring their own masks to where while voting, but extras can be provided.
“People should be aware that wearing a mask is not mandatory,” Snow said. “It’s strongly encouraged, but it cannot be mandatory. All of the election inspectors will be masked and or shielded, or Plexiglas shields on the tables. They will be wiping down table as they can between voters on a very regular basis throughout the day. It’ll be a pretty safe place because you’re not really in there all that long.”
Apparel Restrictions for In-Person Voting
Voters should not wear any apparel when voting in person that contains candidate names or political parties, whether it be a direct reference or not.
“Please do not wear pins, hats, shirts, jackets with candidate and or political party [names], even indirect information on them, you will be asked to remove them,” Snow said. “If there’s something on a shirt and you’re wearing a jacket that doesn’t have anything on it, they’ll ask you to zip it up. Please no hats, please no buttons. You’ll be asked to remove them.
Safety and Security
“People should feel safe coming into the precincts,” Snow said. “Law enforcement folks are watching the online chatter, all those types of things. They’re very good, they’ve been keeping us informed of things. If they see or hear anything, they will be letting us know. Each municipality, city or township is equipped with an emergency radio if they need quick service. They will be around, police will be available in the vicinity. Sheriff’s Department will be out on the road, it’s sort of an all-hands-on-deck day for law enforcement, as it is more every election.”
Election Results
Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson has previously said that the final statewide election results may come later than usual, with an estimation of Friday, November 6.
However, Snow believes Kalamazoo County results will be recorded on time, more or less. Part of that will have to do with the number of absentee votes.
“If election results appear to be later than usual, it’s primarily because of the huge volume of absentee ballots,” Snow said. “And just because the results are late doesn’t mean there’s a problem. This is a huge, huge volume that we’re trying to deal with.”
However, that time difference may be offset by the allowed early counting, Snow said.
“Many communities here will be starting their Absentee Counting Boards at the very same time as the precincts open, so they will be working through those throughout the day,” Snow said. “I’m hopeful because of the fact they’re starting as early as they can, that we should have some good numbers. The precinct results are modemed into us as soon as they’re ready, so we’ll have those numbers by the regular time, 10:00. We may not have a whole lot of absentees in my then, but we’ll have most of the precinct numbers by that time. Remember that’s only going to be about half or less than half of what the final result will be.”
Double Checking Returned Ballots for Issues
After returning an absentee ballot, voters can check and make sure there are no problems that need to be addressed.
Snow recommends utilizing the Michigan voting website, which provides services to let voters know when their ballot was received.
“You can check your registration, you can check your absentee ballot to ensure it was received by the local clerk,” Snow said. “It will show you that you’re registered, where you vote, it’ll give you a map of how to get there, you can see a sample ballot for your specific precinct, all kinds of information is available. Be sure to use it, it’s very accurate.”
If there are any issues with the ballot listed, voters should contact their local clerk for more information.
“Anyone who has perhaps forgotten to sign their ballot, local clerks are contacting those folks,” Snow said. “We want every ballot to count that can be counted. If you’ve forgotten it, hopefully you’ve been notified, and you can go in, sign that ballot, and they will do their best to do that again during Election Day. The key thing on that is absentee ballots must be to the Clerk’s office or appropriate drop box by 8 p.m. on Election Day.”
Votes submitted after that time will not be accepted, per Michigan state law.
The polls open at the usual time of 7 a.m. and will be closed at 8 p.m. However, Snow says that for in-person voting, anyone still waiting in line by 8 p.m. will be allowed to vote.
Poll and Precinct Workers, Voting under the COVID-19 Pandemic
Snow adds that, in the City of Kalamazoo and elsewhere, there is currently no need for additional poll workers at in-person voting locations.
“We have more than enough election inspectors, this is about the first time that’s ever happened,” Snow said. “We have a few folks standing by if we need them, but precinct workers are in good supply for this election, due to a variety of reasons.”
He said part of this is thanks to a statewide push for hiring more workers ahead of time.
“We’re in good shape as far as election workers, so from that perspective, we’re ready to go,” Snow said.
With multiple elections having already taken place during the COVID-19 pandemic, Snow is confident in the voting process by this point.
“In March, [the pandemic] was just barely getting started, so we were okay, but we had to start doing things while we were canvassing,” Snow said. “And then May of course was an all-mail election, minus a few that showed up at the Clerk’s office, but 95-99 percent all-mail. In August, we were in full COVID mode by that time and ready. But this one is obviously way more than what we saw in August for the primary, but we are prepared. We’ve been working for this all year. It’s not what we expected, but it’s what we have, and I think we’re gonna be ready, as ready as we can possibly be, I think we’ll be in good shape.”
Further Information and Reading
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.
Voters who have yet to register may do so by going to their local Clerk’s Office and requesting a registration form. They can then fill out and return an absentee ballot in the same trip.
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.
All information about in-person voting locations, registration status, and sample ballots can be viewed at the State of Michigan voting page.
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