Early in-person voting begins Saturday

Early in-person voting for the Aug. 6 primary begins Saturday, July 27, 2024. Laketown Township voters can cast ballots in person from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the township hall, 4338 Beeline Road, from July 27 through Aug. 4.

The township hall is the site for all three precincts. For those from Precinct 2 who would normally vote at the Graafschap Fire Department, early in-person voting is at the township hall.

“The clerk’s office has been busy sending out and processing absentee ballots and preparing for the Aug. 6election. We have issued 1,144 absentee ballots. As of now, we have received 438 ballots back,” said Clerk Amber Davis on Thursday, July 25. “We have undergone training through Michigan Bureau of Elections to prepare for the 2024 election cycle and the new laws and changes that are occurring.”

This is the second time in the township early in-person voting has occurred.

Early in-person voting started with the February Presidential Primary. The office of president is not on the Aug. 6 ballot. That office will be determined in the Nov. 5 election.

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

“We had residents who took advantage of early voting in February, and we are expecting a higher turnout for this election,” said Davis. “Early voting allows residents the opportunity to come in and vote without waiting in line. The flexibility this allows is advantageous for residents who may have a difficult time getting to the polls on Election Day. We encourage you all to get out and vote, and we hope to see you at the polls!”

On the ballot

This is a primary election for candidates. There are also several millage requests.

To choose candidates for federal, state, county and local offices, a voter must choose either the “Democratic Party Section” or “Republican Party Section.” Voters cannot cross parties. The winners in the primary advance to the November election in which they may face challengers from the other party, write-ins or independents.

For more on the Laketown Township Republican offices on the ballot, click here.

There is a nonpartisan section for the “Judge of the Circuit Court 48^th Circuit New Judgeship.”

The proposal section includes two Allegan County issues: “9-1-1 Operating Surcharge Proposal” and “Millage Proposition Road Resurfacing and Reconstruction Renewal.”

Laketown Township also has a renewal on the ballot: “Fire, Road, Bicycle Path and Drain Millage Renewal Proposal.” For more information, click here.

Election Day

Regular voting is 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 6.

Residents from Precinct 2 vote at the Graafschap Fire Department station, 4534 60th St., for the normal Tuesday election date. Other residents from Precincts 1 and 3 vote at the township hall.

Absentee Ballots

Even with early in-person voting, residents may still vote absentee.

To get a ballot by mail, the township clerk must receive the written request by 5 p.m. Friday, Aug. 2.

No absentee ballots are issued after 4 p.m. the Monday before the election – Aug. 5. Absentee ballots are available in the township office until 4 p.m. on this day. All voted ballots must be received by 8 p.m. on Election Day Aug. 6 to be counted.

For more information, call the clerk’s office at (616) 335-3050.