West Bloomfield Township residents can vote in the Nov. 3 general election starting Saturday, Oct. 24, at the West Bloomfield Township Public Library’s Main Branch.

Early voting runs nine consecutive days through Sunday, Nov. 1, in the library’s meeting room at 4600 Walnut Lake Road.

Hours are 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. daily except Thursday, Oct. 29, when voting runs from noon to 8 p.m., according to the township’s election page.

West Bloomfield voters may also use the Waterford Oaks Activity Center, 2800 Watkins Lake Road in Waterford, during the same dates and hours.

Township Clerk Debbie Binder encouraged residents with vacations, school or work conflicts to consider early voting, according to C&G Newspapers.

She also encouraged voters who received absentee ballots to bring them to their early voting site or assigned precinct on Election Day.

Under Michigan’s voting procedures, election workers first verify the voter’s location and ballot information. The voter can then insert the completed absentee ballot into a tabulator.

If the machine rejects a ballot because of a marking error, voters can ask election workers about canceling it and completing a replacement before their vote is accepted.

The township recorded nearly 23,000 ballots in the Aug. 4 primary, with turnout of about 40%, Binder told trustees Aug. 17, as C&G reported in September.

How to get an absentee ballot

Registered voters can request an absentee ballot or join the permanent absentee ballot list through the Clerk’s Office at (248) 451-4848 or the township’s website. Voters on the permanent list automatically receive ballots for future elections.

Completed absentee ballots generally must reach the clerk by 8 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 3. Different deadlines apply to qualifying military and overseas ballots. Voters returning ballots in envelopes should sign and seal the return envelope.

What to bring

Voters should bring an accepted photo ID if they have one. Those without photo ID, including voters who forgot it, can still vote after signing an affidavit stating they are not in possession of picture identification, according to the Michigan Secretary of State.

Election Day polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Nov. 3. Residents can confirm their assigned polling place and preview their ballot at Michigan.gov/Vote.