Election day, but no polls open

Tuesday is election day in Michigan. But no regular polling locations will be open due to COVID-19.

Kalamazoo County residents have one item to vote on: A three-year renewal of a 1.5-mill property tax to fund county educational operations.

In an effort to minimize COVID-19 exposure by poll workers and voters, the Secretary of State mailed absentee ballot applications to 740,000 registered voters in 33 counties, according to an article on MLive.

Nearly 213,000 voters filled out the applications and were mailed ballots. The usually sluggish May 5 election is now expected to have above average voter turnout.

If you missed out on voting absentee you can still vote in person, even though polling locations are nonexistent.

Local municipal clerks’ offices will be open for in-person voting from 7am to 8pm. Voters who do not wear a facemask will be provided one. Clerks’ offices will also provide gloves and pens, and be enforcing strict social distancing.