Canton, Plymouth Township Report High Absentee Ballot Returns

The Feb. 28 primary election still is one week away, but Canton Township and Plymouth Township both count most of their absentee ballots as returned.

According to the Canton Township clerk's office, 3,782 of the township's 5,042 issued ballots, or about 75 percent, have been completed and returned.

The office, located at 1150 S. Canton Center Road, also will be open  9 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday for last-minute voters to vote in-person.

Eric Bacyinski, Plymouth Township's deputy clerk, said about 70 percent of its absentee ballots have been returned. Of the 3,052 ballots issued, Bacyinski said 2,129 have been returned.

While Canton Township's ballot is limited to the presidential primary elections for party nominations, Plymouth Township also has a contentious local ballot issue that reaches beyond party lines.

A citizens group in Plymouth Township successfully collected petition signatures to put a special assessment question on the Feb. 28 ballot that would levy a millage to help sustain existing fire and EMS services.

The group has since come out against the language in the actual ballot question, however. As worded, township voters could authorize the Plymouth Township Board of Trustees to levy a millage of up to 10 mills for an indefinite period of time. The citizens group had requested one mill, but residents do not have the authority to set the rate. It estimated the cost of sustaining current fire and EMS services at 2.444 mills, factoring in legacy costs for retired firefighters.

Residents wanting to vote on the millage issue but not the Democratic or Republican primaries can request a nonpartisan absentee ballot.

The Plymouth Township clerk's office located at Plymouth Township Hall, 9955 N. Haggerty Road, is open 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and will be open 8 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, the last day to request an absentee ballot application to be mailed. Voters still can request an absentee ballot, but must vote in-person, through 4 p.m. on Feb. 27.

Notes: An earlier version of this story mischaracterized who could set a millage rate in a special assessment district. Additionally, while Saturday is the deadline to have absentee ballots mailed, Plymouth Township will allow residents to vote absentee in-person through 4 p.m. Monday.