Voting by mail in Michigan: How voting by mail works and what you need to know

SOUTHFIELD, Mich. (FOX 2) – The 2020 election in Michigan was groundbreaking in many ways, but most notably because it was the first state to allow mail-in voting. It coincided with the pandemic, allowing many people to vote from home without losing their vote.

In 2018, Michigan voters approved Proposition 3, which allowed Michigan voters to request a mail-in ballot to vote by mail. In that election, about 3.3 million of Michigan's 5.5 million votes were cast by mail.

This year, many voters are expected to do the same. Michigan allows mail-in voting and gives you the opportunity to change your mind. Here's what you need to know.

Does Michigan send a ballot to every voter?

No, Michigan does not send every voter a valid absentee ballot.

In 2020, Michigan sent applications to all registered voters to vote by mail if they so wish.

This was a letter asking you if you wanted to vote by mail. There was no voting.

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How to vote by mail in Michigan

For postal voting, you must request a ballot paper.

You can do this by logging on to the Michigan Department of State websiteCall your town clerk and ask him to send you an application by mail, Download the application from the state website and send it by mail or go directly to your clerk.

There are applications in other languages, including ArabicIn Spanish, BengaliAnd Persian.

MichiganEarly voting opportunities will soon open as the state prepares for another Choice with significant consequences for the outcome of the presidency and beyond.

How to request a mail-in ballot for the November election in Michigan

If you choose to vote by mail, you will receive a ballot envelope containing a ballot paper, a secrecy sleeve, and instructions on how to mark the ballot paper.

When you receive your ballot, mark your vote exactly as you would in person. Complete all choices as directed on your ballot.

Remember to sign your ballot or it won't count. Then return it to your clerk's office by the deadline.

If you make a mistake – you sign in the wrong place, indicate the wrong date, sign with a signature that does not match that of your registry office, or accidentally indicate a non-preferred vote – you can request a replacement ballot from your local registry office.

When must postal voting documents be sent?

Your ballot must have been received until 8 p.m. on election dayTo ensure your vote is received AND counted, the state recommends mailing it in within two weeks of Election Day.

This year the date would be October 22nd.

However, if you want to wait, you can also drop off your ballot in person at your clerk's office or in a secure drop box on Election Day.

Tracking mail-in ballots in Michigan

Voters can also track the status of their ballot on the state's website if they are concerned it did not arrive on time.

On Michigan’s website, you must provide your voter information to This will confirm whether your ballot was received on time or not.

How to change your vote in Michigan

Postal voting does not bind you – but you must make sure you know the details of your voteThe state gives you the opportunity to change your mind about your ballot – for example, if a candidate has dropped out or you want to change your vote for any reason.

This is called a “void ballot” and must be done again this year. So in the run-up to election day.

The voter must sign the application and request that a new ballot be sent to them. What's new this year, however, is that you can't invalidate your ballot until Election Day.

Because Michigan allows early voting—which is different from mail-in voting—and votes are counted early, if you want to invalidate your ballot, you must do so by 5:00 p.m. on the second Friday before Election Day – October 25.

If the ballot was received and processed between the second Friday before the election and Election Day, you will no longer be able to change it.

However, if your ballot NOT If the documents have been received or processed by election day, you can still invalidate your ballot until 4 p.m. on the Monday before the election.

In other words, if you cast your vote early and cast your vote more than two weeks before Election Day but then changed your mind, you can invalidate your ballot.

If you have requested a postal ballot, you can also drop it off and vote in person on Election Day.

When will mail-in ballots be sent out in Michigan?

Postal ballots are issued to most voters from 26 Septemberi.e. 40 days before the elections in November.

Ballots for military and overseas voters (MOVE) will be mailed starting September 21.

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