HOUGHTON -- Voters in Houghton County wishing to vote early beginning September 24 will have to wait until their city or township clerks receive ballots that have been delayed because of some last-minute ballot changes by the State of Michigan.
Houghton County Clerk Jennifer Kelly expects the ballots for the Nov. 3 election to arrive by tomorrow, Friday, Sept. 25. As soon as they arrive, Kelly said, she will make every effort to get the ballots to city and township clerks by tomorrow.
The clerks will mail absentee ballots to voters who have applied for them. These can be mailed back to the city or township clerk, but because of some mail delays experienced recently Kelly advises voters to hand-deliver their ballot or place it in the correct drop box.*
"I'm encouraging everybody to hand-deliver their absentee ballot to their clerk or put it in the drop box," Kelly told Keweenaw Now today. "If somebody wants to vote early in person, they will have to contact their township or city clerk to make arrangements."
If for some reason voters cannot reach their own clerk, Kelly is willing to have them bring the ballot to her office on the second floor of the Houghton County Courthouse, 401 E. Houghton Ave., Houghton, MI 49931. She will then arrange to get the ballot to their clerk. While township offices are now closed because of the COVID-19 epidemic, the two city offices have been open and township clerks are working.
From League of Women Voters:
"If you would like to help distribute copies to locations around the area, especially outside of Houghton-Hancock, please contact me barryfink@chartermi.net," Fink said in an email to voters.
The League of Women Voters nonpartisan Voter Guide for the Nov. 3 General Election can be viewed on-line here. It includes candidates' replies to questions on important issues.
"We hope to have the local Voter Guide available in early October," Fink added. "Visit www.vote411.org for information as candidate responses are received.
Members of the League of Women Voters of the Copper Country presented a Zoom meeting, "All About Mail-in Voting," including an informative presentation by Barry Fink and Valorie Troesch, on Sept. 22. If you missed this live presentation, it is now available on their Web site here.
* Click here for the list of drop boxes in Houghton County. You must place your ballot in the correct box for your own city or township clerk.
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