Absent Voter Ballots (Vote by Mail)

Michigan Election Law does not allow an absentee ballot to be forwarded to a different address other than your voter registration address.  Instead, the Post Office will return the ballot to the Clerk's office.  

If you know that you will be out of town and not home to receive your mail, you should include your temporary address on the absent voter application.  The Clerk's office will mail your ballot directly to your temporary address. 

The Clerk checks your signature on the application.  In most cases, this is the same signature that is on your driver's license or state ID.  That signature is what is linked to your voter registration and is the most up-to-date signature on file.  

If your signature is not a good likeness to the version on your voter registration or drivers license, the Clerk's office will attempt to contact you via phone, email, and/or letter.  Only the requestor may sign the application.  Election law does not allow for anyone other than the registered voter to sign their application. 

Use this link to track when the Clerk has reviewed and accepted your application and when your ballot is mailed.  

The Photo ID Requirement applies to Absent Voters requesting to receive their ballot in person (PA 523 of 2012). This requirement does not apply to mailed absent voter ballots. 

If you do not possess acceptable photo ID, you may complete an affidavit and vote a challenged ballot.   

Having your ballot mailed removes the photo ID requirement.

DID THE CLERK RECEIVE MY VOTED ABSENTEE BALLOT?
Use this link to track when the Clerk has received, reviewed, and accepted your returned ballot.

If your ballot has a returned date noted, then ballot was received, and your signature was accepted.  Your ballot will be delivered to the Absent Voter Counting Board for processing on Election Day. 

WHAT HAPPENS AFTER I SUBMIT MY VOTED ABSENTEE BALLOT?
The Clerk checks your signature on the ballot envelope against the signature in the voter registration file.  In most cases, this is the same signature that is on your driver's license or state ID.  That signature is what is linked to your voter registration and is the most up-to-date signature on file.  

If your signature is not a good likeness to the version on your voter registration or drivers license, the Clerk's office will attempt to contact you via phone, email, and/or letter.  Only the voter may sign the ballot envelope.  Election law does not allow for anyone other than the registered voter to sign their ballot envelope.

WILL MY BALLOT BE COUNTED ON ELECTION DAY?
If your ballot has a returned date noted, then ballot was received, and your signature was accepted.  Your ballot will be delivered to the Absent Voter Counting Board for processing on Election Day. 

You may receive multiple Absentee Ballot Applications in the mail because political parties, interest groups, candidates, and individuals are allowed to print and distribute absentee ballot applications.  The Clerk's office has no control over other groups and individuals distributing absentee ballot applications. 

These are simply applications, not actual ballots.  A voter must complete, sign, and return the application to the Clerk's Office before a ballot is issued and mailed.  You will only receive one ballot no matter how many applications you receive. 

Whether voting in person on Election Day or voting by absentee ballot, every voter must complete an application each election, unless you have already signed up for the permanent absent voter ballot list.

Absentee ballot applications are used to ensure that the voter requesting a ballot by mail is who they say they are.  The application requires personal information and the voter's signature.  The signature is verified using your voter registration data in the State of Michigan's Qualified Voter File.  

Spoiled Ballots, or Made a Mistake on your Ballot
If you made a mistake on your ballot, do not attempt to correct it.  The City Clerk's office will need your spoiled ballot AND a written, signed statement.  Click here for the Spoiled Ballot Affidavit form.  The form is also available at the Clerk's office.  The Clerk's office will spoil (void) your ballot and a new ballot will be issued. 

Click here to view important dates for absentee voters.  If the deadline to receive a replacement absentee ballot has passed, you can still vote in person at your polling place on Election Day.  Take your spoiled ballot to your polling place on Election day, and surrender your spoiled absentee ballot to the poll workers.  The poll workers will then issue you a precinct ballot to vote at your polling place. 

Lost Ballot or Did Not Receive My Ballot
Each election that you want to vote by absentee ballot, you must first apply for the ballot.  If you applied for a ballot for this election and did not receive the ballot, or you lost the ballot, you can request a replacement ballot.  Click here for the Lost Ballot Affidavit form.  The form is also available at the Clerk's Office.  The Clerk's office will void the lost ballot and a new ballot will be issued. 

Click here to view important dates for absentee voters.  If the deadline to receive a replacement absentee ballot has passed, you can still vote in person at your polling place on Election Day.   Please allow yourself extra time to vote as the poll workers will give you an Absent Voter Ballot Affidavit to complete, and call the City Clerk's office to verify you have not voted and returned your absentee ballot.  Once this process is completed, the poll workers will issue you a precinct ballot to vote at your polling place.

Starting at the presidential primary election in 2024, voters may bring their AV ballot to their polling place on Election Day and tabulate their AV ballot. Voters should bring their ballot in its secrecy sleeve to the polling place.  Their photo ID and AV ballot number will be verified and documented on their Application to Vote. They will be directed to a voting booth to mark their ballot (if needed) and then directed to tabulate their ballot.

If you do not have your absentee ballot, you will experience a slight delay at your polling place.  First, you will have to complete an Affidavit attesting that you did not vote your ballot.  Then the poll workers must call the City Clerk's office to verify you have not voted and returned your absentee ballot. Once this process is completed, the poll workers will issue you a precinct ballot to vote at your polling place.

If a voter has already voted and returned their absentee ballot 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 prior to election day. 
• There is no option on Election Day to spoil an absentee ballot that has been received by the clerk.
• Photo ID requirement in effect for in person absentee ballots. 

Voters with print disabilities may apply for an accessible electronic absent voter ballot that can be completed electronically, printed, and returned to the local clerk.

To apply online for an accessible electronic absent voter ballot, click here.

Absentee ballots are the same paper ballot as a ballot issued at the polling place on Election Day.  Absentee ballots are processed by an Absent Voter Counting Board, or at the Early Voting Center, or they can be tabulated the same as ballots voted at the polling place on Election Day starting in 2024.