Election Department – Powell Township

Election Department

NOTICE – POWELL TOWNSHIP IS HIRING ELECTION INSPECTORS FOR THE 2026 ELECTION YEAR

What is an election inspector?

Election inspectors, i.e. poll workers, are hired, paid, and trained local government workers who assist with running local elections in compliance with Michigan Election Law
Each county, city, and township in Michigan hires and pays election inspectors for the early voting period and on Election Day
Election inspectors may be assigned different responsibilities
At a polling place or early voting site, election inspectors greet and check-in voters, issue ballots, and assist with tabulation. Individuals may also be hired to assist with processing absentee ballots

What are the qualifications to be an election inspector?

You must be at least 16 years of age
You must be a registered voter in Michigan of 18+ years of age. Individuals aged 16 – 17 must be a Michigan resident
You must not have a felony or election crime conviction
You must not be an election challenger, a candidate, a member of a candidate’s immediate family, or a member of the local board of canvassers
You must affiliate with a political party. Party registration is not a requirement. Michigan law requires that election inspectors disclose political affiliation to ensure balanced staffing. Affiliating as “independent” or “unaffiliated” is not a legal option for an election inspector.

Do election inspectors receive training?

If hired as an election inspector, you will receive official training from the Marquette County Clerk on how to run elections and assist voters in accordance with Michigan election law.
Training will start in 2026

Are you interested?

If interested, please check with the Powell Township Clerk’s office for an application. Office hours are Monday and Thursdays from 9-noon.
Rate of pay is $15 an hour for election inspector and $15.50 an hour for election chair.
The posting and application are also available here.

Permanent Mail Ballot List

What is the Permanent Mail Ballot List? The “Permanent Mail Ballot List” is a list of voters who have signed up to receive an absentee ballot before each election. Previously, Michigan voters could sign up to receive an absentee ballot application before each election. The new “Permanent Mail Ballot List” allows voters to sign up to receive a ballot before every election, eliminating the need to submit a new application each time.

Who is the Permanent Mail Ballot List for? Any Michigan voter can join the Permanent Mail Ballot List. However, the list is best suited for voters who wish to vote from home in every election and who generally receive their absentee ballot at the same address for each election. Voters who wish to vote from home in every election, but who may not be at the same address for each election–snowbirds, for example–can also join the list, but they must remember to update their mailing address with their local clerk as necessary.

How do I sign up for the Permanent Mail Ballot List? You can join the Permanent Mail Ballot List when you apply for an absentee ballot for an upcoming election, whether online, by mail, or in-person. Just check the box next to “automatically send me an absent voter ballot for each future election for which I’m eligible.”

How do I check to see whether I’m already on the Permanent Mail Ballot List? Voters were not able to sign up for the list until May 2023. If you think you signed up for the list in May 2023 or after, please contact the Powell Township Clerk’s Office. You can also visit www.michigan.gov/vote to check your status and sign up to be on the list.

If I’m on the Permanent Mail Ballot List, will I also receive a ballot for the presidential primary? Yes, but you will need to select which ballot you want to receive in advance of the primary. Any Michigan voter can participate in the presidential primary, but to do so they must choose which ballot they’d like to receive (for example, a Republican ballot or a Democratic ballot), whether in person at the polls or in advance of receiving their absentee ballot. If you join the Permanent Mail Ballot List at the same time as you apply for your ballot (and select which ballot you’d like to receive) for the presidential primary, you’re all set–no additional action needs taken until the next presidential primary election. If you’re already on the Permanent Mail Ballot List and you haven’t yet selected a ballot for the presidential primary, your local clerk will send you a notice about two months before the election asking you to select a ballot.

What happens if I move after joining the Permanent Mail Ballot List? If you move within the state of Michigan and update your address with the state, you will remain on the list. If you move outside of the state of Michigan or you move within the state but do not update your voter registration address, you will be removed from the list.

What if I sign up for the list and then change my mind? You can remove yourself from the list at any time by submitting a signed request for removal to your local clerk. You will also be removed from the list if you relocate to another state or move within Michigan without updating your voter registration address, if you do not cast a ballot for six consecutive years, or if you are not currently eligible to vote (for example, if you are serving a sentence).

Returning Your Absentee Voter Ballots

Options to return Absentee Voter (AV) ballots include by mail, in person, or in the Powell Township drop box located outside the Township offices. The return mailing address is included on the AV ballot: P.O. Box 319, Big Bay, Michigan, 49808.