Tag Archives: Voting

Tips on voting in the mid-term election

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By Joanne Bailey-Boorsma
WKTV Managing Editor
joanne@wktv.org

Voters will head to the polls on Tuesday, Nov. 8. (Pxhere.com)

In only a few days, the mid-term elections will be taking place which means many residents will be heading to the polls.

For those heading to the polls to vote in-person, Kentwood City Clerk Dan Kasunic reminds them that the state went though a redistricting. Some residents’ precincts or voting locations might have changed for that reason. Residents should have received a new voter information card from their municipality earlier this year. 

Voters should review their voter card to make sure they are heading to the right voting location, Kasunic said.

Voters can also find their voting location and a sample ballot at Michigan Voter Information Center.

Voting in Person

Voters do not need their voter card to vote. The resident must be registered to vote. If a voter has a photo ID, such as a state ID or driver’s license, he/she should bring it with him/her. Those who do not have such an ID  will sign the affidavit on the back of the application to vote.

 

The election worker will verify your information matches the details in the e-pollbook. Once verified, the voter will be issues a ballot.

 

On the City of Wyoming’s website, it does state that residents should leave any political material at home. This would include political hats, shirts, masks, or brochures. These items are considered campaigning and it is illegal within 100 feet of the precinct location.

Poll locations will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on day of the election, Tuesday, Nov. 8.

Absentee Voting

It is past the time to get an absentee ballot in the mail. Residents may come to a city clerk’s office to get an absentee ballot. Registered voters have up until 4 p.m. Monday, Nov. 7, to request an absentee ballot.

All absentee ballots must be returned to the person’s municipality by 8 p.m . Tuesday, Nov. 8.

Kasunic noted that those planning to mail their absentee ballot should have done so by Oct. 31. At this time, voters should hand-deliver their absentee ballot to the clerk’s office at the Kentwood City Hall, 4900 Breton Ave. SE, during regular business hours or use the 24-hour drop boxes located at city hall and the Kentwood Activities Center, 355 44th St. SE.

Wyoming residents can also hand-deliver an absentee ballot to the clerk’s office at Wyoming City Hall 155 28th St. SW., or use Wyoming’s 24-hour drop off box also located at city hall.

Residents can check on the status of their absentee ballot by visiting Michigan Voter Information Center.

Register to Vote

Due to the 2018 changes in voting, residents are able to register to vote up to and on the day of election. In order to vote in a Michigan election, you must:

Be a U.S. citizen

18-years-old when you vote

Be a resident of Michigan when you register

Be a resident of the city or township for at least 30 days when you vote

Not currently be serving a sentence in jail or prison. 

Residents registering to vote must bring proof of residency

Those registering on the day of the election may either get an absentee ballot and vote at the clerk’s office or drive to their designated polling location to vote.

 

Only those residents registering to vote or changing their address may request and receive an absentee ballot on the day of election.

Both clerk offices will be open Saturday

Both the Wyoming and Kentwood clerk offices will be open this Saturday to help with voting and absentee ballots.

 

The Kentwood city clerk’s office will be open from 7 a.m. to 3 pm. Saturday. Otherwise the Kentwood clerk’s office is open 7:30 a.m – 4:30 p.m. Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays; 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesdays; and 7:30 a.m. to noon Fridays.

 

The Wyoming city clerk’s office also will be open from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday. The regular hours for the Wyoming clerk’s office is 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday – Thursday and closed on Friday.

Both clerk offices will be open until 8 p.m. on election day, Tuesday, Nov. 8.

Voters should return absentee ballots in person, via drop box

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By WKTV Staff

With less than two weeks remaining until the statewide primary election on Tuesday, Aug. 2, Michigan voters who have not returned their absentee ballot are encouraged to hand deliver it to a local drop box or their clerk’s office to avoid postal delays.

The City of Wyoming drop box (and usually drive-up) for absentee ballots. (WKTV)

“Drop boxes continue to be among the safe options that voters have to return their ballot securely this year, in addition to hand-delivering their ballot to their clerk’s office, voting early at their clerk’s office, or voting at their polling place on Election Day,” said Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson.

Eligible residents who have not yet registered to vote can do so in person at their city or township clerk’s office now through 8 p.m. on Election Day. They also can request and submit an absentee ballot at the clerk’s office in the same trip. Citizens who still need to register must do so in person at their clerk’s office if they wish to vote in the August primary, as online and mail registration is not permitted within 14 days of an election.

Voters can check the status of their absentee application or ballot online at Michigan.gov/Vote or by contacting their local election clerk. Voters who already received an absentee ballot should complete it, sign the envelope and mail it or drop it off at their clerk’s office or drop box as soon as possible.

Citizens also can vote in person at their polling place on Election Day, Aug. 2. Polls will be open 7 a.m. until 8 p.m. on Election Day.

City of Wyoming

City of Wyoming Clerk Kelli VandenBerg said the city has about 5,700 registered voters and her office is working to do the best to serve all of them for the election.

For absentee ballots, her office has seen an increase since the change was made in 2018. For elections, the city is seeing about 62 percent absentee ballots with about 38 percent voting in-person.

VandenBerg said the city has mailed out about 6,000 ballots with 2,400 having been returned.

 

“While right now mail is feeling OK, but as we get closer to election day, I will be getting more and more inclined to encourage voters to come visit us,” VandenBerg said. The city has a dropbox located at City Hall, 1155 28th St. SW, or bring the ballot to the clerk’s office in city hall.

 

The clerk’s office also will be hosting a public voting test at 9 a.m. July 26 in the council chambers at city hall. Area residents can see how ballots are tabulated and the process for counting ballots. 


City of Kentwood

If returning absentee ballots by mail, Kentwood City Clerk Dan Kasunic recommends putting it in the mail by Monday, July 25 to ensure a timely delivery for the August election.

Residents also can hand-deliver absentee ballots to the Clerk’s Office at Kentwood City Hall, 4900 Breton Ave. SE, during regular business hours or use one of the 24-hour drop boxes located outside City Hall, 4900 Breton Ave. SE, and the Kentwood Activities Center, 355 48th St. SE.

The City Clerk’s Office, located in City Hall, will be open for voter registration and absentee ballot requests from 7 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday, July 30.

More information about the Aug. 2 election, absentee ballots and voter registration is available at kentwood.us/elections.

Michigan law regarding primary ballots requires voters to cast votes for only one party’s candidates. Votes for candidates in multiple parties on the same ballot will not be counted.

Absentee ballot request data shows more than 1.1 million Michigan citizens have now requested their ballots, and the vast majority have already received them. A side-by-side comparison of current absentee ballot request numbers, compared to the same time ahead of the 2018 statewide primary, is below. A breakdown of the numbers by jurisdiction is available online.

 14 Days Before Election Day(July 18, 2022)14 Days Before Election Day(July 23, 2018)
Number of Applications Received1,167,369588,909
Number of Ballots Issued1,163,659589,042*
Number of Ballots Returned398,756260,017




The Michigan Voter Information Center at Michigan.gov/Vote provides important information for voters ahead of Election Day, including a sample ballot and information about how to use voting equipment, and how to contact your local clerk.

*The number of ballots issued is greater than the number of applications received as it represents all ballots issued, including replacement ballots for those who requested to spoil their first.

Every Vote Counts: Cast Your Ballot on November 3rd

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VoteAttention to all eligible voters, don’t forget to cast your ballots in local elections Tuesday, Nov. 3!

“Voting for schools and libraries, cities and townships, means your voice is being heard right in your community,” Secretary of State Ruth Johnson said. “If your municipality is holding an election, please take a few minutes to cast your ballot.”

The polls will be open on Election Day from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. 74 counties in Michigan are holding elections.

To find out if there is an election in your respective Wyoming or Kentwood precinct, and to view your sample ballot, visit the Michigan Voter Information Center. The website is a great online resource for voters. There you can find your polling location or track your absentee ballots to confirm it has been received by the local clerk.

There is still time for voters to obtain an absentee ballot. As a registered voter, you may obtain an absentee ballot if you are:

-Age 60 or older.
-Physically unable to attend the polls without the assistance of another.
-Expecting to be out-of-town for the entire time the polls are open on Election Day.
-In jail awaiting arraignment or trial.
-Unable to attend the polls due to religious reasons.
-Appointed to work as an election inspector in a precinct outside of your precinct of residence.

Every Vote CountsThose who wish to receive their absentee ballot by mail must submit their application by 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 31. Absentee ballots can be obtained in person anytime through 4 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 2. Voters who request an absentee ballot in person on Monday must fill out the ballot in the clerk’s office. Emergency absentee ballots are available under certain conditions through 4 p.m. on Election Day.

Residents who registered to vote by mail or via a voter registration drive and have never voted in Michigan are not eligible to vote by absentee ballot in their first election. They must vote in person at their precinct. This restriction does not apply to voters who are overseas, disabled or 60 or older.

Voters must fulfill identification requirements under Michigan law. They will be asked to present valid photo ID at the polls, such as a Michigan driver’s license or identification card. Anyone who does not have an acceptable form of photo ID ,or failed to bring it with them, may still vote. They will sign a brief affidavit stating that they’re not in possession of a photo ID. Their ballots will be included with all others and counted on Election Day.

Voters obtaining absentee ballots in person must meet the same photo identification requirement as voters who cast ballots in the polling place.

Under Michigan law, voters will also be presented with an application at the polls. By signing the application, the voter certifies that he or she is a U.S. citizen.

A specially equipped voting station called the AutoMARK Voter Assist Terminal is also available at each polling location for use by voters with disabilities.

Don’t Forget About Voter Registration!

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Register_to_VoteEvery vote counts!

It’s a phrase that’s said with power by every politician leading up to an election. Your vote counts, so make sure you hit the ballots and let your voice be heard!

However, what’s often not voiced as loudly is the need to REGISTER in order to vote. Here’s your friendly reminder to register!

Secretary of State Ruth Johnson is commemorating today, Tuesday, September 22, as National Voter Registration Day by calling eligible voters in Michigan to get registered or update their information.

“Registering to vote is fast and easy, and it’s the best way to celebrate our democracy,” Johnson said. “National Voter Registration Day reminds eligible voters to get registered – or change their address – now so they can not only vote in the local elections on November 3, but also in the presidential election in 2016.”

In order to vote in the November local elections, voters must be registered by October 5.

The Secretary of State Mobile Office will be making several stops at colleges and universities throughout the State to encourage voter registration from students. Northwestern Community College in Traverse City is the first stop on the tour.

Here are some other ways to participate in National Voter Registration Month:

• Get registered to vote. You can do so in five easy steps.
• Update your information. This is essential if you’ve recently moved, changed your name, or had voting rights restored. You can make the changes when you update the address on your driver’s license or ID card – either online or at an SOS branch. You can also fill out a Michigan voter registration/change of address form and mail it in.
• Sign up for election reminders. You can subscribe to the Secretary of State newsletter.
• Use social media to spread the word. On Twitter and Facebook, send friends here, which has helpful information about how to register and where and when to vote. On Sept. 22, use the hashtag #CelebraeNVRD.

Are you wondering if you’re already registered? You can find out on the SOS site.