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Early voting for primary election begins Feb. 17
Ballots will be cast at the Oceana County Courthouse
By Allison Scarbrough, News Editor
HART — Michigan voters approved a constitutional amendment during the November 2022 election that gives voters the right to vote early and in person at early voting sites before statewide and federal elections.
This new state voting option begins with the presidential primary election Tuesday, Feb. 27.
Early voting in Oceana County will take place in one centralized location at the Oceana County Courthouse — as set forth in a resolution by the Oceana County Election Commission. Voters can still vote at their local precincts on Election Day if they opt to not vote early.
Early voting begins Saturday, Feb. 17, and continues through Sunday, Feb. 25. Hours are 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Voting will take place in the circuit court jury room, said Oceana County Clerk Amy Anderson.
“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,” states the Michigan Secretary of State website. “Voters from more than one precinct, city, or township may be assigned to a single, shared early voting site. At least one early voting site must be available to all voters in every city and township.
“Local clerks select the number and location of early voting sites that work best for their community by examining the area’s population density, site accessibility, and expected voter turnout. Local clerks may also partner with other cities and townships, or their county, to run an early voting site together. The early voting period takes place for a minimum of nine consecutive days, ending on the Sunday before an election. Communities may decide to provide additional days of early voting, up to 29 days total. Early voting sites must be open for at least eight hours each day during the early voting period. Early voting is offered for all statewide and federal elections. Communities may also choose to provide early voting for local elections,” according to the SOS.
“At early voting sites, voters insert their completed ballot into a tabulator, just like in an Election Day polling place. Ballots inserted into the tabulator are sealed in secure containers every night during the early voting period. 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. Results are posted on local election websites.”
Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson released the 2024 presidential primary candidate list Nov. 13, 2023, which includes the following:
Democratic Party
- Joe Biden
- Dean Phillips
- Marianne Williamson
Republican Party
- Doug Burgum
- Chris Christie
- Ron DeSantis
- Nikki Haley
- Asa Hutchinson
- Vivek Ramaswamy
- Donald Trump
Also on Oceana County’s ballot will be three proposals in Crystal Township for fire equipment, fire operation and roads, said Anderson.
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