Early in-person voting starts on Saturday

Polls will open for early voting on Saturday, Oct. 26, to Sunday, Nov. 3, at Laketown Township Hall, 4338 Beeline Road.

Even if you normally vote at the Graafschap Fire Station (Precinct 2), you will early vote at the township hall.

Early voting is 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily.

For samples of ballots and more information, visit laketowntwp.org/elections or call the clerk’s office at (616) 335-3050.

The polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 5.

This is the third time residents in Laketown Township have been able to vote early. The first time was Feb. 17-25, 2024, for the Presidential Primary. The second time was July 27-Aug. 4, 2024, for General Primary.

In Laketown Township, 173 voters took advantage of early voting in February.

In July-August, 121 voters cast early ballots.

Statewide voters passed Proposal 2 in 2022 to create early in-person voting.

Absentee ballots

The deadline to submit an application to request an absentee ballot be mailed to you is Friday, Nov. 1, at 5 p.m. All ballots must be signed by the voter and returned no later than Tuesday, Nov. 5, at 8 p.m. to be tabulated. The cost of return postage has been paid and there is no charge to the voter.

As of Friday, Oct. 18, there were 1,709 absentee ballots mailed out and 917 returned.

In the 2020 Presidential Election, 2,565 people voted by absentee ballots.

Overall turnout

Laketown Township traditionally exceeds the county average in voter turnout and ranks at the top among local municipalities.

In the 2020 Presidential Election, Laketown’s turnout was 82.8 percent of registered voters. Allegan County overall had a turnout rate of 76.24 percent.

Nov. 5 election

Voters in Laketown Township have candidates and issues to choose from on the ballot in the Nov. 5 election.

At the federal level, voters will choose a U.S. President, U.S. Senator and U.S. Representative at the federal level.

At the state level, voters will choose a representative and members of the State Board of Education, University of Michigan Regents, Michigan State University Trustees and Wayne State University Governors.

Judge choices are Judge of the Supreme Court, Judge of Court of Appeals 3^rd District, Judge of Circuit Court 48^th Circuit, Judge of Circuit Court 48^th Circuit (partial term), Judge of District Court 57^th District, Judge of Probate Court Allegan County.

Countywide elected positions on the ballot are prosecuting attorney, sheriff, clerk-register of deeds, treasurer, drain commissioner, surveyor and board of commission member.

At the township level, Laketown voters will choose from these candidates on the ballot:

• Supervisor (Choose 1): Steven Ringelberg (Republican)
• Clerk (Choose 1): Jim Delaney (Republican)
• Treasurer (Choose 1): Jim Johnson (Republican); Stacey Lefevre (Independent)
• Trustee (Choose 2): Mark S. Timmerman (Republican), Michael Koeman (Republican)
• Parks Commissioner (Choose 5): Thomas Evan Hoekman (Republican), Brad Laninga (Republican), Mary Jo Bertolino (Republican), Sherry Sirko (Republican), Michael Teekamp (Republican)

For voters in Precinct 1 — Holland Public Schools (Choose 2): Liz Colburn, Diane V. Ybarra

For voters in Precinct 2 — Hamilton Public Schools (Choose 3): Loren Joostberns, Candice Dykstra, Janell Simmons

For voters in Precinct 3 — Saugatuck Public Schools: (Choose 4 plus one partial position expiring on Dec. 31, 2026): All will be write-in candidates.