If you’re voting absentee, like more than two million voters are planning to do in Michigan this November, you have many options to submit your ballot.
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Find your local drop box
You can return your completed absent voter ballot by delivering it to your local clerk’s office before the 8 p.m. deadline on November 3. Some offices are even offering ballot “drop boxes” to make returning your ballot easier.
- Click here to find contact and location information for your local clerk’s office. You’re encouraged to contact your clerk’s office directly to determine if a drop box option is available.
- If you live in Detroit, use this handy map.
Officials are encouraging voters to hand deliver their completed ballot, as voters can guarantee that their ballot will be received on time and their vote will be counted in the election.
No postage is required to return your Michigan absent voter ballot in person. Remember: The back of the envelope containing the completed absent voter ballot must be signed by the voter or it will not be counted.
Mail your ballot
You can return your completed absent voter ballot by mailing it to your local clerk’s office.
To ensure your ballot is received by the 8 p.m. deadline on November 3, we recommend mailing out your completed ballot at least two weeks before the deadline -- which would be October 20.
Recent delays and funding shortages with the U.S. Postal Service have raised concerns over whether or not mail-in ballots will be returned to clerks' offices on time for the November election. For this reason, we are recommending mailing in your completed absent voter ballot as soon as possible ahead of Election Day.
Postage will be required to return your Michigan absent voter ballot by mail.
How to make sure your ballot isn’t rejected
- Carefully follow the instructions provided when filling out the ballot at home. Making a mistake will either cause the ballot to be rejected, or force you to obtain a new ballot and start again.
- Make sure the completed ballot is located inside of the envelope before returning it. (This seems obvious, but just trust us! Double check.)
- Be sure to sign the back of the envelope that contains your absent voter ballot. This signature is expected to match your state-documented signature.
- Ensure your completed absent voter ballot arrives to your local clerk before the 8 p.m. deadline on November 3. If you aren’t confident that your ballot will reach your local clerk in time through mail, you can hand deliver it before the election.