Clerks share tips, info to help voters prep for election

FARMINGTON HILLS/SYLVAN LAKE/WEST BLOOMFIELD — Local clerks may be among the busiest people around these days, as preparations for the general election Nov. 5 are in high gear.

According to Farmington Hills Clerk Carly Lindahl, the preparations start months in advance and involve a lot of extra hours, extra training, keeping staff abreast of new election rules and laws, and educating voters.

“A lot goes into each election, this one in particular,” Lindahl said. “There’s so many different options for voters with this election.”

Although voting via an absentee ballot and in-person were options for voters during the general election in 2020, what’s new this time around is early voting.

For nine days prior to the general election Nov. 5, residents in Oakland County have the option of voting early.

The early voting dates are Oct. 26-Nov. 3.

Oakland County residents can cast their votes 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. on those scheduled dates, with the exception of Oct. 31, when the hours change to noon-8 p.m.

All Oakland County residents can vote early at the Waterford Oaks Activity Center, located at 2800 Watkins Lake Road in Waterford.

Residents in Farmington and Farmington Hills can also vote early at the Costick Activities Center, located at 28600 W. 11 Mile Road. People in West Bloomfield, Keego Harbor, Orchard Lake and Sylvan Lake can vote early at the West Bloomfield Township Public Library, located at 4600 Walnut Lake Road.

“That’s nine days of doing the election over and over,” said Sylvan Lake Clerk/Treasurer Dennise Dryden. “It’s Election Day for nine days in a row.”

Although Dryden acknowledged that early voting is a lot of work for clerks, she understands the overall benefit it offers to voters.

“I think it does probably help people to get out and vote (and) make it a little bit more convenient for them,” she said. “Each election is so different. This one’s a big one, so this one will really give us an outlook, if people really like this early voting.”

Lindahl has gotten some positive feedback from residents about having it as an option.

“It’s not like Election Day when there’s a long line and it’s hectic to try to get there before or after work, or something like that,” she said. “They love the options. Our phones are kinda ringing off the hook right now. A lot of the questions we’re getting is, ‘When (will) early voting be available?’”

West Bloomfield Clerk Debbie Binder also weighed in on early voting.

“Early voting is a great option for voters who will be out of town on Election Day and those who work a long shift,” Binder stated via email. “The other benefit of Early Voting is that you get to spoil your ballot and request a new one if you make a mistake since you are feeding your ballot through a tabulator.”

The option to vote via an absentee ballot is another way of helping to make life a little bit easier for voters who may not want to go to the polls or who have a difficult time doing so.

According to the state’s website, online and mail requests for an absentee ballot must be received by a city or township clerk no later than 5 p.m. Nov. 1. Registered voters who are living at their current address can request an absentee ballot at their respective clerk’s office in-person up until 4 p.m. Nov. 4.

Those who request an absentee ballot the day before the election or on Election Day must vote the ballot in the clerk’s office, according to the site. Completed absentee ballots must be received by clerks by 8 p.m. Nov. 5.

“Within two weeks of election day, to avoid possible postal delays, we recommend making your request in person at your local city or township clerk office,” the state’s website states.

Polling locations will be open 7 a.m.-8 p.m. Nov. 5.

For voters who like the idea of having their ballots completed early but also going to a polling location, that is also an option, as residents can now go to their local precincts and run their absentee ballots through a machine.

A proposal that passed in 2022 has also made voting more convenient and easy for some, as residents can choose to be placed on a permanent absentee ballot list so that their local clerk can mail an absentee ballot for every local, state and federal election.

Although it is too early to know what the most popular way of voting will be this year, in particular with early voting now being offered as an option, stats from the 2020 general election for Sylvan Lake and Farmington Hills show absentee voting being the most popular.

In Farmington Hills, of the 50,107 votes that were cast, 37,083 were via absentee ballot, with a 76% turnout reported.

In Sylvan Lake, of the 1,329 votes that were cast, 790 were via an absentee ballot, with 539 residents voting in-person.

A turnout of 84.65% was reported.

According to Dryden, who said that she has been the clerk in Sylvan Lake for 34 years, things are “very, very different” from when she first started.

“Law changes happen constantly now, so just a lot more work to do, (a) lot more pressure. It’s a lot now,” she said.

Lindahl shared what she considers the most important things for residents to know this voting season.

“I would say know where you vote on Election Day,” she said. “If you’re going to the polls on Election Day, make sure that you’re registered and know where you vote, especially for those folks that maybe moved recently – make sure you’re registered in your new location and know where you go to vote on Election Day.”

Dryden also shared some tips.

“Do your research on all the candidates,” she said. “There’s a lot (of) candidates on this ballot. It’s a huge ballot. Also, know your options of how to vote.”

From Binder’s perspective, there is a way for citizens to feel more at ease with the voting process.

“The best way to understand elections is to work an election and see the protocols and procedures in place,” she stated. “Election Inspectors are our best ambassadors to recruit new election workers. It’s a rewarding day and a great resume and/or college app experience.”

Lindahl discussed what this time of year is like for her.

“It’s very exciting, especially implementing all these new election laws and all these options for voters,” she said. “It’s exhausting, but it is exciting.”

Lindahl also noted that in Farmington Hills, City Hall will be closed to the public for anything other than election-related business on Nov. 4 and 5.

To learn more, visit michigan.gov/sos/elections.