Absentee ballots coming in

By Don Rush

With the Nov. 8 General Election weeks away, many Michigan voters have requested absentee ballots from their local clerks. According to an Oct. 12 article by Bridge Michigan, 1.6 million absentee ballots have been requested, and just under 10 percent, 155,000 have been returned.

According to township clerks in both Oxford and Addison, local voters have returned their absentee ballots at a higher percentage than the state. Oxford Clerk Curtis Wright said as of Oct. 13, 4,207 voters requested absentee ballots; 526 have been returned – over 12 percent. Addison Clerk Pauline Bennett said 1,437 absentee ballots were requested and as of Oct. 13, 143 had been returned (10 percent).

Oxford Township has 17,781 registered voters; Addison Township has 5,087 registered voters.

According to state law, both clerks can count the absentee ballots on election day, Nov. 8.

“Once they are received, they are checked into the Qualified Voter File by way of confirming the signature on the Absent Voter Ballot return envelope matches the signature on file in the Qualified Voter File. When confirmed, the Absent Voter Ballot is recorded in the voter’s file with the received date recorded in the Qualified Voter File. The Absent Voter Ballot is then filed in the voter’s voting precinct by Ballot number. All Ballots are secured in the Clerk’s Office,” Wright said.

Bennett said the number of requests this election cycle has decreased. “Absentee requests are down about 47% as compared to the November 2020 Election,” she said, adding “However, it’s an increase of about 27% for the November 2018 Election. For the November 2020 Election, 2,683 voters requested an absentee ballot with 2,525 ballots returned (94%).”

Both clerks indicated Absentee voting in Addison and Oxford is “a safe and secure way to vote your ballot.”

“Voters who are working out of the area take advantage of this and some like to take their time and review and research the candidates at home. For those who do not like long lines or possibly waiting outside and hoping for  great weather, absentee voting is an option for you,” Bennett said. “With the lower volume of absentee ballots being requested, those planning on voting at their precinct on Election Day should plan a little additional time. The Addison Election Commission has approved extra election officials at the precincts, however officials will process each individual voter one at a time.”

According to the Bridge Michigan article, to vote absentee “registered voters must request their ballot by 5 p.m. Nov. 4. If voters request an absentee ballot in person at their local clerk’s office, they can fill it out and return it on the spot. Absentee ballots can also be returned via mail or in-person at a ballot drop box. The ballot must be sealed in the secrecy sleeve that comes with the ballot, placed in the provided returned envelope and signed for the ballot to be counted. Mailed ballots must be received by clerks by 8 p.m. on Election Day to be counted in the general election. The Secretary of State’s office recommends ballots be mailed at least two weeks prior to Election Day to ensure it’s received in time.”

Both township’s have ballot drop boxes outside of their offices.