LANSING, Mich. (WLNS) — Clerks in Lansing and East Lansing say they are finding ballots meant for other communities in their jurisdictions’ drop boxes.

East Lansing City Clerk Marie Wicks said she has identified 35 ballots for another city or state left by voters in a drop box on Michigan State University campus. Lansing City Clerk Chris Swope said his election team has identified “as many as 30” such ballots.

“I make an effort to contact the voter and let them know that they can pick up their ballot here at REO Road or we will mail it the following day,” Swope told WLNS, WOOD TV8’s sister station in Lansing, via text message.

Ballots have to be returned to the clerk who issued them in order to be counted, both clerks noted. Both clerks also say their drop boxes explicitly state the drops are for local ballots only.

“We just want to make sure their ballot arrives in time to be to be tabulated,” Wicks said. “I think we just need to educate folks… That’s my biggest fear is that folks will put their ballot from another jurisdiction or another state in our drop box with the mistaken belief that it will be counted and it won’t. And that’s pretty heartbreaking.”

Your jurisdiction should be listed on your ballot. When finding a drop box, make sure it’s for the same city or township. You can find your jurisdiction’s drop boxes by visiting Michigan.gov/vote.

The United States Postal Service says that in 2020, more than 99% of absentee ballots around the country were delivered to clerks within seven days of being mailed. However, the Michigan Secretary of State’s Office advises that ballots should be returned via drop box, in person to your clerk’s office or to a polling place once the election is less than two weeks out.

Your ballot must be back to your clerk by the time polls close at 8 p.m. Election Day to get counted (with an exception for military and overseas ballots).