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ROCHESTER/ROCHESTER HILLS — Michigan voters now have the right to cast a ballot early, and in person, at an early voting site before Election Day, and many in the Rochester area can do so for the first time during the Nov. 7 election.
Approved by Michigan voters, Proposition 2022-2 amended the state constitution to allow for at least nine days of early voting before federal and state elections. State officials said early voting will be available statewide beginning with the presidential primary in 2024 and every statewide and federal election thereafter.
However, the Oakland County clerk — in partnership with multiple Oakland County municipalities — is piloting early voting for the Nov. 7 local elections.
During the early voting period, voters are issued a ballot and can then insert their ballot directly into a tabulator at their early voting site.
Rochester Hills has contracted with Oakland County to administer their early voting, which will be held at the Rochester Hills Public Library, 500 Olde Towne Road. Early voting in Rochester Hills will be conducted 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. from Saturday, Oct. 28 to Sunday, Nov. 5 — with the exception of Thursday, Nov. 2, which will run noon-8 p.m.
“Early voters will be issued a ballot, they will vote their ballot and put it through the tabulator. The tabulator will not be closed out at the end of the night, so no votes will be tallied. … Then, Tuesday evening, election evening, after the polls close at 8 p.m., we will then run the final totals for early voting,” said Rochester Hills City Clerk Leanne Scott.
Scott said she is excited to see how many people opt to vote early this year.
“It’s going to be super exciting,” she said. “I’m just super grateful we can do this and run this pilot, so that we are prepared for next year’s presidential election.”
Oakland Township — which has also partnered with Oakland County and Rochester Hills to host early voting at the library for future elections — does not have an election in 2023.
The city of Rochester has chosen to administer early voting itself, at the Rochester Municipal Building, 400 Sixth St. Early voting in Rochester will run 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 28-Sunday, Nov. 5 — with the exception of Thursday, Nov. 2, which will run noon-8 p.m.
“I am excited to see how the voters utilize this new opportunity for voting, and I am hopeful that it increases voter turnout,” Rochester City Clerk Lee Ann O’Connor said.
All registered voters also have the option of voting by absentee ballot or in-precinct from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. at their normal polling location on Election Day.
With the extra early voting days added to the schedule, both Rochester and Rochester Hills are still looking for volunteers to help with elections.
“We are always looking for more volunteers,” Scott said.
To volunteer as an election worker or for more information about Rochester Hills’ elections, email elections@rochesterhills.org or call the Rochester Hills City Clerk’s Office at (248) 656-4630.
To volunteer as an election worker or for more information about Rochester elections, visit www.rochestermi.org/elections or call the Rochester City Clerk’s Department at (248) 733-3700.
