Small-Town Charm, Big Northern Michigan Spirit

November Election Ballots

Click on the links below to view the ballots for the upcoming November Election.

If you live outside the Village of Ellsworth, select the ballot for the school district in which you reside.

If you are unsure which ballot applies to you, please contact the Township Clerk's Office for assistance.

Village Ballot 2026

Central Lake Ballot 2026

Charlevoix Ballot 2026

Ellsworth Ballot 2026

BANKS TOWNSHIP PUBLIC NOTICE

November 3, 2026, General Election 

• Regular Business hours: Monday through Wednesday, 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.
• The Election Commission will meet on Tuesday, October 6, 2026, at 8:00 a.m. to approve the election inspectors for Early Voting, October 24 through November 1, and Election Day, November 3 at the Banks Township Office BuildingHall, 6520 Center St., Ellsworth MI. The Public Accuracy Test of the Tabulators for Early Voting and the November 3, 2026, General Election will be held after the approval of the workers. The Public Accuracy Test is conducted to demonstrate that the computer program used to tabulate votes cast in the election meets the requirements of Michigan election law.
• The Township Clerk's Office will be open from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. on Saturday, October 31 and 12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. on November 1.
• Early Voting is October 24 through November 1, 2026, at 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
• Election Day is Tuesday, November 3, 2026 polls are open 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.

If you have any questions, please contact the Township Clerk at 231-588-6126 or email Clerk@bankstownshipmi.gov

ABSENT VOTER BALLOTS

All registered voters in Michigan may vote by absent voter ballot.

Absent voter ballots for the November 3, 2026, General Election are available beginning September 29, 2026

Voters may request an absent voter ballot online, by mail, or from their township clerk.  Voters can submit a request online through Michigan's absentee voting system: Absentee voting. Alternatively, you may download the Michigan Absent Voter Ballot Application directly from our website or contact our office to request one.

Voters may also join Michigan's Permanent Mail Ballot List to receive an absent voter ballot by mail for future elections

Completed ballots may be:

• Mailed to the Township Clerk
• Returned directly to the Township Clerk
• Placed in the authorized ballot drop box, located at 6520 Center St.
• Returned to Banks Township early voting site, located at 6520 Center St.
• Returned to the Township Clerk on Election Day

Please allow enough time for mailed ballots to be received by the Clerk.

NOTICE OF ELECTION

November 3, 2026 STATE GENERAL ELECTION

Banks Township, Antrim County, Michigan

TO THE QUALIFIED ELECTORS OF BANKS TOWNSHIP:

PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that any qualified elector of Banks Township who is not already registered may register to vote at the office of the Township Clerk, the office of the County Clerk, a Secretary of State branch office, or other designated state agency. Registration forms can be obtained at mi.gov/vote and mailed to the Township Clerk. Voters who are already registered may update their registration at www.expressSOS.com.

The last day to register in any manner other than in-person with the local clerk is Monday, October 19 2026.

After this date, anyone who qualifies as an elector may register to vote in person with proof of residency (MCL 168.497) at the Banks Township clerk’s office, located at 6520 Center Street, Ellsworth, MI 49729 at the following times:

• Regular business hours: Monday, through Wednesday from 8am – 11am
• Early Voting: October 24- November 1 from 8am – 4pm
• Saturday, October 31 from 8am – 4pm
• Election Day, Tuesday, November 3rd from 7am – 8pm

Please take notice: the following offices will appear on the ballot for the purpose of nominating candidates of all par­ticipating parties: Governor, Secretary of State, Attorney General, United States Senator, Rep­resentative in Congress 1st District, State Senator 37th District, Representative 104th District, State Boad of Education, Regent of UofM, Trustee of MSU, Governor if Wayne State University, Partial Term Offices for Prosecuting Attorney, Justice of Supreme Court, Judge of Court of Appeals – 4^th District, Circuit Court Judge- 13^th district, district Court judge 86^th district, Charlevoix-Emmet Intermediate School Board, Ellsworth School Board, Village of Ellsworth Council member positions and the following Millages:

STATE:

PROPSAL TO CONVENE A CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION TO REVISE STATE CONSTITUTION  

PROPOSED INITAITED LAW TO PROHIBIT CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS

CHARLEVOIX PUBLIC SCHOOLS: OPERTATING MILLAGE

CENTRAL LAKE PUBLIC SCHOOLS: SINKING FUND

Full text of the ballot proposals may be obtained at the Banks Township Clerk’s office, 6520 Center Street, Ellsworth, MI 49729. They are available to view on the website, www.bankstownshipmi.gov . A sample ballot may be viewed at mi.gov/vote.

Persons with disabilities needing accommodation should contact the clerk’s office.

Julie Chellis

Banks Township Clerk

Notice Regarding Recently Settled Zoning Case

The judgments from the recently settled zoning case have been posted on the Township website and are available for any resident to view.

These documents are being provided to make the court’s rulings available to members of the public and to provide transparency regarding the resolution of the case.

Residents may click the link below to read the judgments and review the details of the case and its resolution.

Decision and Order on Appeal

Order deny reconsideration 

The Township is considering a temporary data center moratorium while it reviews its zoning regulations. Click here to view: Data Center Moratorium

The completed subsurface investigation report for the Township-owned railbed property behind the Fire Hall is available here: Banks Twp Subsurface Investigation Report 

FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY
Proposed Flood Hazard Determinations for Antrim County, Michigan (All Jurisdictions)
The Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency has issued a
preliminary Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM), and where applicable, Flood Insurance Study (FIS)
report, reflecting proposed flood hazard determinations within Antrim County, Michigan (All
Jurisdictions). These flood hazard determinations may include the addition or modification of Base Flood
Elevations, base flood depths, Special Flood Hazard Area boundaries or zone designations, or the
regulatory floodway. Technical information or comments are solicited on the proposed flood hazard
determinations shown on the preliminary FIRM and/or FIS report for Antrim County, Michigan (All
Jurisdictions). These flood hazard determinations are the basis for the floodplain management measures
that your community is required to either adopt or show evidence of being already in effect in order to
qualify or remain qualified for participation in the National Flood Insurance Program. However, before
these determinations are effective for floodplain management purposes, you will be provided an
opportunity to appeal the proposed information. For information on the statutory 90-day period provided
for appeals, as well as a complete listing of the communities affected and the locations where copies of
the FIRM are available for review, please visit FEMA’s website at
https://www.floodmaps.fema.gov/fhm/BFE_Status/bfe_main.asp or call the FEMA Mapping and
Insurance exchange (FMIX) toll free at 1-877-FEMA MAP (1-877-336-2627).