For the first time since the passage of a new voting rights act in 2022, Michigan residents will have the opportunity to cast their vote early and in person for nine consecutive days before the presidential primary election day, starting on Saturday, Feb. 17 and continuing through Sunday, Feb. 25.
Unlike other voting methods, Leelanau County residents who want to take advantage of early in-person voting will need to report to the county government center at 8527 E. Government Center Dr. in Suttons Bay. This will be the only early voting site in the county, and it will be available for early voting from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. from Feb. 17-25.
“When those polls close at 5 p.m., if we have a lineup, everyone of course will be allowed to vote. And all the stuff will be secured until we open the next day,” Leelanau County Clerk Michelle Crocker told the Enterprise.
This will be the first time that the government center will serve as a voting site, but it will only be open for early in-person voting. On the presidential primary election date itself – Feb. 27 – people will need to report to the polling place in their precinct as they normally would on an election day, as the county government center will be closed.
According to michiganvoting. org, an amendment to Michigan’s constitution guaranteeing the right to vote early in every statewide and federal election was passed with “overwhelming” support in November 2022.
It’s unclear how popular this voting option will be in Leelanau County. Historically, many county residents cast their votes via absentee ballot. However, Clerk Crocker said they “need to prepare as though each day of early voting will be as busy as election day.”
The township clerks will work at the government center as early voting site managers, where they will get firsthand experience that will inform their decision on whether they want to offer early in-person voting at their precincts in August and November. Either way, Crocker says that the government center will serve as an early voting site for these elections as well.
According to a public notice from the Leelanau County Election Commission, if voters have any questions, they should contact their township or village clerks.
