VIENNA TOWNSHIP, Mich. (WJRT) - Voting is officially underway for Michigan's August 6th Primary.
Clerks across Mid-Michigan began mailing out absentee ballots last week. Vienna Township Clerk Cynthia Bryan estimates 40 percent of voters will mail-in their ballot for the upcoming election.
"The biggest spoiling that we'll see will be in the August election," said Bryan.
That's because August Primary ballots have a Republican side and a Democrat side, to help narrow the decision for November. Whichever side you pick, needs to stay consistent.
"If you start in you partisan section voting Republican, you have to stay all Republican. If you start out in Democratic, you have to stay all Democratic. You can't cross over because none of those votes will count," said Bryan.
That applies regardless of if you vote in-person or absentee, but absentee ballots have their own special rules, such as making sure you return and sign the correct envelope.
"We had one this morning," said Bryan. "A husband and wife came in. The wife signed her husband's envelope plus she signed hers because she realized the mistake. So, again, all we did is put a new label. Gave her a new envelope. He signed it and it was good."
If you haven't applied to vote absentee, there's still time. You can apply in-person at your local clerk's office and receive your ballot that same day. Then drop it off in a secure drop-box outside, which is monitored by a camera 24/7.
"The state-issued drop boxes, they are really really secure," said Bryan. "It takes two keys to open up the door. They're pretty heavy duty, so I would not be concerned at all."
If you still have questions, the Genesee County Clerk is hosting town hall events about the voting process all summer long. That includes one with Bryan in Vienna Township on July 17.
You can find more information about what's on your ballot here: https://mvic.sos.state.mi.us/PublicBallot/Index
