When North Dakotans head out to cast their ballots later this year, there is a chance some will do so in a voting center and not a designated precinct.

Jurisdictions cited the flexibility of voting centers when measuring what worked in the pandemic. North Dakota approved voting centers in 2007.

In the 2020 general election, all but five counties offered them. Unlike precincts, the sites are not bound by strict residential requirements. Local residents can choose to vote at any participating site in their respective county.

DeAnn Buckhouse, election coordinator for Cass County based in Fargo, said they intend to make more use of them this year.

"So, if they want to go on their lunch hour, they can go someplace that's close to where they work as opposed to rush home, get the kids," Buckhouse explained.

She noted freedom and convenience on Election Day mirrors the options people have if they choose to do early voting. Election experts pointed out while voting centers have advantages, they warn about confusion if they are not advertised enough.

It is unclear exactly how many counties will stick with voting sites in 2022. A much smaller number used them in 2018.

Buckhouse emphasized technology plays a big part in moving forward with voting centers, noting the state purchased new equipment in 2019, which means local offices do not have to rely on stacks of preprinted ballots if they want to make better use of the sites.

"We can have blank ballot stock that the machine will print once the voter has made their selection," Buckhouse added.

She stressed it is important because in more populated counties, voters in one area are likely to have different races to decide on than voters in other areas.

Currently, voting centers are allowed in 18 states. Among neighboring states, South Dakota is on the list.

Support for this reporting was provided by The Carnegie Corporation of New York.

Election Day is November 8, and Utah elections officials say it isn't too early for voters to start making a plan for casting their ballots. For many, voting by mail is a popular way to save time and avoid long lines at the polls.

Utah county clerks will begin sending mail-in ballot packages to all active registered voters after October 28, which is the last day to register.

Hayden Loftus - election specialist with the Lieutenant Governor's Office - said in 2020, more than 90% of the votes cast were by mail. He said the system gives Utah voters a lot of options.

"You can vote it in person at your county clerk's office," said Loftus. "You can use any of the drop-box locations across the state up until Election Day, November 8, at 8 p.m. Or you can mail your ballot back in, as long as it's postmarked by the day before the election."

Voting by mail was introduced in 2013 in Utah - and by 2016, about 25% of voters were using the system. By 2020, all 29 Utah counties were participating.

Earlier this year, skeptics of mail-in voting tried to end it, but their initiative failed to garner enough signatures to put it on the ballot.

Loftus said it's especially important for voters to complete the signature verification on the ballot envelope or face a delay in their vote being counted.

"Voters need to sign that, or their ballot will be challenged, and they'll have to come into the office," said Loftus. "But as long as they get it signed and the verification process works out, then their ballot will be counted, and everything will go smooth."

Registered voters can track their ballot's progress through the system by signing up at 'vote.utah.gov.'

Members of the military and citizens who live abroad can register to vote absentee by filing a Federal Post Card Application with their county clerk.

Support for this reporting was provided by the Carnegie Corporation of New York.

CLARIFICATION: Lynna Kaucheck is the communications manager for Progress Michigan, and the group is not a sponsor of MichiganVoting.org. Dates to order and return mail-in and absentee ballots also were clarified. (11:31 a.m. MST, Oct. 3, 2022)


Voting advocates say more and more Michiganders are choosing to cast absentee ballots to save time and avoid long lines on Election Day.

In 2020, two-thirds of the 5.5 million votes cast in Michigan were mail-in or absentee ballots. Although turnout is historically lower for midterm elections, officials expect voting early will remain a popular option this time around.

Lynna Kaucheck, communications manager for Progress Michigan, said if you want to vote with an early ballot, you have to ask for one.

"You need to request a ballot even if you're on the permanent absentee voter list," Kaucheck noted. "You can do that online, by mail, by calling your city or township clerk's office and requesting a ballot, or just going to your clerk's office and requesting the ballot."

Kaucheck says voters should request their ballots by October 25th, 14 days before the election, to ensure it arrives on time.
Ballots must then be returned to your county or township clerk's office by mail, to a drop box, or to a satellite office of your clerk by November 8th.

Kaucheck added it is easy to follow your ballot through the process by logging on to the Secretary of State's Michigan Voter Information Center at Mi.gov/vote.

"Once you go in to check your ballot, it will tell you if your clerk has received your application," Kaucheck outlined. "Once they've mailed it, it will show that they've mailed it. Once you submit it, and they receive it, it will show that they have received it."

Elections usually go smoothly in Michigan, but Kaucheck suggested if you have questions about your mail-in ballot or any other facet of voting, there is help online.

"All of our information comes from michiganvoting.org," Kaucheck explained. "It's a voter education site. It's nonpartisan, and it's been reviewed by legal experts. It's very factual."

She added if you encounter illegal interference or voter fraud at the polls, you should call the watchdog group Election Protection at 866-Our-Vote (687-8683).


Support for this reporting was provided by The Carnegie Corporation of New York.

Those 50 and older make up more than half of Wisconsin's registered voters, and a new statewide poll shows they want candidates to hear their concerns about issues such as inflation.

AARP's 2022 election survey found along with inflation, taxes, government spending, and protecting Social Security and Medicare are key concerns for older voters around Wisconsin.

Lisa Lamkins, advocacy director for AARP Wisconsin, said while rising consumer costs affect everyone, they are especially felt by those 50 and older, with 65% of respondents noting they are worried about their personal financial situation.

"The rising grocery prices, gas prices dipped but are going back up again, and folks who are on fixed income actually feel those hits a little bit more," Lamkins outlined. "I think that's where we can see that inflation factor really driving older voters."

As for statewide races, the poll indicated the contests for governor and U.S. Senate are tight, but Republican candidates hold a slight edge. In the race for governor, Tim Michels narrowly leads incumbent Democrat Tony Evers 50% to 47%. For the U.S. Senate, Republican incumbent Ron Johnson leads Democratic challenger Mandela Barnes by five percentage points.

The two Democratic candidates do see large support among Black voters 50 and older. Meanwhile, Lamkins pointed out the survey indicates older Wisconsinites are fed up with what they think is a cold-shoulder coming out of Washington D.C.

"They think that members of Congress don't listen to people like them," Lamkins explained. "I think it really behooves politicians to pay attention and to listen especially to older voters who could truly be the difference in this election."

More than 80% of survey respondents back the sentiment about not being heard by Congress. Another 74% think the country is headed in the wrong direction, with a similar result for Wisconsin's outlook.