What You Need to Know on Election Day in Farmington and Farmington Hills

Tomorrow is Election Day, and if you have questions about voting, Farmington-Farmington Hills Patch can help. 

Redistricting after the 2010 U.S. Census means Farmington residents will vote in the 11th Congressional District race, while Farmington Hills residents will vote in the 14th Congressional District race. Previously, both cities were in the same district. 

In the Oakland County Board of Commissioners races, Farmington residents will vote in the 14th District, while Farmington Hills residents are divided among three districts – the 13th, 14th and 21st. 

All of our election coverage, including news stories, candidate profiles and letters to the editor, can be found in our Participate 2012 voter guide. Here's what else you should know: 

Ballots

Absent Voter: You may pick up an absent voter ballot on Monday, but you can't take it with you – you'll have to vote at city hall. If you haven't turned in your ballot, you can vote at your precinct on Election Day.

Regular Ballots: A new state law eliminates the requirement to have instructions printed on your ballot. Instructions will be inserted into a plastic pouch that will be placed on the outside of your ballot's secrecy sleeve. 

Sample Ballots: Clerks are advising that you review your ballot before Election Day, because it's a long one this time around. Samples are posted on the city websites: Farmington Hills (includes ballots for each of 27 precincts) and Farmington.

City Clerks

Farmington city clerk Sue Halberstadt, 248-474-5500, ext. 2218, and Farmington Hills city clerk Pam Smith, 248-871-2410, oversee elections in their respective communities. The clerk's office can answer questions about where you vote. 

Eligibility

Are you eligible to vote? Here are the requirements for casting a ballot on election day: 

• Registered with the city at least 30 days prior to the election
• A U.S. citizen
• At least 18 years old 
• A resident of the city for at least 30 days

Find out whether you're registered to vote on the Michigan Secretary of State website.

Polling places

Find your polling place and more local information through an online tool offered by Publius.org. Just type in your name, and click "Go". 

Polls open

7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Voter identification

Be sure to bring some form of picture identification when you go to vote. The Michigan Secretary of State website has a list of identification accepted at polling places and explains how to vote when you don't have a picture ID. 

The citizenship check box is no longer required.