How to Get an Absentee Ballot in Michigan

Requesting an Absent Voter Ballot

Check your voter registration. You must be a registered voter to request an absent voter ballot. Before you complete and sign the application, it's a good idea to check and make sure your registration is valid. You also want to verify that your address and other information is correct. You can verify or update your voter registration by going to https://webapps.sos.state.mi.us/MVIC/ and entering your name, date of birth, and ZIP code.

Download the absent voter ballot application. The absent voter ballot application allows you to vote as an absent voter in the next scheduled election. You must complete an application before every election in which you want to vote as an absent voter, including special elections. You can access the absent voter ballot application at https://www.michigan.gov/sos/0,4670,7-127-1633_8716_8728-21037--,00.html. There is a version you can fill out on your computer, a version for you to print and fill out by hand, a version in Spanish, and a large-print version.

Complete and sign the application. The information you provide on the top portion of your absent voter application must match the information in your voter registration record. Your signature also must match your voter registration record. If you want your ballot sent to a temporary address, such as your university address if you're away at school, enter that information in 3a along with the dates when you'll be at that address. Check the box under 3b if you want to be added to the permanent absentee voter list. You will still have to fill out an application before every election, but the application will automatically be mailed to you.

Send the application to your city or township clerk. Your application must be received by the clerk no later than 5:00 p.m. the Friday before the election. You can either mail the form or you can take it to the office and hand it in yourself. If you need to find the address for your local clerk, go to https://webapps.sos.state.mi.us/MVIC/clerksearch.aspx and enter your address to identify the nearest clerk's office. If you are overseas, you should send your application to your city or township clerk at least 90 days before the election you want to vote in.Tip: If you had an emergency that prevented you from requesting a regular absent voter ballot, and you still want to vote absentee, you may be able to get an emergency absent voter ballot. Call or visit your local clerk's office for more information.

Submitting Your Absentee Ballot

Wait to receive your ballot in the mail. When your absent voter application is received, the clerk will compare it to your voter record and verify that it matches. If everything looks good, they will send you a ballot as soon as they are printed and available. The clerk will mail the ballot with a return envelope either to the address on your voter registration or to the temporary address you provided on your application.

Enter your votes on the ballot clearly. Read over the ballot first so that you understand what you're voting for. When you mark your votes, fill in the box next to your choice completely using blue or blank ink. You may vote for a straight party in the partisan section of the ballot. If you want to vote a "mixed ticket," you must vote for each individual candidate. Nonpartisan offices and proposals (if any) must be voted separately. You don't have to vote for every office or proposal on the ballot. However, if you vote for an office, make sure you only vote once. If you vote for more than one candidate in a race, your vote will not be counted. Return your ballot to the clerk and ask for another if you make a mistake. Don't attempt to erase or make corrections on your ballot.

Seal your ballot in the envelope provided. When you've finished marking your votes, fold your ballot so that the votes are concealed and place it in the envelope. Seal the envelope completely. It can only be opened by an election official in the clerk's office. Extra tape or glue is not necessary to seal the envelope. Simply moistening the glue on the envelope flap is sufficient. Extra tape or glue will make it more difficult for election officials to open your ballot and could result in your ballot being damaged or destroyed.

Sign your envelope and affix postage. There is a space on the outside of your envelope for your signature. This signature must match the signature on your voter registration record. Write the date next to your signature. If you're mailing your ballot to the clerk's office, include at least 60 cents' worth of postage. If you are disabled and required assistance to mark your ballot, the person who assisted you must also sign the return envelope in the space provided.

Send your ballot back to your local clerk's office. You have until 8:00 p.m. on Election Day to send in your ballot. You can mail your sealed ballot or take it into the clerk's office yourself. Additionally, some cities and townships have ballot boxes where you can place your ballot without having to affix postage. These boxes are retrieved by the clerk's office. Once you've sent your ballot to the clerk's office, you can track its status at the Michigan Voter Information Center. Go to https://webapps.sos.state.mi.us/MVIC/ and enter your information.Tip: If you mail your ballot, send it directly to the clerk's office. Do not send it to another address first. For example, if you're a college student, mail the ballot directly from your school address to the clerk's office. Do not send it to your parents' address and have them take it to the clerk's office.

Registering to Vote in Michigan

Verify that you are eligible to vote. To be eligible to vote, you must be a US citizen, a resident of Michigan, and live in the town where you're registering. You also must be at least 18 years old, or be turning 18 by Election Day. You don't have to live in a town for any length of time to be considered a resident for the purposes of registering to vote. You can register to vote the first day you move there. If you move to a different address within the same city or township, you don't have to re-register to vote, you can simply update your address. However, if you move to a new city or township, you will have to re-register.Tip: The address you use to register to vote must be the same address that is on your driver's license. If you've moved, update your driver's license before you re-register to vote.

Complete an application at least 30 days before the next election. Voter registration applications are available at your local clerk's office, the offices of numerous state agencies, through voter registration drives, and online. To download the application online, go to https://www.michigan.gov/documents/MIVoterRegistration_97046_7.pdf.

Submit your application to your local clerk's office. You can take your application to the clerk's office in person, or you can mail it in. If you mail it in and you've never voted in Michigan before, you must also include a copy of your driver's license or state-issued photo ID, as well as a photocopy of a paycheck stub, utility bill, or other document to prove your residency. If you hand-deliver your application to the local clerk's office, the clerk can review your original documents. Do not send original documents in the mail. If you have previously registered to vote in Michigan, you do not have to meet this additional identification requirement.

Wait to receive your voter card in the mail. After the clerk's office processes your application, the clerk will mail you a voter registration card. The card provides the address where you should go to vote, if you want to vote in person. Keep your voter card in your wallet or purse so you'll have it with you when you go to vote and you'll know where to go.

Vote for the first time in person unless you hand-delivered your application. If you mailed in your voter registration application, election officials need to verify your identification before you can vote for the first time. Go to the location on your voter registration card and present your valid government-issued photo ID. You can also go to the clerk's office and have your ID verified if you want to vote absentee.