How to Vote by Mail

 

Vote at home (Absentee)

You can vote from home now! Request an absentee ballot online.

All registered voters in Michigan can now vote using what’s called an absentee ballot. You don’t need an excuse or a reason. You can vote by absentee ballot through the mail, without leaving your home. You can also go to your city or township clerk’s office or drop box to return your absentee ballot, which we recommend if you are returning a ballot within two weeks of election day, in order to avoid possible postal delays.




How do I apply for an absentee ballot?

Within two weeks of election day, to avoid possible postal delays, we recommend making your request in person at your local city or township clerk's office. You’ll be able to fill out and submit your ballot while there.

  • Online – Registered voters can request an absentee ballot online through our absentee voter request form before 5 p.m. the Friday before the election.
  • Call your city or township clerk and ask that an application be mailed to you
  • Download an application to return by mail or in-person to your local city or township clerk
  • In person at your local city or township clerk’s office



When is the deadline to apply for an absentee ballot?

Online and mail requests for an absent voter ballot must be received by your township or city clerk no later than 5 p.m. the Friday before the election. If you’re already registered at your current address, you can request an absent voter ballot in person at your clerk’s office anytime up to 4 p.m. on the day prior to the election.

If you’re registering to vote or updating your address by appearing at your clerk’s office on Election Day, you can request an absent voter ballot at the same time you register. If you request your AV ballot the day before the election or on Election Day, you must vote the ballot in the clerk's office.


When do I need to deliver my ballot?

Voting with an absentee ballot

Your completed absentee ballot should be received by your city or township clerk by 8 p.m. on Election Day. You can submit by mail, or by hand-delivering the ballot to your clerk’s office or their drop box. If you are returning your ballot within two weeks of election day, we recommend hand-delivering your ballot to avoid possible postal delays.

Begin the process early by mailing in your application for an absentee ballot as soon as possible. Applications can be submitted up to 75 days before an election.


Did my ballot arrive?

All registered voters can track their ballot by looking up their information in the voter information section of this website.


What if I have an emergency on Election Day?

If an emergency, like a sudden illness or family death prevents you from reaching the polls on Election Day, you may request an emergency absent voter ballot.

Requests for an emergency ballot must be submitted after the deadline for regular absent voter ballots has passed but before 4 p.m. on Election Day.

The emergency must have occurred at a time which made it impossible for you to apply for a regular absent voter ballot. Please contact your local clerk for more information about emergency absent voter ballots.


I submitted my ballot. Can I change my vote?

If a voter has already voted absentee and wishes to change their vote (because the candidate has dropped out of the race, or for any other reason), a voter can spoil their ballot by submitting a written request to their city or township clerk.

  • The voter must sign the request and state if they would like a new absentee ballot mailed to them or if they will pick it up in person at the clerk’s office.
  • This request must be received by 5 p.m. the Friday before the election if the absentee ballot has been returned to the clerk.
  • An absentee ballot that has not been returned to the clerk may be spoiled in person at the clerk’s office until 4 p.m. the Monday prior to the election.
  • If a voter has not returned his or her ballot, the voter can surrender the ballot or sign a statement stating that the ballot was lost or destroyed and vote at the polls. There is no option on Election Day to spoil an absentee ballot that has been received by the clerk.

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