Palevich: County voters can use township site for early ballots
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ALPENA - Voters across Alpena County will have two main ways to cast a ballot before Election Day on Nov. 3: in-person early voting at a single county site and no-excuse absentee voting by mail or drop-off, Alpena Township Clerk Michele Palevich said.
In-person early voting begins Saturday, Oct. 24, and continues through Sunday, Nov. 1, at the township building located on U.S. – 23 North. Palevich said the location has not changed, but who can use it has.
"Early voting is still at the Township Civic Building but early voting for all of Alpena County is here," she said in an email on Tuesday.
That means a registered voter from any city or township in the county can go to the Civic Building during the early-voting period, check in, mark a ballot and feed it into a tabulator, just as on Election Day. Results are not released until after polls close at 8 p.m. Nov. 3.
Michigan's constitution requires early voting for statewide and federal elections for at least nine consecutive days, starting the second Saturday before the election and ending the Sunday before Election Day, with sites open at least eight hours each day.
Mail voting remains the other major option. Any registered voter can request an absentee ballot without giving a reason. Palevich said demand on the township's permanent absentee list continues to grow.
"As of today, there are 1,875 voters on our permanent ballot list," she said.
Voters already on that list should receive a ballot automatically. Others can apply online through the Michigan Voter Information Center, by mail, by email, or in person at the clerk's office. Palevich set a firm cutoff for mailing ballots.
"The last day to mail AV ballots to voters is Friday, Oct. 30, 2026," she said.
After that date, a voter who still needs an absentee ballot must come in person.
"We cannot issue absentee ballots after 4:00 pm on Monday, Nov. 2, 2026," Palevich said.
A completed absentee ballot must be in the clerk's hands by 8 p.m. on Election Day to count. Voters can return ballots by U.S. mail, deliver them to the clerk's office, or use a drop box. Officials have long advised that ballots mailed at the last minute may not arrive in time.
Identification rules are the same whether a person votes early in person, on Election Day, or picks up an absentee ballot in the office.
"If you are registered to vote in Michigan, you are required to show a photo ID to vote; or, you may instead sign an affidavit or similar document," Palevich said.
She listed accepted forms as a valid Michigan driver's license, Michigan personal ID, valid U.S. passport, out-of-state personal ID, valid military ID, valid federally issued ID, valid student ID, out-of-state driver's license or non-driver ID, valid ID issued by another state, and valid tribal ID.
People who have moved or never registered can still vote. Same-day registration is allowed through 8 p.m. Nov. 3 if the person can show proof of residency. Palevich cautioned that the early-voting site and the clerk's counter are not the same thing every hour of every day.
"Clerks may not be available for registration all hours of early voting, so it would be best to contact your clerk to know what hours they are open," she said. "Every clerk is required to be open at least eight hours the weekend before the election."
Election Day precincts will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Voters who start an absentee ballot and later decide to vote in person should talk to their clerk so the unused mail ballot can be spoiled and a new one issued. Once a ballot is inserted into a tabulator at early voting or on Election Day, it cannot be changed.
Statewide, voters can confirm they are registered, see a sample ballot, track an absentee ballot, and look up early-voting sites at the Michigan Voter Information Center, mvic.sos.state.mi.us, or Michigan.gov/Vote.
Josh Jambor can be reached at jjambor@thealpenanews.com.