all registered voters in michigan have the right to vote by mail. it’s a safe way to vote and protect your health, and the process is safe and accurate.
all registered voters are eligible to vote by mail
Due to the passage of State Ballot Proposition 18-3, all eligible and registered voters in Michigan can now request an absentee ballot without providing a reason.
request an absentee ballot
Voters can request an absentee ballot or an accessible voter ballot in several ways. Voters can complete an application online at michigan.gov/vote or send an application, large print application, letter or postcard to their local clerk. find your local clerk at michigan.gov/vote. absentee ballot applications may be returned by hand, mail, fax, or email, as long as a signature is visible.
Requests to have an absentee ballot mailed to you must be received by your clerk no later than 5 p.m. the Friday before the election. If you are already registered at your current address, you may request an absentee ballot in person at your clerk’s office any time until 4 p.m. the day before the election, this ballot must be completed in the clerk’s office. If you are registering to vote or updating your address by going to the clerk’s office on Election Day, you can request an absentee 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 at the clerk’s office.
Once the local clerk receives your application, your signature on the application will be checked against your voter registration record before a ballot is cast. You must be a registered voter to receive an absentee ballot, but you can register and request an absentee ballot at the same time. absentee ballot requests are processed immediately. Absentee ballots may be issued to you at your home address or at any address outside your city or town of residence.
After you receive your absentee ballot, you have until 8 p.m. on Election Day to complete the ballot and return it to the clerk’s office. Your ballot will not be counted unless your signature is on the return envelope and matches your signature on file. if you received ballot assistance, the signature of the person who assisted you must also be on the return envelope. Only you, a member of your family or a person residing in your household, a mail carrier, or an election official is authorized to deliver your signed absentee ballot to the clerk’s office.
If an emergency, such as a sudden illness or death in the family, prevents you from getting to the polls on Election Day, you can request an emergency absentee ballot. applications for emergency ballots must be submitted after the deadline for regular absentee ballots has passed, but before 4 p.m. m. on election day. the emergency must have occurred at a time when it was impossible for you to request a regular absentee ballot. contact your local clerk for more information on emergency absentee ballots.
spoil an absentee ballot
If a voter has already voted absentee and wishes to change their vote (because the candidate dropped out of the race or for any other reason), a voter may void their ballot by submitting a written request to their city or township employee.
- The voter must sign the application and indicate whether they want a new absentee ballot mailed to them or pick it up in person at the clerk’s office.
- this application must be received by 5 p.m. the Friday before the election if received by mail. an absentee ballot that has been returned to the clerk may be spoiled in person at the clerk’s office until 10 a.m. m. the Monday before the election. 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. m. on the Monday before the election.
- If a voter has not returned their ballot, the voter may surrender the ballot or sign a statement 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.
You can find contact information for your clerk in the Voter Information section of the Michigan Voter Information Center website.