Washtenaw County election workers are preparing for heavy midterm turnout after some polling locations ran out of supplies in 2024, County Clerk Lawrence Kestenbaum told WEMU.

Two Ann Arbor early voting sites on the University of Michigan campus opened Wednesday, Oct. 21. The city’s four other locations opened Saturday, Oct. 24, alongside the statewide launch. All six sites remain open through Sunday, Nov. 1. Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 3, with polls open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Kestenbaum, who oversees early voting in 23 of the county’s 27 jurisdictions, said record-high campaign spending has made the midterms hard to ignore. He said that awareness is helping boost turnout.

More than 1 million of the 2.1 million absentee ballots requested statewide had been returned to municipal clerks as of the morning of Oct. 24, according to a state voting dashboard cited by the Detroit News. Michigan had 7.4 million active registered voters, according to that report.

Kestenbaum encouraged voters with absentee ballots to use early voting sites, saying doing so would help speed election-night counting. Ann Arbor voters can bring their absentee ballot to any of the city’s six early voting sites and put it through the tabulator themselves, according to the city clerk’s office.

The U.S. Postal Service recommends mailing ballots at least seven days before the election, according to the city of Ann Arbor’s election guide.

Most absentee ballots must reach the voter’s local clerk by 8 p.m. Nov. 3. Qualifying military and overseas ballots may arrive within six days after the election if postmarked by Election Day, according to state guidance.

Emergency drills and election security

Kestenbaum and his staff conduct exercises to prepare for emergencies that could affect the election. The drills cover scenarios including power outages and tornadoes, he told WEMU.

In a county press release dated Oct. 21, Kestenbaum said the office’s preparation “includes working through potential emergencies, practicing our response, and ensuring the right protocols and lines of communication are in place.”

The county clerk’s office said staff participate in security workshops, tabletop exercises and business continuity meetings before each election. Poll workers receive de-escalation training.

Kestenbaum emphasized that the county uses physical paper ballots, leaving a paper trail that can be checked for accuracy.

Where to vote early in Ann Arbor

Registered City of Ann Arbor voters may use any of these six early voting sites through Nov. 1:

  • Larcom City Hall — 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
  • Malletts Creek Library Branch — 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
  • Traverwood Library Branch — 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
  • Westgate Library Branch — 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
  • University of Michigan Duderstadt Center — 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
  • University of Michigan Museum of Art (UMMA) — 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.

The ballot drop box previously at Veterans Memorial Park has been temporarily moved next door to Fire Station No. 3 because of construction. The city asks voters to access the drop box from Jackson Place, not the emergency vehicle driveway.

Residents can reach the Ann Arbor City Clerk’s office at 734-794-6140 or [email protected]. Early voting locations and hours are listed at washtenaw.org/early-voting.