By Jim Bloch
Voters throughout Michigan for the first time may take advantage of early voting in the upcoming presidential primary, set for Feb. 27.
The state electorate overwhelmingly approved a constitutional amendment in November 2022 that gives voters the right to in-person early voting ahead of statewide and federal elections.
The right to vote early is codified in Michigan Public Act 81.
Annette Sturdy, the clerk of the city of St. Clair, discussed the new voting accommodations at the regular meeting of the city council, held Jan. 22.
“We are gearing up for the presidential primary, which is Tuesday, Feb. 27,” said Sturdy. “Early voting notices were sent to each household that had a registered voter that detailed the new early voting option. For the Feb. 27 presidential primary, residents may participate in early voting from Saturday, Feb.17 through Sunday, Feb. 25, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. here at city hall.”
The address of city hall is 547 N. Carney Drive.
In Port Huron, early voting takes place at the municipal office center, 100 McMorran Blvd., 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Feb. 17-25.
“All qualified electors in the city of St. Clair have the right to mark a ballot and deposit the ballot in a tabulator nine consecutive days beginning the second Saturday before an election and ending he Sunday before the election,” said the notice that Sturdy mailed to voters.
Michigan joins a number of states across the country in offering early voting, including more populous states like Florida, Illinois, New York and Texas and smaller states such as Delaware and North Dakota.
“All wards vote in the same location for early voting,” said Sturdy. “But there’s no change for Election Day. Everyone still goes to their polling location for their specific ward.”
In St. Clair, voters in Wards 1 and 2 will vote on Election Day at city hall; Ward 3 voters will cast their ballots at the clubhouse of Pine Shores Golf Course.
Check with your city or township clerk to find out the early voting location in your home town and your regular polling place on Election Day.
“Absentee ballots are still an option and will remain an option, “Sturdy said. “To date, we’ve received 507 requests for absentee ballots.”
On their ballots, people who have registered as Democrats will be asked to vote for one of the following: Joseph R. Biden, Jr., Dean Phillips or Marianne Williamson. People who have registered as Republican will be asked to vote for one of the following: Ryan L. Binkley, Chris Christie, Ron DeSantis, Nikki Haley, Asa Hutchinson, Vivek Ramaswamy, or Donald J. Trump.
In St. Clair and other communities in the East China School District, voters will be asked to renew a 19 mill tax for a period of nine years, through 2033.
For further details, go to michigan.gov/vote.
Jim Bloch is a freelance writer based in St. Clair, Michigan. Contact him at bloch.jim@gmail.com.
