Polls open today until 8 p.m.

Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. today Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024, to choose federal, state and local candidates.

Early in-person voting which ended Nov. 3 saw its highest turnout since the process was first used in February.

Information for today

Laketown Township voters will cast ballots in their regular precincts in today’s election:

Precinct 1 (Holland Public Schools): Laketown Township Hall, 4338 Beeline Road.

Precinct 2 (Hamilton Public Schools): Graafschap Fire Department, 4534 60^th St.

Precinct 3 (Saugatuck Public Schools): Laketown Township Hall, 4338 Beeline Road.

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

On the ballot

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

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.

Early voting recap

Early in-person voting was Oct. 26 through Nov. 3 at the township hall. In total, 1,595 people voted early, more than 10 times the number who voted early in person for the August Primary Election and 28.9 percent of all registered voters.

“Our numbers balanced each day. Early voting ballots will get tabulated, counted, and processed after the polls close on Election Day,” said Clerk Amber Davis. “Thank you to all the residents who came out to vote!”

As of Nov. 3, Laketown had 5,513 registered voters.

The first day of early in-person voting on Saturday, Oct. 26, was the most popular with 238 people.

The other days are:

Sunday, Oct. 27 – 116 people
Monday, Oct. 28 – 164 people
Tuesday, Oct. 29 – 144 people
Wednesday, Oct. 30 – 154 people
Thursday, Oct. 31 – 171 people
Friday, Nov. 1 – 220 people
Saturday, Nov. 2 – 170 people
Sunday, Nov. 3 – 218 people.

This election 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.

As of Sunday, Nov. 3, Laketown received 1,562 absentee ballots of the 1,750 absentee ballots issued.

Overall, as of Sunday, Nov. 3, about 57.3 percent of registered voters cast ballots through early in-person voting and absentee.