You can vote from home before Election Day using an absentee ballot. This is a ballot that is sent to you, then you complete it at home and return it by a certain date. Using an absentee ballot is a good option if you want to avoid lines at your polling place or early voting site, if you think you might be out of town on Election Day, or if you just want to take your time filling out your ballot.

​

Step 1: Get your application for an absentee ballot.

If you want to vote from home, and you’re not already on the Permanent Mail Ballot List, you first need to apply for an absentee ballot. Use one of these ways to get an application for an absentee ballot:

• Call or visit your city or township clerk’s office and ask for an absentee ballot application.

• Visit mi.gov/vote and fill out an application online by clicking on “Apply for an absentee ballot online.”

• Visit mi.gov/vote and download and print an application by clicking on “Voter forms and publications” and scrolling down to “Absentee Voter Ballot.”

​

Step 2: Complete your application for an absentee ballot

If you filled out your application online at mi.gov/vote, you’re all set.

​

If you choose to use a paper application, fill it out and sign it using your official signature, that is, the signature that you used to sign your driver’s license or your voter registration application. When you complete the application, you will be able to choose whether to have an absentee ballot mailed to you for a specific upcoming election or for all future elections.

​

Step 3: Turn in your application for an absentee ballot

If you filled out your application online at mi.gov/vote, you’re all set.

 

If you filled out a paper application, you’ll need to submit it to your city or township clerk. You can submit the signed application:

• In person to your city or township clerk’s office.

• Using a secure drop box provided by your city or township clerk.

• By email, mail, or fax.

 

You can track when your application is received by your clerk and when your ballot is mailed to you by visiting mi.gov/vote and clicking on “Your voter information.” If there is no date next to a particular step, it means that step is not yet complete.

​

Submit your application for an absentee ballot early! You need to apply with enough time for you to receive a ballot, complete it, and return it to your city or township clerk by the deadline. We recommend that you submit your application at least three weeks before Election Day.

​

Step 4: Vote your absentee ballot

Look for your absentee ballot to arrive in the mail. Once it arrives:

1. Fill it out.

2. Place it in the envelope provided.

3. Sign the outside of the envelope with your official signature, that is, the signature that you used to sign your driver’s license or your voter registration application.

​

Step 5: Turn in your absentee ballot

Submit your completed ballot to your city or township clerk as soon as possible. Use any of these methods:

• Send it by mail. Your ballot envelope will come with pre-paid postage, so you don’t need to add a stamp.

• Drop it off at your city or township clerk's office or in a secure drop box provided by your clerk.

• Have an immediate family member or a person from your household drop it off for you.

​

If you can't turn in your completed ballot using any of the above options, you can ask your city or township clerk to pick up your absentee ballot as long as your ballot is in the city or township where you are registered to vote.

 

Alternatively, you can take your completed absentee ballot to your early voting site or, if you live anywhere other than Detroit, to your polling place on Election Day and insert it into a tabulator. Just let the poll workers know that you’d like to do this when you arrive. 

 

In most cases, your completed ballot must be received by your city or township clerk by 8 p.m. on Election Day to count. However, if you are serving in the military or living overseas, your completed ballot must be postmarked by Election Day and received by your city or township clerk within six days after the election.

I am hand-delivering my ballot to my city or township clerk or placing it in a drop box. When does the clerk need to get it?

​

• August 6 Primary Election: Ballots are due by 8 p.m. on August 6.

• November 5 General Election: Ballots are due by 8 p.m. on November 5.

 

I am not serving in the military or living overseas, and I am mailing my ballot. When should I send it?

 

• August 6 Primary Election: Ballots should be sent no later than July 23.

• November 5 General Election: Ballots should be sent no later than October 22.

 

I am serving in the military or living overseas. When should I send my ballot and when must my clerk receive it?

 

• August 6 Primary Election: Ballots must be postmarked by August 6 and received by August 12.

• November 5 General Election: Ballots must be postmarked by November 5 and received by November 11.

​

I need to have the clerk pick up my ballot. When do I need to call them?

 

• August 6 Primary Election: By 5 p.m. on August 2.

• November 5 General Election: By 5 p.m. on November 1.

​

What if I'm on the Permanent Mail Ballot List?

Starting in May 2023, voters could sign up to join the Permanent Mail Ballot List and receive a ballot by mail before all future elections. If you signed up for this list, you do not need to submit another absentee ballot application each time. You will automatically receive a ballot by mail before all future elections.

​

If you were previously on the list to receive an absentee ballot application before each election, you will receive an application before the next election. You need to complete this application and return it to your city or township clerk in order to receive your absentee ballot. 

​

Can I track my application for an absentee ballot and my absentee ballot?

You can track your absentee ballot and application by visiting mi.gov/vote and clicking on “Your voter information.”

​

You can see this information:

• The date your clerk received your application for an absentee ballot.

• The date your clerk mailed your absentee ballot to you.

• The date your clerk received your absentee ballot after you mailed or delivered it to your clerk.

 

If there is no date under a specific field, it means that step is not yet complete.

​