Tips to Avoid Long Lines on Election Day

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - Oct. 20, 2016 - PRLog -- City Clerk Karen Brower has the following tips to make Election Day go smoothly:

Avoid peak times: If possible, you may want to vote from 9 to 11 a.m. or 1 to 4 p.m. when the lines are usually shorter.

Be informed: The ballot is very long and has two sides, with more than 90 candidates running for 22 offices as well as ballot proposals to consider in most precincts. You can download a sample ballot at egr.org/elecitions. This will allow you to look everything over ahead of time and do any research you would like. If you print the sample ballot to record your choices and bring it to the polls to record your votes onto an official ballot, be sure to keep it in your purse or pocket until you are in the privacy of the voting booth.

Be prepared: Make sure you know where your polling location is so you don't wait in line at the wrong precinct only to have to go somewhere else.  If you're not sure if you're registered, or to find your polling location, check michigan.gov/vote or call your local government office.

Poll workers will ask you to show photo ID or sign an affidavit stating you don't have an ID. If you have your ID with you, having your ID out of your wallet and ready to present can help make things go quicker.

Consider voting absentee: Absentee ballots are available now at your local municipality office.  Ballots can be mailed until Saturday, Nov. 5.  On Monday, Nov. 7, you can vote in person at your local clerk's office until 4 p.m.  Michigan law allows you to vote absentee if:

·       You are 60 years of age or older

·       You expect to be absent from the community in which you are registered for the entire time the polls are open on Election Day

·       You are physically unable to attend the polls without the assistance of another

·       You cannot attend the polls because of the tenets of your religion

·       You have been appointed an election precinct inspector in a precinct other than the precinct where you reside

·       You cannot attend the polls because you are confined to jail awaiting arrangement or trial

You can receive your ballot early and vote prior to Election Day. All absentee ballots are kept sealed in their envelopes at your clerk's office until Election Day when they are opened and fed through official tabulators so that your votes are counted. You can download the absentee ballot application form at egr.org/elecitions or stop by your local municipality.

If you have any questions about voting, registering to vote, polling locations or anything else, please contact us at 949.2110:

Karen Brower

kbrower@eastgr.org

Chris Berg

   cberg@eastgr.org