Michigan Absentee Voter Guide

Military and overseas voters should visit the Overseas Vote Foundation.  Long Distance Voter's forms and deadlines should only be used by voters with US mailing addresses.

First-time voters who register by mail must vote in person the first time they vote. You can get around this restriction by requesting your absentee ballot in person from your County Clerk. This restriction does not apply to overseas voters, voters who are handicapped or voters who are 60 years of age or older.  

Important Deadlines

• Voter Registration Form: Postmarked at least 30 days before the election
• Absentee Ballot Application: Received by 2:00 PM on the Saturday before the election
• Voted Absentee Ballot: Received by 8:00 PM on Election Day

How to vote by absentee ballot

Register to vote

Recommended: Use our Voter Registration Widget.  Enter your information, print and sign the completed form, and mail it to the address printed on the form.  For faster processing, you can mail the form directly to your County Clerk. 

You can also download and fill out Michigan's voter registration form.  Mail the completed form to your County Clerk. 

NOTE: Michigan law requires that the same address be used for voter registration and driver license purposes. Therefore, if the residence address you provide on your voter registration form differs from the address shown on a driver license or personal identification card issued by the State of Michigan, the Secretary of State will automatically change your driver license or personal identification card address to match the residence address entered on this form. If an address change is made, the Secretary of State will mail you an address update sticker for your driver license or personal identification card.

Verify your voter registration

You should receive written confirmation that your voter registration was processed in 2-3 weeks.  Don't panic if you never receive your voter registration card: you don't actually need it to vote.  If you not sure if your registration was processed - or if you simply can't remember if you're register to vote - you can use the voter registration verification tools here.

Make sure you're eligible to vote by absentee ballot

You may vote by absentee ballot in Michigan if you are registered to vote and you fall into one of the following categories:

• you are 60 years old or older
• you are unable to vote without assistance at the polls
• you are expecting to be out of town on election day
• you are in jail awaiting arraignment or trial
• you are unable to attend the polls due to religious reasons
• you are appointed to work as an election inspector in a precinct outside of your precinct of residence.

First-time voters who register by mail must vote in person the first time they vote. You can get around this restriction by requesting your absentee ballot in person from your County Clerk. This restriction does not apply to overseas voters, voters who are handicapped or voters who are 60 years of age or older.  

Apply for your absentee ballot

Download and complete the Michigan Absentee Ballot Application  Mail, fax, or hand-deliver your completed application to your County Clerk.  Once your request is received by the local 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 absentee ballot. Requests for absentee voter ballots are processed immediately. Absentee voter ballots may be issued to you at your home address or any address outside of your city or township of residence.

Your absentee ballot application msut be received by your clerk no later than 2 p.m. the Saturday before the election.

Receive, complete and return your absentee ballot

Fill out your ballot, sign where indicated, put a stamp on it, and then mail your ballot back to your County Clerk.  The County Clerk must receive your absentee ballot by 8pm on Election Day.  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 election official is authorized to deliver your signed absentee voter ballot to your clerk's office.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to provide ID when I register to vote?

You must include your Michigan driver's license number or your Michigan state ID card number on your voter registration form.  If you don't have either of these numbers, you'll need to include a copy of your ID with your voter registration form.  If you forget, you'll need to provide ID the first time you vote in person.  Acceptable forms of ID include: a COPY of a current and valid photo identification and Michigan address OR a copy of a paycheck, utility bill, bank statement or government document that shows your name and address.

I am a first-time Michigan voter.  Can I vote by absentee ballot?

First-time voters who register by mail must vote in person the first time they vote. You can get around this restriction by requesting your absentee ballot in person from your County Clerk and showing your ID at that time.  This restriction does not apply to overseas voters, voters who are handicapped or voters who are 60 years of age or older.  

Do I need to provide ID when I vote by absentee ballot? 

No. If you've already voted in person once in Michigan, you do not need to provide ID when you vote by absentee ballot.  If you are are a first-time Michigan voter, and you did not apply for your absentee ballot in person (and show ID at that time), you have not met the ID requirements and cannot vote by absentee ballot.  

Can I vote by absentee ballot on a permanent basis?

Sort of.  Michigan allows voters to place themselves on a "Permanent Absentee Voter List."  Once you're on list, you'll automatically receive an Absentee Voter Application before every election.  You'll still need to return the absentee ballot application to your county clerk - and you'll still need to indicate a valid reason for applying for an absentee ballot - before they'll mail you an actual absentee ballot.  If you think that you'll regularly need an absentee ballot, you should absolutely add yourself to this list.  Contact your County Clerk to learn more.. 

I need an emergency absentee ballot.  What can I do?

You can apply for an Emergency Absentee Ballot if you have become physically disabled or if a family death or illness requires you to leave your community for the entire time the polls are open on Election Day.  Requests for Emergency Absentee Ballots must be submitted after the deadline for applying for a regular absentee ballot but before 4 p.m. on Election Day. Contact your County Clerk to obtain an Emergency Absentee Ballot. Emergency Absentee Ballots must be returned to the clerk's office by 8 p.m. on Election Day.

Additional Information