Clerk Doyle told the Pontiac City Council on Oct. 21 that 8,356 absentee ballots had been issued for Pontiac’s Nov. 4 general election and that 2,346 of those had been returned, a 28 percent return rate. He urged residents to track absentee ballots using the QR code or mi.gov/vote and reminded voters that absentee ballots can be returned to four official drop boxes or to the clerk’s office.

Doyle said early in-person voting begins Saturday, Oct. 25, at the Pontiac Public Library and runs daily through Sunday, Nov. 2, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., with a late day Thursday, Oct. 30, from noon to 8 p.m. He listed the city’s 14 precinct locations and said voter registration cards mailed in June now include each resident’s city council district.

Doyle also described weekend services at the clerk’s office the weekend before the election: Saturday, Nov. 1, 10 a.m.–2 p.m., and Sunday, Nov. 2, noon–4 p.m., for absentee ballot returns, in-person registration and assistance with accessibility needs. He said voters who need help returning a ballot can contact the clerk’s office during business hours and a staff member can assist at their vehicle.

Council members asked procedural questions; Pro Tem William Carrington clarified that precincts do not always match council districts and encouraged outreach to reduce confusion. Doyle listed a clerk’s office contact number for voters who need help finding their polling place or confirming their ballot status.

The presentation also reminded voters that each ballot will include the mayor’s race, an at-large council seat and a district council seat, and that only one vote is allowed for each of those offices.