ON THE ROAD WITH TONY...

Welcome to our January newsletter, the first newsletter of the New Year!

This month, with the upcoming Presidential Primary in February, we feature Michigan's "In-Person Early Voting" option for registered voters.

Check out our spotlight on our Vital Records Department, which stores and indexes many of the most important life documents such as birth, death and marriage records.

While you're at it, please enjoy our latest educational video with a "game show" twist -- we call it "Vital Signs."? Click here to see the video!

And, finally, congratulations to the University of Michigan for winning the National Championship this month!? Congratulations are also in order to Clerk's Office Operations Chief Brian Brdak, whose son, Blake, was the 58th Drum Major of the U of M Marching Band, leading the team to victory!

Macomb County birth, death and marriage records are hosted and indexed by the Clerk?s Office Vital Records Departments. These records are vital to have on hand and you can always obtain new Certified Copies at the Clerk?s Office.

Macomb County residents also apply for marriage certificates, business registrations and Concealed Pistol Licenses (CPL) at?its 120 N. Main Street (Downtown Mount Clemens) location.

The Clerk?s Office website features easy access to not only certified copies of Vital Records, but Macomb County land records and Court records as well. Through its robust self-service lineup, residents can purchase birth, business, death, military and marriage records. There are also convenient online applications systems, including an easy, step-by-step marriage application, Notary Public application and business application.

For those who prefer in-person services, we've reduced wait times for Clerk?s Office services in all buildings. According to Macomb County Clerk Anthony G. Forlini, ?Our visitors usually get in and out in about 10 minutes. You don?t need an appointment, but our new appointment system for Register of Deeds, Vital Records and CPL Application spreads out our visitors and also reduces wait times."

"Our knowledgeable and friendly staff are waiting to serve you, led by Vital Records Supervisor Tammy Brennan."

In November 2022, Michigan voters approved a constitutional amendment that requires local clerks to offer the ability to vote early, in person, at early voting sites before statewide and federal elections. Municipalities may also choose to provide early voting for local elections, but in Macomb County as in most counties, local clerks chose to offer early voting for statewide and federal elections only.

The first election in Macomb County in which early voting will be available will be the February 27, 2024 Presidential Primary. The early election process, just a few weeks away, will start on Saturday February 17, 2024 for the February 27th Presidential Primary. Please check with your local clerk as to the location of your early voting site. This location will most likely be different from your polling location on election day. We also have a complete listing of locations on our website at?macombgov.org/earlyvoting

In 2024, early voting will also be available for the August primary election and the November general election.

During the early voting period, voters are issued a ballot and can then insert their ballot directly into a tabulator at their early voting site, in an experience similar to voting on Election Day.

Both early in-person voting and absentee voting allow voters to cast a ballot prior to Election Day. However, there are key differences between the two methods of voting.

• Early voting allows voters to cast a ballot similar to how they would do so at a polling place on Election Day. Voters are issued a ballot and can personally insert it into the tabulator at their early voting site.
  
  
• Absentee voting allows voters to request a ballot by mail or in person at their local clerk?s office. Voters can complete their absentee ballot and return it by mail, in person, or in a drop box. After an absentee ballot is received by the local clerk, the voter?s absentee ballot is processed and tabulated by their local clerk according to election law.

Absentee voters also have more flexibility to ?spoil? their ballot, or change their vote, after it has been submitted. For those voters that choose early voting, once the ballot is tabulated, there is no ability to ?spoil? their ballot.

The early voting period begins the second Saturday prior to Election Day and ends the Sunday before an election. However, communities may decide to provide additional days of early voting. Under state law, communities can offer up to 29 days of early voting. In Macomb County, as in most counties, local clerks have decided to offer early voting for the Constitutionally-required 9 days.

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