Early Voting: Michigan voters have the right to cast a ballot early and in person before Election Day

In November of 2022 Michigan voters, through Proposal 2, overwhelmingly approved a constitutional amendment that gives voters the right to vote early and in person at Early Voting sites before statewide and federal elections. The first time this takes place is with the February 2024 presidential primary.

With the passing of Proposal 2 Michigan voters are guaranteed at least nine days of early voting for all state and federal elections. A benefit to this is voters can choose a day and a time that works with their schedule. Also, communities may decide to provide additional days of early voting, up to 29 days in total.

What is early Voting?

Early voting allows a voter to cast a ballot before Election Day, in an experience similar to voting on Election Day.

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. After polls close at 8 p.m. on Election Day, all ballots submitted at an early voting site are totaled and reported, along with the vote totals from absentee and Election Day ballots.

Early voting is offered for all statewide and federal elections. Communities or municipalities may also choose to provide early voting for local elections.

Early voting versus absentee voting

Both early in person voting and absentee voting allow voters to cast a ballot before Election Day. As explained earlier, early voting allows voters to cast their ballot very similar to how they would at a polling place on Election Day.

On the other hand, absentee voting allows voters to request a ballot by mail or in person at their local clerk’s office. People who receive these ballots can complete their absentee ballot at home or right there in the local clerk’s office, and submit it in an envelope by mail, in person, or in a voter drop box.

Beginning in the February 27 Presidential Primary election, voters can bring their absentee ballots to an early voting site to insert into a tabulator. The election inspector must verify that voters with absentee ballots are in the correct location and that they have the correct ballot number. Once the election inspector has confirmed this information, the voter can insert a completed absentee ballot into the tabulator, just like at a polling place on Election Day.

Another key difference is that absentee voters also have more flexibility to “spoil” their ballot, or change their vote after it has been submitted.

Voters who no longer wish to use their absentee ballot and who would prefer to vote early in person should bring their absentee ballot to surrender at their early voting site. After surrendering their absentee ballot, a new ballot is issued to complete and submit on-site.

Who can vote early?

Any registered voter in Michigan has the right to vote early in person at an early voting site for statewide and federal elections in which they are eligible.

Voters in Michigan can register to vote up to and on Election Day, including during the early voting period.

Early voting sites

Voters can visit an early voting site in their area to cast a ballot in person during the early voting period. The early voting period must begin the second Saturday before Election Day and end the Sunday before an election.

Additionally, early voting sites must be open for at least eight hours each day during the early voting period.

Early voting site locations, dates, and hours must be made available 60 days before Election Day and that information can be found at Michigan.gov/Vote.

Berrien County select Tri-City area municipalities

Berrien County has entered into a county-wide early voting agreement for 2024 with the following Tri-City area municipalities; cities of both Coloma and Watervliet and the townships of Coloma Charter, Hagar, and Watervliet Charter. The early voting location for registered voters of these areas is Lake Michigan College Todd Center located at 2785 E. Napier Avenue in Benton Harbor.

The hours of operation will be: Saturday, Feb. 17, 2024 - Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2024, 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.; Wednesday, Feb. 21, 2024, 11:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.; Thursday, Feb. 22, 2024 - Sunday, Feb. 25, 2024, 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

All early voting at this location ends on Sunday, February 25, 2024.

Handling their municipality sites will be Bainbridge Township and Benton Charter Township.

Bainbridge Township

Those wishing to vote early in Bainbridge Township will need to report to the Bainbridge Township Hall located at 7315 Territorial Road in Watervliet.

The hours of operation will be: Saturdays, Feb. 17 & 24, 2024 and Sundays, Feb. 18 & 25, 2024 from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.; Monday, Feb. 19, 2024, Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2024, and Thursday, Feb. 22, 2024 from 7:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.; Wednesday, Feb. 21, 2024, and Friday, Feb. 23, 2024 from 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.

All early voting for Bainbridge Township registered voters ends on Sunday, Feb. 25, 2024.

Benton Charter Township

Registered voters of Benton Charter Township can vote early in person at 1725 Territorial Road, Bldg B in Benton Harbor.

The hours of operation will be: Monday, Feb. 19, 2024 through Friday, Feb. 23, 2024, 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.; Saturday, Feb. 24, 2024, 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

All presidential primary early voting for this location ends on Saturday, Feb. 24, 2024.

Van Buren County

The municipal clerks throughout Van Buren County unanimously agreed to have early voting be handled by one entity, the county clerk’s office.

Registered voters of the city of Hartford or Hartford Township can report to the early voting site location at the Human Services West building, located at 57418 CR 681 in Hartford.

The hours of operation will be: Saturday, Feb. 17, 2024 - Sunday, Feb. 25, 2024, 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. with extended hours on Wednesday, Feb. 21, 2024 from 12:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.

All early voting in Van Buren County ends on Sunday, Feb. 25, 2024.

Important information for all locations

During each day of the early voting period, eligible voters waiting in line when an early voting site closes have the right to stay in line and cast a ballot even if the site location is past its closing time.

The next time early voting is available will be for the 2024 August primary election, the November 2024 general election, and every statewide and federal election thereafter.