Community

All you need to know about voting early

Many people will have been distracted by the headlines full of Donald Trump and Hilary Clinton ahead of elections recently. However, don’t forget that local elections are just as important, especially when it comes to the well-being of the Arab community.

The people of Dearborn will soon use their votes to select a new judge and state representative in non-compulsory contests. On August 2nd, the primary election will be held and could be responsible for determining the result of both races.

As seen in recent years, just a few votes are enough for a candidate to gain victory. Early votes can have a significant impact. For example, take the recent case of Hilary Clinton. She gained an edge over Sen Bernie Sanders in several states thanks to those who chose to vote earlier.

Absentee ballots could be the only suitable option for many people from the Arab American community who often stay for extended periods of time in their home countries.

To ensure that you have all the relevant information that you need, we contacted the city clerk’s office and found out the following particulars:

To be entitled to an absentee ballot you must have registered yourself as an eligible voter. Also, you must be over 60 years old or with a physical disability or valid reason for being absent on the day of voting to qualify.

You can obtain an absentee ballot form from the city’s website. You should fill in the form correctly online. If you wish you can take a physical copy of the application form from the clerk’s office situated at the Dearborn Administrative Center on Michigan Avenue.

If your application is accepted, the city absentee ballot is sent to your home. Don’t fear; it isn’t too early for you to fill out an application form. Remember, the deadline is on Election Day at 8 pm.