Van Buren Township

Three Ways to Vote in Michigan in 2024


Three Ways to Vote in Michigan in 2024 


Absentee Voting: Absentee voting allows individuals to vote without being physically present at the polling place. These ballots can be submitted to the Clerk's Office in person or by mail. They are placed inside an envelope signed by the voter and securely stored in the Clerk's Office until Election Day when they are counted.  Voters can select a new checkbox on the Absent Voter Ballot Application to join the Permanent Absent Voter List. 

By doing so, they will automatically receive an Absentee Voter Ballot Application before every election they are eligible to participate in. The voter can then decide whether to apply for a ballot.

Please be aware that postal services cannot forward ballots. If you will be at a different address during the election, contacting the Clerk's Office to update your mailing address is essential.


Early Voting/Early In-Person Voting: Distinct from absentee voting, early voting is a nine-day period of in-person voting that commences on the second Saturday before State and Federal elections and concludes on the Sunday before the election. During early voting, voters cast their filled-in ballots through a tabulator. Once submitted, these ballots cannot be altered and will be securely stored until the end of the day. At that point, election workers from both political parties will place the ballots into a Secure Ballot Box, a secure repository for absentee ballots or applications to vote. This box is sealed, and the tabulator is temporarily suspended for the evening. It resumes operation the following morning after proper inspection, ensuring that vote tallies cannot be accessed before 8 pm on Election Day. This safeguards the votes' security, integrity, and validity. Keep an eye out for a mailer providing information about the locations of early voting sites.


Vote on Election Day at Your Polling Location: Voting at your designated location on Election Day will remain unchanged. There are no alterations to your Election Day polling locations at this time.



     
Requesting an Absentee Ballot

Voters must submit a signed application for each election to receive an absentee ballot. Use the following steps to get your absentee ballot.
  Absentee Ballot
     
Return your Absentee Ballot

Absentee ballots must be at the Clerk's Office by 8 p.m. on election day.  Use the following steps to return your ballot. 
  ballot in machine
     
Track your Ballot

Voters can track if their ballot has been received here. 
  Ballots being loaded
     
SPOIL YOUR BALLOT

The State of Michigan requires ballots to be spoiled in writing. Use the following steps to do so. 
  Election Worker with Application