Farmington and Farmington Hills residents have until Friday, July 31 to request an absentee ballot by mail for the Tuesday, August 4 primary election. Early voting began Saturday, July 25 at the William Costick Activities Center.

Here's what you need to know to cast your ballot.

Early voting: July 25 through August 2

Both cities share one early voting site: the Costick Activities Center, 28600 W. 11 Mile Road, Farmington Hills. Hours are 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. daily except Thursday, July 31, when hours shift to noon to 8 p.m., according to the city of Farmington Hills' official election notice.

Oakland County Clerk Lisa Brown has added express lanes at early voting sites countywide for voters who bring their completed absentee ballot. Voters can feed the ballot through the tabulator themselves, catching any errors on the spot.

"I also want to remind people not to cross over party lines on your primary ballot," Brown said. "Feeding your absentee ballot through the tabulator yourself at your early voting site gives you the opportunity to correct any mistakes on the spot."

Absentee ballot deadlines

Mail requests for an absentee ballot must reach the clerk's office by 5 p.m. Friday, July 31. In-person absentee ballot requests can be made through Election Day.

Completed absentee ballots must be returned by 8 p.m. Tuesday, August 4 to the clerk's office, a precinct polling place, or a designated drop box.

Farmington Hills Clerk Carly Lindahl reminded voters they must sign the outer purple envelope for their ballot to count.

Drop-box locations

Farmington: East and west sides of City Hall, 23600 Liberty Street. Contact: (248) 474-5500 or farmgov.com.

Farmington Hills: Fire Station No. 1, 35725 Nine Mile Road; Department of Public Works, 27245 Halsted Road; Costick Activities Center, 28600 11 Mile Road; and the Farmington Hills Police Department, 31655 11 Mile Road. A fifth location may be available; contact the clerk's office at (248) 871-2410 to confirm.

What's on the ballot

The marquee item is the Oakland Schools Intermediate School District Regional Enhancement Millage: a proposed 1.5-mill increase ($1.50 per $1,000 of taxable value) for six years, 2026 through 2031. The levy would raise an estimated $125.7 million countywide, according to sample ballot documents published by Farmington Hills.

Farmington Public Schools would receive about $781 per student annually. For a home with a taxable value of $100,000, the cost would be $150 per year.

Voters will also choose party candidates and nonpartisan judicial races for the 47th District Court, 6th Circuit Court, and Oakland County Probate Court.

Registration and ID

Unregistered voters can still register in person at their city clerk's office through Election Day. Voters must be U.S. citizens, at least 18 years old on Election Day, and residents of their city for at least 30 days.

Accepted photo IDs include a Michigan driver's license (current or expired), out-of-state ID, U.S. passport, or a current school, military, or tribal ID with photo. Voters without photo ID can still cast a ballot by completing an affidavit at the polls, Lindahl said.

Election Day: Tuesday, August 4

Polls open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Farmington Hills has 23 precincts; voters can find their assigned polling place and sample ballot at mi.gov/vote or fhgov.com, or by calling the Farmington Hills Clerk's Office at (248) 871-2410.