Many of us will be marking our absentee ballots soon for the Nov. 4 general election and perhaps don’t know that we can vote a straight party ticket and then cross over and vote for individual candidates in another party.

When the ballot is put through the machine on election day the individual vote overrides the straight party vote for that candidate. This can be confusing because we couldn’t do this in the primary election. However, it is permissible in the general.

You can return your absentee ballot by mail or deliver it to your township or city clerk by 8 p.m. on election day. Any voter who qualifies can vote an absentee ballot in person at your clerk’s office during office hours or by appointment, anytime before 8 p.m. on election day.

However, first-time voters must vote at the polls.

The last day to register to vote for this election is Oct. 6. You can register to vote or obtain an absentee ballot application at your clerk’s office, at local political party headquarters, at voter registration drives or on line at www.michigan.gov/sos.

 

Marlene Deming

Cassopolis