Upcoming Election - November 5, 2024
The Clerk’s Office is open from 8am-5pm, Monday through Friday and will offer extended hours on Wednesdays until 7pm leading up to election day. The office will also be open on Saturday, November 2nd from 8am-4pm.
Important Dates to Remember
Thursday, September 26th – Absent Voter ballots will be available in-person at the City Clerk’s Office. First mailing of Absent Voter ballots to voters who have already submitted an application or are on the Permanent Ballot List.
Monday, October 21st - Last day to register to vote in any matter other than in-person at your local Clerk’s Office.
Tuesday, October 22nd through Tuesday, November 5th until 8:00pm - A person may register to vote in-person at their local Clerk’s Office with proof of residency.
Saturday, October 26th through Sunday, November 3rd – Early In-Person Voting. Daily hours are 8:30am – 4:30 pm except Thursday, October 31st, 12pm – 8pm. Located in Event Quarters in the Novi Civic Center.
Friday, November 1st 5:00pm - Deadline for voters to request an absent voter ballot to be mailed via first class mail.
Monday, November 4th 4:00pm - Deadline for registered voters to request an absent voter ballot in-person at the City Clerk’s Office. Ballots must be voted in-person at the City Clerk’s Office.
Tuesday, November 5th until 8:00pm - A person registering to vote in-person at the City Clerk’s Office may obtain and vote an absent voter ballot with proof of residency or vote in-person at their proper precinct.
CITY OF NOVI NOTICE OF HOURS OF EARLY TABULATION FOR
ABSENT VOTER COUNTING BOARD (AVCB
NOVEMBER 5, 2024 PRIMARY ELECTION
PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that the City Clerk will convene the Absent Voter Counting Board (AVCB) on Friday, November 1, 2024 and Saturday, November 2, 2024 at 8:00 AM for the purpose of early tabulation of absent voter ballot return envelopes received for the November 5, 2024 Primary Election. The Absent Voter Counting Board will consist of 36 Election Inspectors on 11/1/24 and 33 Election Inspectors on 11/2/24, and will convene at the Novi Civic Center, 45175 Ten Mile Road, Novi, MI 48375
This notice is posted as required by MCL168.765a amended.
POSTED: August 29, 2024
UDPATED: October 23, 2024: The Absent Voter Counting Board will consist of 48 Election Inspectors on 11/1/24 and 51 Election Inspectors on 11/2/24, and will convene at the Novi Civic Center, 45175 Ten Mile Road, Novi, MI 48375.
*One Challenger per 8 election inspectors from each credentialed organization may be present in the Absent Voter Counting Board on Election Day. Challengers must abide by the Michigan Bureau of Elections "The Appointment, Right, and Duties of Election Challengers and Poll Watchers" instruction manual.
You can track your ballot at Michigan.gov/vote. Click on the Am I Registered page. Once you are there fill out your name, birth month, birth year and zip code. It will then direct you to a page listing when your application was received and when your ballot was sent.
You may have received multiple Absentee Ballot Applications in the mail because political parties, interest groups, candidates and even individuals are allowed to print and distribute absentee ballot applications. Just know that you will only receive one ballot no matter how many applications you submit to our office.
Our qualified voter list is constantly changing. Despite our best efforts, residents do not always tell us when they move. If you receive an application for someone who no longer lives at your address, please mark the envelope as “Not at this address” or “Return to Sender” and place it back in the mail. You can also send us that information by taking a picture of the application and emailing it to us at elections@cityofnovi.org.
Absentee ballot applications are used to ensure that the voter requesting a ballot by mail is who they say they are. The application collects personal information and requires a signature that is verified using voter registration data in the Qualified Voter File. By sending absentee applications, clerks are able to update voter information to make sure that when it's time to send ballots, those ballots are only sent to verified voters.
Being on the Automatic Application List guarantees that you will receive an application for a ballot in the mail. It doesn't grandfather anyone from never filling out the application again. We have to verify that the voter is who they say they are, that they are still alive and that they are still living at that residence.
The only difference is that voters can vote in the comfort of their home instead of standing in line at a precinct. Absentee ballots are the exact same paper ballot as a ballot issued in a precinct. Absentee ballots are also run through a tabulator on Election Day and are stored in the same secure containers as ballots issued in a precinct.
No, you can vote straight party on your ballot and still choose candidates from other parties on the ballot.
When we receive your ballot, your envelope is scanned, signature verified, your ballot marked in the system as received and it is stored in a locked vault until Election Day. Ballots received by the Monday before the election will be opened and the ballot will be kept in the secrecy sleeve. Ballots will be secured overnight in secure ballot containers. On Election Day, the stub will be removed from the ballot prior to the ballot being removed from the secrecy sleeve so that votes cannot be tied back to a voter.
In most cases, it is the same signature that is on your driver’s license. That signature is what is linked to your voter registration so that we have your most up to date signature on file. Also, we have hard copy signatures for most voters on file from their voter registration forms.
Yes, all valid absentee ballots are counted. Just like at the precincts, everything has to balance and match. We go through a County canvass after the election is over to verify that all totals are accurate.
You need to submit a written, signed statement to the City Clerk’s Office in order for them to spoil (void) your ballot and issue you a new ballot to vote.
Be prepared to spend a few extra minutes at the precinct while the precinct workers call the City Clerk’s Office to verify that you have not voted your absentee ballot, you have to fill out an affidavit that you did not vote your ballot, hence causing a delay at the precinct.
The Clerk’s Office is open Monday through Friday from 8:00am to 5:00pm.