Politics & Government
Chelsea Clerk Urges Voters to Cast Absentee Ballots During Nov. 6 Election
A presidential election, combined with an extraordinary long ballot in Washtenaw County, will mean long lines at the polls this Election Day in Chelsea.
Planning to vote Nov. 6? You may want to bring a snack, or a novel.
Chelsea City Clerk Terri Royal said voters should prepare for longer than normal wait times at the polls this year.
“With all of the ballot proposals, we expect longer lines at the polls," Royal said.
Find out what's happening in Chelseafor free with the latest updates from Patch.
The ballot this Election Day will include a presidential election, elections for the offices of state representative, U.S. representative, U.S. senator, and a number of local offices—including, in Chelsea, the Board of Education and County Commissioner District 1. There will also be five statewide ballot proposals, as well as a proposed Chelsea Area Fire Authority millage.
As such, the clerk’s office is encouraging anyone who is eligible to vote absentee.
Find out what's happening in Chelseafor free with the latest updates from Patch.
According to Deputy Clerk Laura Kaiser, that includes:
- Residents 60 years of age or older
- Those who are physically unable to attend the polls
- Any appointed precinct worker serving in a precinct other than their own
- Anyone with a religious exemption
- Residents who will be confined to jail on Election Day
- Anyone expecting to be absent from their community on Election Day
In Chelsea, absentee voting is already a common practice. Kaiser said that 1,000 ballots have already been mailed out.
Royal said typically in a presidential election year, 60 percent of the city's 4,277 registered voters cast a ballot.
For anyone looking to vote absentee who has not already applied, forms are available at the Chelsea City Clerk’s office, which is located at 305 S. Main St.
The clerk's office is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., with extended hours on Tuesday until 6 p.m. Absentee ballots can be filed up until 2 p.m. Nov. 5.
Registered voters can also fill out absentee voting forms online on the City of Chelsea website.
Absentee ballots can be turned in until the polls close on Election Day—8 p.m. Nov. 6.
Royal said the clerk’s office will have a wheelchair available for seniors who need to rest while waiting in line to vote.
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