Absentee ballots arriving at Manchester Township homes

Manchester Township Hall

submitted by Heather Barthell

The ballots are on the way.

Danell Proctor, Manchester Township Clerk, began mailing them to area residents the week of September 28. She expected requests to run high for November’s general election and has already seen a spike for absentee ballot requests.

“It’s going to be very busy,” Proctor said.

As of October 2, she had sent 694 ballots for Precinct 1 and 894 ballots for Precinct 2. Registered voters can request absentee ballots to be mailed until Friday, October 30. By comparison, for the primary election in August, she mailed 550 ballots with 464 returned for Precinct 1 and sent 706 ballots with 579 returned.

To track your absentee ballot status, go to michigan.gov/vote and click on the link “Am I registered?” Search by address to see your personal voter information with dates listed for: the current election, when the absentee ballot application was received, when the ballot was mailed, and when the completed ballot was received.

Proctor’s advice to voters is to do their part now to ensure a smooth process for everyone on Election Day. Request an absentee ballot early and return it as soon as possible by mail, in person during regular business hours, or through the after-hours drop-off mail slot.

The envelope must be signed, and the ballot returned by 8 p.m. on Election Day to be counted. These are the most common errors people make, according to Proctor. If possible, she will notify the voter to rectify signature issues before the Election Day deadline, so update your voter record with current information.

What about voters who want to come to the polls in person and are concerned about potential COVID exposure?

“We are following all the state guidelines with social distancing. People can still vote without a mask,” said Proctor. Sanitizer and disposable masks will be provided at the check-in table. Voting booths and high-touch surfaces will be cleaned throughout Election Day.

Her advice to area voters, regardless of method: “Vote!”

Deadlines to keep in mind:
October 30 – Deadline for the Clerk to mail an absentee ballot to the voter. Voters who live out of state should request their ballot as soon as possible.
November 2, 4 p.m. – Deadline to request an absentee ballot in person at the Township Office. Upon receipt, the voter must complete the absentee ballot in the office.
November 3, 8 p.m. – Deadline to receive your absentee ballot by mail, in person, or drop-off.

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by Marsha Chartrand

Marsha Johnson Chartrand, a founder, writer, and copy editor with the Manchester Mirror, is a 50-year resident of Manchester. She has a long history of volunteer and community involvement.