Alpena County voters will have one countywide location for in-person early voting before the Nov. 3, 2026 election, along with the option to vote by absentee ballot without giving a reason, according to Alpena Township Clerk Michele Palevich.
Early voting will be held from Saturday, Oct. 24, through Sunday, Nov. 1, at the Alpena Township Civic Building on U.S. 23 North. The location is the same one used previously, but its reach has expanded: registered voters from any city or township in Alpena County may use the site.
At the Civic Building, voters can check in, mark a ballot and place it into a tabulator in the same general way they would on Election Day. Election results will not be released until polls close at 8 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 3.
What voters can do before Election Day
Michigan’s constitution requires early voting for statewide and federal elections for at least nine consecutive days. The period must begin on the second Saturday before the election and end on the Sunday before Election Day, with early-voting sites open at least eight hours each day.
Absentee voting remains the other major option. Any registered Michigan voter may request an absentee ballot without providing a reason. Voters can apply online through the Michigan Voter Information Center, by mail, by email or in person at the clerk’s office.
Palevich said participation in the township’s permanent absentee voter list continues to increase. As of the information provided, 1,875 voters were on that list. Voters already enrolled should receive an absentee ballot automatically.
Absentee ballot deadlines and return options
The final day for officials to mail absentee ballots to voters is Friday, Oct. 30, 2026. After that deadline, anyone who still needs an absentee ballot must appear in person. The clerk’s office cannot issue absentee ballots after 4 p.m. Monday, Nov. 2, 2026.
Completed absentee ballots must be in the clerk’s hands by 8 p.m. on Election Day to count. Voters may return ballots through the U.S. Postal Service, deliver them to the clerk’s office or use a drop box. Election officials have warned that ballots mailed at the last minute may not arrive before the deadline.
Voters who begin an absentee ballot but later decide to vote in person should contact their clerk. The unused mail ballot must be spoiled before a new ballot can be issued. Once a ballot has been inserted into a tabulator during early voting or on Election Day, it cannot be changed.
Identification, registration and clerk hours
The identification rules are the same for early voting, Election Day voting and picking up an absentee ballot at a clerk’s office. Registered Michigan voters must show photo identification or sign an affidavit or similar document instead.
Accepted identification includes a valid Michigan driver’s license or personal identification card, a valid U.S. passport, an out-of-state personal ID or driver’s license, a valid military or federally issued ID, a valid student ID, a valid ID issued by another state and a valid tribal ID.
People who have moved or have not registered may still vote if they complete same-day registration by 8 p.m. Nov. 3 and show proof of residency.
Voters should note that the early-voting location and a clerk’s office counter may not be staffed for the same hours. Palevich advised voters to contact their clerk to confirm registration-service hours. Every clerk must be open for at least eight hours during the weekend before the election.
On Election Day, precincts will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Voters can confirm registration, view a sample ballot, track an absentee ballot and find early-voting locations through the Michigan Voter Information Center at mvic.sos.state.mi.us or Michigan.gov/Vote.