Filing for office, including petition signature requirements and political party status.
Elections administration, including the Election Inspector's Guide; absentee voting; and the Michigan Qualified Voter File.
Find information about the Board of State Canvassers and its meeting notices.
Title and registration requirements; special titles; name changes; address changes; license plate fees; insurance requirements; new Michigan residents; lost titles; lost license plates; and deceased vehicle owners.
Disability parking and placard information, disability parking, disability plate, disabled parking permit, and wheelchair.
Recreational vehicles such as snowmobiles, watercraft, ORVs, and trailers.
The International Registration Plan (IRP) - a program for registering and licensing of commercial vehicles in interstate operations among member jurisdictions (states or provinces).
The Uniform Commercial Code (UCC) online service for customers filing financial statements and liens through the Secretary of State.
Operating requirements for agricultural vehicles on public roads - lighting, slow-moving vehicle emblems, and more.
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Submit an online application
Mail an application to your local clerk
Visit your local clerk's office
To securely request an absentee ballot online, you will need to provide the following information exactly as it is printed on your Michigan license or ID:
You must also verify that you are a U.S. citizen and authorize the Michigan Department of State to send the recorded digital signature from your license or ID to your local clerk with your application.
Note: To avoid potential mailing delays, it is strongly recommended that you request your absentee ballot online no later than 14 days prior to an election.
To request an absentee ballot by mail, download, complete, and sign a Michigan Absent Voter Ballot Application. Then, return the signed application to your local city, township, or village clerk’s office by mail or via email as a scanned attachment.
Note: To avoid potential mailing delays, it is strongly recommended that submit your absentee ballot application to your local clerk’s office no later than 14 days prior to an election.
Michigan Absent Voter Ballot Application
Locate your local clerk's office
While eligible citizens can register to vote at a self-service station, you cannot request an absentee ballot at one of the machines.
To request an absentee ballot in person, visit your city, township, or village clerk’s office to request or drop off your signed and completed Michigan Absent Voter Ballot Application.
If requesting an absentee ballot within 14 days of an election, you may also visit your local clerk’s office to request and complete absentee ballot anytime up to 4 p.m. the Monday before Election Day.
Locate your local clerk's office
Michigan Absent Voter Ballot Application
Your signed and completed absentee ballot must be returned by 8 p.m. on Election Day to be tabulated. There are three ways to do so:
If you requested an absentee ballot but decide to vote in person instead, you can surrender your incomplete absentee ballot at your designed polling place on Election Day and request a new ballot.
You can track when your local clerk mails your absentee ballot and when it is received by their office online.
If you would like to change your vote after returning your completed and signed absentee ballot to your local clerk's office, you can "spoil" the original ballot by requesting a new ballot.
Voters with disabilities can submit an accessible absent voter ballot application at Michigan.gov/Vote. When you request an accessible absentee ballot, you will be emailed an electronic ballot and can mark the ballot on an electronic device, using your own assistive technology, and print and mail or otherwise return the ballot to your local clerk by 8 p.m. on Election Day.
You can also download an accessible application to vote absentee and submit it to your local clerk’s office by mail, email, or in person. Or, visit your local clerk’s office to request an absentee ballot in person.
Any registered Michigan voter who is at least 18 years old and is not currently serving a sentence in jail or prison may apply for an absentee ballot without providing a reason.
You can securely track the mailing and receipt of your absentee ballot application and absentee ballot through Michigan.gov/Vote. If you have questions about the mailing or receipt of your application or absentee ballot, contact your local clerk’s office.
Yes, eligible registered Michigan voters may request and cast their vote by absentee ballot in any election. As a registered Michigan voter, you can also sign up for the Permanent Absentee Voter List to automatically receive an absentee ballot application before every election.
You may sign up for the Permanent Absentee Voter List anytime at Michigan.gov/Vote or when completing a Michigan Absent Voter Ballot Application by mail or at your local clerk’s office.
While all registered and eligible Michigan voters can request and vote by absentee ballot in any election, you are not required to vote by absentee ballot, even if you request and receive one. All registered and eligible Michigan voters still have the option to vote in person at their designated polling location on Election Day instead.
If you request and receive an absentee ballot ahead of an election but would prefer to vote in person, bring your absentee ballot with you to your polling place on Election Day to surrender and/or spoil it. If your absentee ballot was lost or damaged and you plan to vote in person instead, you must provide a written and signed statement.
In Michigan, absentee ballots are not counted until a voter has twice provided signatures matching the one on file with their local election clerk – first on their application and then on their absentee ballot envelope. Ballots are rejected when they lack a matching signature. Similarly, upon arriving at a polling place, voters are asked to provide photo ID or sign an affidavit confirming their identity and eligibility to vote.
Voting in another person’s name is illegal – regardless of if it is the other person’s maiden name or the person has died or moved. Charges are brought against people who attempt to apply for the ballot of someone else – and those applications are rejected.
Anyone with evidence of voter fraud should report it to law enforcement in writing so that it can be investigated and referred for prosecution.
