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ABSENTEE BALLOTS: Eligible voters who want an absentee ballot
delivered through the mail must file an application no later
than 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 1. They also can obtain an absentee
ballot and vote in person at their city or township's clerk
office until 4 p.m. Monday, Nov. 3. Emergency absentee voting is
allowed until 4 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 4. Absentee ballots must be
returned to the local clerk's office no later than 8 p.m.
Tuesday, Nov. 4. Secretary of State Terri Lynn Land reminds
voters that no one other than the absentee voter, a family
member or person residing in the voter's household, a mail
carrier or election official is authorized to deliver a signed
absentee voter ballot to the clerk's office. No one else should
ask an absentee voter to give him/her a completed ballot. She
encourages anyone who believes that these procedures are being
violated to call the Department of State's Bureau of Elections
toll-free at 866-766-4355.
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PHOTO ID: Michigan now requires voters to show a photo ID of
some kind to vote (it doesn't have to be a driver's license). If
voters don't have a photo ID with them, they can sign an
affidavit and vote anyway.
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ELIGIBLE VOTERS: Out of Michigan's 10.1 million people, an
estimated 7.6 million are eligible to vote. The state has more
than 7.2 million registered voters. Convicted felons, that are
registered and not in custody, are eligible to vote.
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PAST ELECTIONS: In the 2006 general election, 3.9 million people
voted, about 54 percent of registered voters. In the 2004
presidential general election, turnout was 4.9 million, or 68
percent of registered voters.
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RACES TO WATCH: Republican presidential candidate John McCain
has basically withdrawn from active campaigning in Michigan,
with polls showing that Democratic candidate Barack Obama with a
2-digit lead over McCain.
Republican U.S. Reps. Tim Walberg of Tipton and Joe
Knollenberg of Oakland County's Bloomfield Township face
stiff challenges from Democrats Mark Schauer of Battle
Creek and Gary Peters of Bloomfield Township. Both races
are nationally targeted and drawing money and attention from
third-party groups.
House Speaker Andy Dillon, D-Redford Township, is favored
to be re-elected to a third and final term in the Michigan
House. But local voters also will have the option recalling him.
If the recall is successful, it will end his second term about a
month early. But if he's also re-elected, he'll start his third
term in January.
Sources: Michigan Department of State, AP research.
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