Voters utilizing early voting services at Clinton Township Hall

Pictured, from left, working the early voting polls at the Clinton Township Hall are Deb Devoir, election inspector, and Sherry Service, election chair, who is working all nine days of early voting.

By BRAD HEINEMAN

Clinton Local

Some activity has been reported at the Clinton Township Hall when it comes to voters utilizing the nine days of early voting for the Aug. 4 primary election.

And while the number of voters isn’t staggering by any means, the availability and option of not having to wait in line on Election Day is more so about convenience and flexibility for voters.

As of Monday afternoon, a total of 22 Clinton voters have utilized early voting, Clinton Township Clerk Kim Scott reported in a text message to The Local. By tuesday, that number grew to 45 total voters who took advantage of early voting.

“We are hoping it increases a lot more,” Scott commented Monday. “We’ve been going around town posting bright color flyers.”

Michigan voters statewide and locally have the opportunity to cast their ballot for the August primary election in person at their early voting site. The statewide early voting period began Saturday, July 25 and continues through Sunday, Aug. 2. Election Day is Tuesday, Aug. 4.

“Michiganders don’t have to wait for Election Day to vote in the primary,” Michigan’s Deputy Secretary of State Aghogho Edevbie said in a news release. “…Early voting is one of the convenient options available statewide, giving people the flexibility to vote on a day and time that works best for their schedule. Michigan’s accessible options have helped us break turnout records in the last three consecutive elections and we hope to keep building on that progress in 2026.”

Those bright color flyers as mentioned by Scott include the text of “Clinton Township early voting happening now through Sunday, Aug. 2. Location: Clinton Township Hall, 172 W. Michigan Ave. Voting hours: Daily — 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. except Thursday, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.”

The township hall will be the same location for Clinton voters to go and vote in person on Election Day. Hours for Election Day voting are 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

In addition to the option of early voting, absentee ballots also have been mailed out to those Clinton voters who have requested them. Scott noted earlier this month that 661 absentee ballots have been mailed out to those voters requesting such ballots.

If anybody has a question about their absentee ballot, they can contact Scott at the township hall to verify its status. The township hall’s number is 517-456-6701. Emails can also be sent to clerk@twpofclinton.com.

As a primary election, voters can only vote for one party section — either Democratic or Republican. During the general election in November is when crossing party lines is allowed during voting.

Early in-person voting allows voters to directly insert their completed ballot into the tabulator, similar to the process of voting in person on Election Day, the Michigan Secretary of State office said in a news release. Some communities are offering in-person early voting for an additional day on Monday, Aug. 3. Clinton Township is not one of them.

Eligible Michigan citizens can still register to vote in person at their city or township clerk’s office up to 8 p.m. on Election Day, with proof of residency. Voters can register and cast a ballot on the same day, the Secretary of State office said. To learn more, visit mi.gov/vote, which will take people to the Michigan Voter Information Center.

The Michigan Voting Dashboard, which can be accessed online by visiting mi.gov/votingdashboard, provides daily updates on the number of votes cast at early voting sites and with mail ballots leading up to Election Day. As of Tuesday, the voting dashboard reported 11.3% of Michigan’s active registered voter population had cast a ballot in the primary election. Of those registered voters, 801,695 voted absentee and 30,740 had participated in the early voting period.

For Lenawee County, 164 total ballots have been cast during early voting, as of Tuesday’s dashboard information. Absentee ballots returned in the county are at 6,881 with 17,210 absentee ballots requested, and 17,090 ballots having been mailed out.

Washtenaw County’s voting numbers are a bit larger than Lenawee’s. For in-person ballots cast during the early voting period, Washtenaw County has recorded 2,188. Absentee ballots requested in Washtenaw County are at 90,928 with 89,464 ballots being sent, and 34,396 ballots having been recorded by clerks in the Qualified Voter File (QVF) as “returned.”