If you want to vote by mail, we recommend requesting an absentee ballot by October 15. You can request your ballot online or by submitting a paper application. If you’re using a paper application, be sure to sign it with your official signature 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. 

Requesting your ballot by October 15 will help ensure that you can receive your ballot, complete it, and return it to your city or township clerk by the deadline. In most cases, your completed ballot must be received by your city or township clerk by 8 p.m. on Election Day to count. However, if you are serving in the military or living overseas, your completed ballot must be postmarked by Election Day and received by your city or township clerk by November 11.

Once you’ve completed your ballot, be sure to sign it with your official signature, and then return it to your city of township clerk. You can return it by mail (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 or, if you live anywhere other than Detroit, to your polling place on Election Day and insert it into a tabulator. Just let the poll workers know that you’d like to do this when you arrive. 

Upcoming Key Dates for the November 5 General Election:

 Now: Request a ballot by mail. You can do so online or you can submit a paper application. Or vote in person with an absentee ballot at your city or township clerk’s office.

If you want to vote by mail, we recommend that you request your ballot by October 15 to give yourself enough time to receive your ballot, complete it, and return it to your city or township clerk by the deadline. (In most cases, your completed ballot must be received by your city or township clerk by 8 p.m. on Election Day to count. However, if you are serving in the military or living overseas, your completed ballot must be postmarked by Election Day and received by your city or township clerk by November 11.)

October 19: Early voting starts in Detroit.

October 21: Early voting starts in East Lansing and Canton. 

October 21: Last day to register to vote online or by mail (starting October 22, you’ll need to register in person at your city or township clerk’s office with proof of residency). 

 October 26: Early voting starts statewide (first day of the mandatory early voting period).

Learn how to vote before Election Day in the November 5 General Election. Watch this brief tutorial.  For more information, visit MichiganVoting.org