Questions? Need to report a problem?
Contact: questions@MichiganVoting.org
or (866) OUR-VOTE | (866) 687-8683
VOTE FROM HOME BEFORE ELECTION DAY
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:
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Call or visit your city or township clerk’s office and ask for an absentee ballot application.
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Visit mi.gov/vote and fill out an application online by clicking on “Apply for an absentee ballot online.”
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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:
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In person to your city or township clerk’s office.
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Using a secure drop box provided by your city or township clerk.
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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 by July 16.
Step 4: Vote your absentee ballot
Look for your absentee ballot to arrive in the mail. Once it arrives:
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Fill it out.
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Place it in the envelope provided.
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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:
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Send it by mail. Your ballot envelope will come with pre-paid postage, so you don’t need to add a stamp.
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Drop it off at your city or township clerk's office or in a secure drop box provided by your clerk.
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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 (August 6) 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 (August 12).
Still have questions about voting from home before Election Day? Check out our Know Your Voting Rights Guide, email questions@michiganvoting.org, or call 866-OUR-VOTE (866-687-8683).
VOTE IN PERSON BEFORE ELECTION DAY
There are two ways to vote in person before Election Day: at an early voting site or at your city or township clerk’s office or satellite office.
Follow these steps to vote at an early voting site:
If you vote at an early voting site, you will be able to put your ballot into the tabulator, just like on Election Day.
STEP 1: Find out when and where early voting is offered for your community. To find this information, visit mi.gov/vote and click on “Your voter information.” You can also call your city or township clerk and ask for this information. For the August 6 Primary Election, early voting must be available from Saturday, July 27 through Sunday, August 4 for at least eight hours each day, but some communities will have early voting for additional days and hours.
STEP 2: Go to an early voting site for your community and check in with the poll workers.
STEP 3: Complete your ballot, place it in a secrecy sleeve, and feed it into the tabulator–just like you do at your polling place on Election Day.
Remember: you have the right to vote if you are in line when your early voting site closes.
Follow these steps to vote at your city or township clerk’s office or satellite office:
If you vote at your city or township clerk’s office or satellite office, you will use an absentee ballot and place it into an envelope to be tabulated later.
STEP 1: Go to your city or township clerk’s office or satellite office. Use one of these ways to find yours:
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Visit mi.gov/vote and click on “Where are my clerk’s offices.” Enter your address to find your city or township clerk.
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Call your city or township and ask to be connected to your clerk.
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Call the nonpartisan Election Protection Hotline at (866) OUR-VOTE | (866) 687-8683.
STEP 2: Complete an application for an absentee ballot and give it to the staff.
STEP 3: Complete your ballot, place it in the envelope they give you, sign the outside of the envelope with your official signature, that is, the signature that you use to sign your driver’s license or voter registration form, and submit it to the staff.
Remember: you have the right to receive a ballot if you are in line when your city or township clerk’s office or satellite office closes.
If you are registered to vote where you live: you can vote at your city or township clerk’s office until 4 p.m. on August 5.
If you still need to register to vote where you live: you can vote at your city or township clerk’s office until 8 p.m. on August 6.
Still have questions about voting in person before Election Day? Check out our Know Your Voting Rights Guide, email questions@michiganvoting.org, or call 866-OUR-VOTE (866-687-8683).
Call the Election Protection hotlines for assistance at any time.
For assistance in English, call 866-OUR-VOTE (866-687-8683).
Para recibir ayuda en español, llama a 888-VE-Y-VOTA (888-839-8682).
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For assistance in Bengali, Cantonese, Hindi, Korean, Mandarin, Tagalog, Urdu or Vietnamese call 888-API-VOTE (888-274-8683).
For additional information or questions, email: questions@michiganvoting.org.