Voters in the City of Novi, Novi Township and City of Northville can begin early in-person voting Saturday, Oct. 24, at the Novi Civic Center.

The site, at 45175 W. 10 Mile Road, will be open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. daily through Sunday, Nov. 1, except Thursday, Oct. 29, when hours will be noon to 8 p.m., according to the City of Novi’s elections page.

Northville Township voters have a separate site at Township Hall, 44405 Six Mile Road. It will be open Oct. 24–Nov. 1 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily, according to the township clerk’s office.

At early voting sites, voters insert completed ballots into tabulators. Results are not released until after polls close at 8 p.m. on Election Day, according to the Michigan Secretary of State.

Returning an absentee ballot

Voters can return absentee ballots to their own city or township clerk. For most voters, ballots must be received by 8 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 3; mailing a ballot by that deadline is not sufficient.

Military and overseas voters have a separate deadline: Their ballots must be postmarked by Election Day and received within six days afterward, according to the Secretary of State’s absentee voting guidance.

City of Novi voters can use additional drop boxes at:

  • Lakeshore Park, 601 S. Lake Drive
  • Fire Station No. 3, 42785 Nine Mile Road
  • Fire Station No. 4, 49375 W. 10 Mile Road

Voters should use a drop box designated for their own municipality.

Those who received an absentee ballot can instead bring it to their assigned early voting site and insert it into a tabulator.

Election observation efforts

Statewide organizations are also working to explain election procedures and address concerns about security.

“This election is business as usual,” Michael Brady, who teaches election law at Wayne State University, said during a Keep Our Republic call, according to Michigan Advance.

The Michigan Election Observation Project is recruiting observers in 15 counties, including Oakland and Wayne, the publication reported.

Terry Hoverter, the project’s director, told USA TODAY he expected to deploy 200 observers across those counties. The effort involves experienced election observers working with the Carter Center Democracy Program.

Former Gov. John Engler supported the initiative in a news release quoted by Michigan Advance.

“The public benefits when credible, fact-based information is readily available,” Engler said.

Voters can confirm their assigned voting locations and check ballot information through the Michigan Voter Information Center.