ABSENTEE BALLOT INFORMATION

Who is Eligible for an Absent Voter Ballot

At the General Election in November 2018, Proposal 3, a Constitutional Amendment, passed unanimously statewide.  This Constitutional Amendment affects deadlines to register to vote, how they become registered to vote and who can vote by absentee ballot.  All registered voters may apply for 

Requesting an Absent Voter Ballot

Download an absent voter ballot application - Fillable (PDF)

Your request for an absent voter ballot must be in writing and can be submitted to the City Clerk. You must request an absent voter ballot by mailing an application, a letter, a postcard, or a pre-printed application form obtained from the Clerk's office. Requests to have an absent voter ballot mailed to you must be received by your clerk no later than 5 pm the Friday before the election.

Absent Voter Ballots can be obtained and voted in the office up until 4 pm on the Monday before the election.

Once your request is received by the Clerk, your signature on the request will be checked against your voter registration record before a ballot is issued. You must be a registered voter to receive an absent voter ballot. Requests for absent voter ballots are processed immediately. Absent voter ballots may be issued to you at your home address or current mailing address.

Check your voter registration at the Michigan Voter Information Center.

Returning Your Absentee Ballot

After receiving your absent voter ballot, you have until 8 pm 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 assistance voting the ballot, then the signature of the person who helped you must also be on the return envelope. Only you, a family member or person residing in your household, a mail carrier, or an election official are authorized to deliver your signed absent voter ballot to the Clerk's office.

If an emergency, such as a sudden illness or family death prevents you from reaching the polls on election day, you may request an emergency absent voter ballot. Requests for an emergency ballot must be submitted after the deadline for regular absent voter ballots has passed but before 4 pm on election day. The emergency must have occurred at a time which made it impossible for you to apply for a regular absent voter ballot. For more information about emergency absent voter ballots, please contact the Clerk's office at 810-629-2261.

Drop Box Locations for Election Materials

1. City Hall South Entrance - Available 24 hours a day
2. City Hall Lobby - Available during business hours