Yes, you must apply for each ballot – just as you would complete an application to vote before you are issued a ballot at the precinct. If you are on our permanent absent voter list we will automatically send you an application for a ballot prior to each election held. If you wish to participate in that election and vote by absentee, just return the application. If you do not wish to participate or rather vote in the precinct for that election, you may disregard the application and show up at your precinct on Election Day. *Voters can submit a single application for an absentee ballot for a primary and the following general election. MCL 168.759(1).
No. The application for the ballot and the return ballot envelope must be signed by the voter only. You are permitted to make a mark that can serve as your new signature or use a signature stamp if you have a difficult time signing your name.
Yes. If you have already received your absent voter ballot in the mail, but have since decided that you rather vote in your precinct, you may
- Bring your absent voter ballot to the precinct and surrender it to the election worker before you are issued a precinct ballot, or
- If you no longer have your absent voter ballot and have not already returned it to the Clerk’s Office for processing, you can sign an affidavit and receive a precinct ballot.
Voted absentee ballots remain sealed and are kept in a secure location accessible only to Clerk’s Office staff. On Election Day all absent voter ballots are delivered to the Absent Voter Processing Board, which is a group of election workers, who then open and tabulate the ballots. The vote totals from the Absent Voter Processing Board for each race or proposal are added to the precinct totals. All absent voter ballots received no later than 8:00 pm on Election Day are tabulated.
Yes, you can go to the State of Michigan Website to see when your ballot was issued and when we received it back.
On Election Day all absent voter ballots are delivered to the Absent Voter Processing Board, which is a group of election workers, who then open and tabulate the ballots. The vote totals from the Absent Voter Processing Board for each race or proposal are added to the precinct totals. All absent voter ballots received no later than 8:00 pm on Election Day are tabulated.
You may request and vote a replacement ballot. To do this, you need to submit your request in writing with a signature to the City Clerk’s Office by 5 p.m. the Friday before the election or visit the Clerk’s Office or our Election Central before 10:00 a.m. Monday, the day before the election. Email your request to elections@grcity.us or fax it to 616.456.4607.
The Clerk’s Office is on the second floor of City Hall, 300 Monroe Ave. NW. It’s open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Validated parking is available in the Government Center Ramp off Monroe and Ottawa avenues. Election Central is at 201 Market Ave. SW. It’s open noon to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Free parking is available in the lot adjacent to the building, which also houses our Parks and Recreation and Public Works departments. Both locations are open this Saturday 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The City Clerk will void your original ballot and issue you a new ballot. All absentee ballots must be received by 8 p.m. on Election Day.
Download Request Form(PDF, 175KB)