Absentee Ballots to be Mailed This Week

The general election will be getting underway this week as the St. Clair Shores City Clerk will be sending out absentee ballots to voters.

According to clerk Mary Kotowski, the ballots will be sent out early this week.

St. Clair Shores residents may apply for an absentee ballot for the election at the county clerk's office by mail, fax or request an application by phone or email. Applications are also available for download. Your ballot will be mailed immediately.

You can receive an absentee ballot if:

• You are unable to vote without assistance.
• You are 60 or older.
• You expect to be absent from the city on Election Day.
• You are in jail, awaiting arraignment or trial.
• You have been assigned to work as a precinct worker in a precinct other than where you are registered.
• You are unable to attend the polls because of religious beliefs.

Voters can visit www.michigan.gov/vote to view information about their absentee ballot. On the site, voters can see:

• If they are registered to vote or if they are not.
• A sample ballot.
• Directions to their voting locations.
• If we have received their application for an absentee ballot.
• When their absentee ballot will be or was mailed.
• They can also check back to see if we have received their absentee ballot back.

All ballots must be back to the clerk's office by 8 p.m. Nov. 6, Election Day.

Local residents have until Oct. 9 to register at Clerk's office in City Hall (open 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m.), at a Secretary of State branch office (hours vary per branch), at the Macomb County Clerk's office (open 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m.) or by mail. In order to vote, you must:

• be 18 years or older on or before election day
• be a citizen of the U.S.
• have lived in Michigan for at least 30 days
• be registered on or before the close of registration