OCTOBER 16, 2026 COMMUNITY EVENTS voting INFORMATION MICHIGAN’S GENERAL ELECTION IS TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 3. September 24: First day that you can vote in person with an absentee ballot at your city/township clerk’s office. October 19: Last day to register to vote online or by mail. October 20: Last recommended day to return your absentee ballot by mail. After this day, return your ballot in person at your clerk’s office or via a secure drop box. October 24-November 1: Early in-person voting period. Find your early polling site at mvic.sos.state. mi.us/Voter/Index November 3: Election Day! Polls are open from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. To find your polling place, update your voter registration, locate your clerk's office, learn what's on your ballot, and much more, visit the Michigan Voter Information Center at mvic.sos.state.mi.us/Voter/Index WHO CAN VOTE? Voters must be U.S. citizens, at least 18 years old, and must have lived in the city/ township in which they registered for 30 days. Voters cannot be serving a sentence in jail or prison at the time of registering or voting. REGISTRATION If you have a Michigan driver's license or state ID, you can regsiter to vote online. Start the process at Michigan.gov/Vote. You can register any time up through Election Day by going to your city or community EVENTS MICHIGAN ARTS FESTIVAL October 1-31, events across University of Michigan's Ann Arbor, Dearborn and Flint campuses. A month-long celebration of the arts. Expect performances, exhibitions, workshops and community events, all aimed at connecting students, staff, faculty and the wider community to Michigan Arts throughout the year. See full schedule at arts.umich.edu/fest-events MICHIGAN FOLK SCHOOL FOLK FESTIVAL Saturday, October 17, 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. Staebler Farm County Park, 7734 Plymouth Rd. Ann Arbor Live traditional old-time music TBA. Display and sale of folk art and crafts, and demos of traditional crafts like blacksmithing, stained glass, leathercraft, basket weaving, and more. Also, participatory field games and food trucks. CANDLELIGHT VIGIL & COMMUNITY POTLUCK FOR DANHAO WANG Wednesday, October 21, 4 p.m. Rackham Building, 4th floor west conference room, 915 E. Washington Street. Join us to honor the life and work of Danhao Wang, a beloved U-M researcher, friend and member of our community who died shortly after interrogation by federal authorities. More than six months later, serious questions about the circumstances of his death remain unanswered. SOULS TO THE POLLS TRICK OR TREAT Saturday, October 24, 1-3 p.m., Ypsilanti Freighthouse (Great Hall), 100 Market Place. The Elections Office will set up a satellite station to allow eligible residents to register to vote, and/or submit their completed absentee ballots. Early voting will take place on the other side of the Great Hall. We will also be inviting families to participate in a mock Halloween special election inside. Groundcover will be participating! CUBA BRIGADE REPORTBACK Sunday, October 25, 5-7 p.m., Friends Meeting House, 1420 Hill Street, Ann Arbor. Recent brigadistas on the August "Centenary of Fidel" brigade to Cuba will present eyewitness reports on the impacts of the energy/fuel blockade and emergency recovery efforts; how Cuban elections work; and the upcoming UN vote. Presented by the Michigan Action for Cuba Committee. TRICK OR TREAT PARADE Sunday, October 25, 5-8 p.m., Downtown Ann Arbor (Main St and Library). Gather and line up at the Ann Arbor District Library for the much-anticipated Costume Parade. Followed by trick or treating at participating businesses in the Main Street area and more spooktacular activities. WCC'S FALL CAREER & INTERNSHIP FAIR Monday, October 26, 4-6 p.m. Morris Lawrence Building on the WCC campus, 4800 E. Huron River Drive. Approximately 70 employers from the public and private sectors will be on hand, many looking to hire for immediate job opportunities. WCC is also offering a series of free in-person and virtual workshops to help students, alumni and community members prepare to meet employers. Contact the Center for Career Success at careers@wccnet.edu or (734) 6775155 to register for a prep session. Free and open to WCC students, alumni and the public. See list of participating employers at wccnet. edu/careerfair GROUNDCOVER NEWS ANNUAL OPEN MIC Friday, November 20, 6-8 p.m. TeaHaus Eat More Tea, 211 Ann Street, Ann Arbor. Join us this November in honoring Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week at Groundcover News' fifth annual open mic event! Come listen to community members share writing, poetry and stories from the street — or sign up to take the mic yourself on the day of! Submit an event to be featured in the next edition: submissions@groundcovernews. com township clerk's office; bring your proof of residency. Ann Arbor: 301 E. Huron St. Pittsfield Township: 6201 W Michigan Ave, Ann Arbor Ypsilanti: 1 S. Huron St. Ypsilanti Township: 7200 S. Huron River Drive, Ypsilanti VOTING WHILE HOMELESS In addition to an ID (or filling out an affidavit), you need to provide a mailing address so the state of Michigan can send you important voting information by mail. The mailing address does not have to be a fixed home address. Consider using a nearby shelter, even if you do not currently live there, a nearby religious center or a home address of a friend or family member who lives nearby. GROUNDCOVER NEWS 5
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