Step 1: Get your application for an absentee ballot. 

If you want to vote from home, and aren’t already on the Permanent Mail Ballot List, we recommend requesting an absentee ballot by October 14. You can request your ballot online or by submitting a paper application.If you vote from home in every election, and generally receive your ballot at the same address for each election, we recommend joining the Permanent Mail Ballot List. You can join the Permanent Mail Ballot List when you apply for your absentee ballot. Sign up by checking the box indicating that you’d like to automatically receive a ballot by mail for each future election for which you’re eligible. 

Step 2: Complete and return your absentee ballot application. 

If you filled out your application online at mi.gov/vote, you’re all set.  If you’re using a paper application, be sure to sign it with your official signature (that is, the signature that you used to sign your driver’s license or your voter registration application) and then return it to your city or township clerk. You can bring the application in person to your city or township clerk’s office, drop it in a drop box in your city or township, or you can return it by mail or email.

Step 3: Vote your absentee ballot. 

Once your absentee ballot arrives in the mail, fill out the ballot, place it in the envelope provided, and sign the envelope with your official signature. 

Step 4: Return your absentee ballot to your city or township clerk. 

You can return your completed absentee ballot by mail (no need to add a stamp–all ballot envelopes must come with pre-paid postage), or you can drop it off at your city or township clerk’s office or in a secure drop box in your city or township. Or, you can take your completed absentee ballot to your early voting site (if your community is offering early voting for the November General) or–if you live anywhere other than Detroit–to your polling place and insert it into a tabulator. Just let the poll workers know that you’d like to do this when you arrive. 

Submit your completed ballot to your city or township clerk as soon as possible! In most cases, your completed ballot must be received by your city or township clerk by 8 p.m. on Election Day (November 4) to count. However, if you are serving in the military or living overseas, your completed ballot must be postmarked by Election Day (November 4) and received by your city or township clerk by November 10.