City Clerk Jennifer Shuster said the state of Michigan mandates that local clerks have their offices open the Saturday before the election for that reason. The process of applying for an absentee voter ballot is simple, Shuster said.

"The form is not very time-consuming at all," Shuster said. "It's a very short and simple application. They simply have to put their name and location information and the reason why they're applying for an absent voter ballot, which there's a list there and they just have to check the reason why."

Absentee voter ballot applications can also be found on the city of East Lansing’s website. Although individuals can still have the absentee voter ballot application mailed to them Saturday, the City Clerk's office recommends that people visit them during the Saturday hours.

"I would reiterate that we are open Saturday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., but also the last day to have the ballot mailed to them is Saturday," Shuster said. "Since that is so close to the election, we're recommending that people just have it issued to them right then and there, instead of coming in, filling out the application and asking us to mail it to them."

Absentee voters can turn in already-completed ballots by 8 p.m. the day of the primary election, but for individuals who'd prefer to fill out the absentee ballot in person, the last day to do so is Monday, Aug. 6. 

"Monday is the last day they can vote by 4 p.m., and they have to do it here at City Hall," Shuster said. 

The City Clerk's office is located at 410 Abbot Road in East Lansing. Absentee voter ballots and ballot applications can also be turned in at East Lansing City Hall via a dropbox in the building’s parking lot, which is available at all times. 

In East Lansing, polls for the Aug. 7 elections open at 7 a.m. and close at 8 p.m. Michigan voters are required to show picture identification at the polls, or they can sign an affidavit stating they’re not in possession of any. 

Voters can check polling locations here.