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Christine Bassett, Clerk 6042 Acme Road Williamsburg MI 49690 (231) 938-1350 Sharma Zollinger,
Deputy Clerk
MICHIGAN ABSENTEE VOTING FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQs) Click on a question and you will be taken to the spot further down the page where that particular question is answered. after each question is a link that you can click to be brought immediately back to the top of this section. Who can get a Absentee Voter Application and Ballot? If I register by mail can I get an Absentee Ballot? How can I get an Absentee Voter Application? How can a voter be put on a permanent absentee voter application list? How can I submit an absentee voter ballot application? Are there any Restrictions on Possession of Signed Absentee Ballot Application? At what address can a voter receive an absentee voter ballot application? Can campaign brochures or other materials be enclosed with absentee voter application or ballots? Can an Absentee Voter receive assistance with voting their ballot? After receiving my absentee ballot, how long do I have to return it back to the clerk’s office? Who can return an absentee voter ballot? Can an Election Official pick-up my absentee voter ballot? Can an election official contact a absentee voter to pick up their ballot? What is meant by “emergency absentee ballot request”? Are there any other penalties concerning the handling of absentee voter ballots? How do I get a ballot if I'm in the military or a civilian overseas?
ANSWERS Who can get a Absentee Voter Application and Ballot? A registered voter is eligible to obtain an absentee voting application and ballot for an upcoming election if she or she: 1) is 60 years of age or more 2) is unable to vote without assistance 3) expects to be absent from their city or township of residence for the entire time the polls are open 4) is in jail awaiting arraignment or trial 5) has been appointed to work as an election inspector in a precinct outside of his or her precinct of residence or 6) is unable to attend the polls due to his or her religious beliefs.
If I register by mail can I get an Absentee Ballot? A person who registers to vote by mail must vote in person in the first election in which he or she participates. The restriction does not apply to overseas voters, voters who are handicapped or voters who are 60 years of age or older.
How can I get an Absentee Voter Application? A voter who wishes to receive an absentee ballot must request it in writing from the clerk; absentee ballots may not be delivered as a result of an oral request made in person or over the phone. However, an absentee ballot application form may be provided as a result of an oral request. The written request may be on a form supplied by the clerk or other election official, in a letter or on a postcard. The written request must include a reason why the voter is eligible to receive an absentee ballot and the applicant’s signature.
How can a voter be put on a permanent absentee voter application list? A voter must provide a written request, to the clerk, to be placed on a permanent absentee voter application list. The voter will receive a absentee voter application for all upcoming elections.
How can I submit an absentee voter ballot application? Absentee voter ballot applications can be delivered to the clerk’s office; 1) via the us mail, 2) in person to the clerk’s office.
Are there any Restrictions on Possession of Signed Absentee Ballot Application? Persons who may be in lawful possession of a signed absentee ballot request are limited to 1) the applicant 2) a member of the applicant’s immediate family 3) a person residing in the applicant’s household 4) a person whose job normally includes the handling of the mail (but only during the course of his or her employment) 5) a registered elector asked to handle the application by the applicant and 6) an authorized election official. Note: Immediate family is defined as an individual’s father, mother, son, daughter, brother, sister, and spouse and a relative of any degree residing in the same household as that individual. A registered elector who returns an absentee ballot application, at the request of the applicant, must sign the certificate which appears on the back of the application form.
At what address can a voter receive an absentee voter ballot application? A voter can receive an absentee ballot at his or her registration address, at any address outside of his or her jurisdiction of residence or at a hospital, nursing home or similar institution. Also, a clerk may mail an absentee ballot, upon request of the voter, to a post office box if the post office box is where the voter normally receives mail and the voter does not receive mail at his or registration address. A voter cannot receive an absentee ballot at any residential address within his or her city or township of registration other than his or her registration address.
Can campaign brochures or other materials be enclosed with absentee voter application or ballots? Campaign brochures or any other type of unauthorized materials may not be inserted with absentee voter application or ballots.
Can an Absentee Voter receive assistance with voting their ballot? If the absentee voter receives assistance from another person when voting the ballot, the individual who provided the assistance must sign the certificate which appears on the outside of the ballot return envelope. A person who assists an absentee voter mark his or her ballot include 1) the voter’s spouse 2) a household member who lives with the voter 3) an election official or an individual employed as an election assistant.
After receiving my absentee ballot, how long do I have to return it back to the clerk’s office? Absentee ballots must be returned to the clerk by 8:00 pm on election day.
Who can return an absentee voter ballot? The persons who may return an absentee ballot are limited to 1) the voter 2) a member of the voter’s immediate family who has been asked to return the ballot 3) a person residing in the voter’s household who has been asked to return the ballot 4) a person whose job normally includes the handling of mail ( but only during the course of his or her employment) and 5) an authorized election official. It is important to note, an absentee voter is not permitted to ask another voter, who is not a member of the voter’s immediate family or household, to return his or her absentee ballot. Note: Immediate family is defined as an individual’s father, mother, son, daughter, brother, sister, and spouse and a relative of any degree residing in the same household as that individual.
Can an Election Official pick-up my absentee voter ballot? An election official is required to pick up a voter’s absentee ballot if all of the following conditions are satisfied: 1) the election official issued the ballot to the voter 2) the voter is unable to return the ballot under any of the authorized delivery methods 3) the voter calls to request the pickup of his or her ballot before 5 pm on the Friday immediately preceding the election and 4) it is not necessary for the election official to travel outside of the jurisdiction to obtain the ballot. Under any other circumstances, an election official (or authorized assistant) may pick up a voter’s absentee ballot at the election official’s discretion if 1) the election official issued the ballot to the voter and 2) the voter is unable to return the ballot under any of the authorized delivery methods. Election assistants authorized to pick up absentee ballots must carry appropriate credentials and show them when asked.
Can an election official contact a absentee voter to pick up their ballot? In no case should a clerk, election official or a person working as an election assistant contact an absentee voter in person or by phone to offer to return the voter’s ballot.
What happens if a absentee voter does not sign the certificate which appears on the front of the return envelope prior to returning the ballot to the clerk? If the voter fails to sign the certificate, the ballot is void and the ballot cannot be removed from the envelope or counted.
What if a voter returns their absentee voter ballot and unfortunately becomes deceased or incarcerated? If it comes to the attention of the local election official or a precinct board that a voter who returned an absentee ballot has died or is serving a sentence in jail or prison, the ballot must be rejected. In such an instance, the election official or precinct board writes “rejected as illegal” on the return envelope and ballot cannot be removed from their return envelope.
What is meant by “emergency absentee ballot request”? An elector may make an emergency request for an absentee ballot if she or he cannot attend the polls 1) the elector has became disabled or 2) the elector must leave the community for the entire time the polls are open on election day due to a family death or illness. “Emergency” requests for absentee ballots must be made after the deadline for making a “regular” requests for absentee ballots (2:00 pm on the Saturday before the election) and before 4:00 pm on election day. The emergency must have occurred at a time which made it impossible for the voter to apply for an absentee ballot by the statutory deadline for “regular” application. If such an request is made, the person making the application may authorize the person delivering the application to pick up and deliver the ballot. The authorization to pick up and deliver the ballot must be in writing and must be signed by the applicant. An “emergency” absentee ballot may also be delivered by hand to the applicant by a person authorized to handle this task.
Are there penalties for forging a signature or for the unauthorized distribution and return of absentee ballot applications to voters? A person who forges a signature on an absentee ballot application is guilty of a felony (MCL 168.759 (8) ). An unauthorized person who both distributes absentee ballot applications to voters and returns those absentee ballot applications to a clerk or assistant of the clerk is guilty of a misdemeanor. (MCL 168.759 (8)).
Are there any other penalties concerning the handling of absentee voter ballots? Yes, for a detailed listing, contact the township clerk’s office or go online to Michigan Secretary of State’s web and search for MCL 168.932(e)), MCL 168.931 (1) (b)), MCL 168.931 1) (m)), MCL 168.932 (g)), MCL 168.932 (g)), MCL 168.932 (f)), MCL 168.761 (5)), MCL 168.932 (i)), MCL 168.761 (5))
How do I get a ballot if I'm in the military or a civilian overseas? New state and federal laws make it easier for military and overseas civilian voters to register and participate in elections. Under the new laws, military and overseas civilian voters can now receive a ballot by e-mail or fax to speed the voting process! (The voted ballot must be returned by mail for security purposes.) Military and overseas civilian voters interested in obtaining ballots for the elections that will be held this year must request a ballot through their local city or township clerk. Requests for absentee ballots submitted prior to 2010 are no longer valid and cannot be processed. Under the new law, requests for ballots are good for every election held in the same calendar year in which the request is received. When submitting your request, be sure to indicate whether you would like to receive your ballot by mail, e-mail or fax. Additional information including contact information for Michigan's city and township clerks can be obtained through the Michigan Voter Information Center (MVIC) website maintained by the Michigan Department of State. Click here to be taken directly to the Military and Overseas Civilian portion of their website.
Please call Dorothy or Sharma if you have any questions!
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