With less than a week before the primary election, it’s time that locals get their voting caps on. Here are a few tips regarding Tuesday’s election: www.michigan.gov says “All registered voters in Michigan have the right to vote by mail using an absentee ballot delivered to their home. Voters can also request an absentee ballot directly from their local clerk’s office. Absentee ballots are available beginning 40 days prior to every election.”

Michigan voters can now join the permanent absentee ballot list by checking a box on the application to automatically receive an absentee ballot for every election.

The following voter information is required to apply for an absentee ballot online:

≤ full name

≤ Michigan driver’s license or ID number

≤ date of birth

≤ eye color

≤ last four digits of the voters Social Security number

≤ mailing address

Online applications may be submitted until 5 p.m. the Friday before Election Day. To ensure there is enough time to receive and return an absentee ballot, plan on submitting the absentee ballot application online at least 15 days before Election Day.

Absentee ballot envelopes will contain a ballot, a secrecy sleeve, and ballot marking instructions. Voters who make a mistake when filling out an absentee ballot must request a new ballot from their local clerk’s office for the error to be corrected. Mistakes may include:

≤ signing in the wrong place

≤ listing the incorrect date

≤ signing with a different signature than what is on file with your local clerk

≤ accidentally marking a non-preferred vote on the ballot

Mailed absentee ballots from all voters, except military and overseas voters, must be received by the voter’s local clerk by 8 p.m. on Election Day. Ballots not received by this time will not be counted. Voters are encouraged to mail an absentee ballot at least two weeks before Election Day to avoid potential mailing delays. Military and overseas voter absentee ballots must be postmarked by Election Day and received within 6 days after the election.

Many people wonder, when are these ballots processed? In Michigan, cities and townships with a population of 5,000 residents or more may establish an Absentee Voter Counting Board to process and tabulate absentee ballots during any of the eight days before an election between the hours of 7 a.m. and 8 p.m. Cities and townships, regardless of population, can establish an AVCB to process and tabulate absentee ballots on the Monday before an election between the hours of 7 a.m. and 8 p.m.

If you plan to vote in person, make sure to check the times and verify your local polling location before Tuesday. Most importantly, get out there and make your voice heard.