Early in-person voting opens Saturday, Oct. 24, at the Rochester Hills Public Library. Rochester Hills and Oakland Township residents can cast ballots there through Sunday, Nov. 1, ahead of the Nov. 3 election.

Oakland County is bringing back “express lanes” at the library and 18 other county-run early voting sites, The Oakland Press reported.

Voters bringing completed absentee ballots can use the express lanes to bypass ballot issuance. Election workers must still verify the voter and ballot before the voter inserts it into a tabulator, according to Michigan Secretary of State guidance.

The program debuted during the August primary. In a statement quoted by The Oakland Press, the county clerk’s office said voters bringing completed ballots “wouldn’t have to wait in line all the way through” because they do not need a new ballot.

The express lanes are available at all 19 county-run early voting locations, the newspaper reported. It also reported that the clerk’s office estimated six to eight county communities operate separate early voting systems.

The Oakland Press’s Oct. 20 report cited state figures showing 336,807 absentee ballot requests in Oakland County. Statewide, 10.7% of active registered voters had cast ballots as of 7 a.m. Oct. 20, according to the Secretary of State.

Where to vote early

Rochester Hills and Oakland Township residents can vote at the Rochester Hills Public Library, 500 Olde Towne Road, Rochester, according to Oakland Township’s early voting notice.

City of Rochester residents vote separately at Municipal Building Council Chambers, 400 Sixth St., according to the city’s election page. City of Rochester voters cannot use the library site.

Library voting hours

  • Oct. 24-28: 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
  • Thursday, Oct. 29: noon to 8 p.m.
  • Oct. 30-Nov. 1: 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Rochester’s Council Chambers will be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Oct. 24-Nov. 1, except Thursday, Oct. 29, when voting runs from noon to 8 p.m.

Election Day polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 3.

Deputy Secretary of State Aghogho Edevbie urged voters in the state’s Oct. 20 announcement to hand-deliver absentee ballots rather than mail them as Election Day approaches.

Voters returning ballots to their clerk’s office or assigned drop box should use the signed and sealed return envelope. Those wishing to insert their ballot into a tabulator can bring it to their assigned early voting site.