Are you ready to vote?

Tami Flowers, Highland Township Clerk

This election has been more confusing for voters than ever before because of the mixed messages in various media sources. Be aware that each state sets its own voting processes according to laws that have been approved by the State legislature or approved by voters as ballot proposals. If you’re watching a national news broadcast, do not assume what you hear applies to Michigan voters.

Michigan voters have two options: 1) Vote in person at the precinct on election day or 2) Vote by absentee ballot.

If you choose to vote in person, know that measures have been taken at the precincts to ensure voters and workers are safe. Each precinct is equipped with plexiglass shields, hand sanitizer and signage to encourage social distancing. The polls are open from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. and voters are asked to bring picture ID, but if none is available, affidavit of identity can be completed. At www.mi.gov/ vote you can learn where your voting precinct is, make sure you’re registered, update your address, and see what’s on the ballot. Printing out the ballot preview is a great way to prepare and can be brought into the voting booth with you. We recommend avoiding the busy times if possible — right when the polls open and evening hours are typically the busiest.

Absentee voting provides the ability to vote in a convenient, no-contact way, but voters need to begin the process now because multiple steps are involved. Before we can issue a ballot, an application needs to be submitted to the Clerk’s office. Applications are available at the Township (both inside and outside the office), on our website, and at www.mi.gov/vote.

We have started mailing ballots to over 6,000 voters who have already submitted their application. Absentee voters should receive their ballots in the next week. If your ballot doesn’t arrive by mid-October, come to the office to be issued a replacement ballot. We highly recommend voters return their ballots to the drop box in front of the Township Offices (located at 205 N. John St). If you’re returning your ballot by mail, we recommend sending it as early as possible – allow at least a week. In our recent election experience, only a very small percentage of ballots needed to be reissued. Recent news stories have made voters very nervous, but understanding the process and acting in a timely manner assures that your vote will count!

Some voting advocates are encouraging voters to pick up their absentee ballot from the Township, which is a great option for those who prefer to vote by absentee when there is not enough time to mail the ballot. Choosing to vote by mail normally comes with the benefits of: convenience, no-contact, and no lines. For those that aren’t concerned about having contact or standing in line, voting at the precinct on election day is much more efficient than picking up the ballot from the Township office. Ballots can be issued at the precinct three or four times faster than it takes to issue an absentee ballot. As a result of COVID-19 precautions, our lobby can only accommodate one household at a time. Please understand that you could be asked to wait outside until we can serve you. All these factors should be considered when making the decision to vote at the poll or by absentee ballot.