Absentee Voting
All registered voters in Michigan are now eligible to receive an absentee (mail-in) ballot prior to each election, without providing a reason. It's a safe, secure and accurate way to vote and you will never miss another election!
Here is how the process works:
A. Send us an email with the following information.
B. Once the email is received, you will be added to our Absent Voter List and approximately 60 days prior to every election you will receive an Absentee Ballot Application. If you want to vote by mail, complete the application and promptly return it to us.
C. Upon receipt of your Application, a ballot will be mailed to you. Ballots are typically printed and available for mailing 45 days before an election.
D. Follow the directions that are included with the ballot and return it to us. We strongly encourage you to avoid mail delays by delivering it directly to us using one of our two secure drop boxes at the Township Hall. There is a drive-up box on the approach to our parking lot and a walk-up box inside our main entrance. Both are available 24-hours a day, and are checked multiple times a day by the Clerk’s Office.
Here is how the process works:
A. Send us an email with the following information.
- Full legal name
- Residential address
- Mailing address (If different from the residential address, above. This is important information, as it ensures that the ballot isn’t returned to us as undeliverable. We are happy to send ballots to snowbirds, college students, out-of-state workers, etc.)
- Phone number (We will contact you prior to election day if there are any questions about your ballot or signature.)
- Include a short message asking to be added to the Permanent Absent Voter Application List.
B. Once the email is received, you will be added to our Absent Voter List and approximately 60 days prior to every election you will receive an Absentee Ballot Application. If you want to vote by mail, complete the application and promptly return it to us.
C. Upon receipt of your Application, a ballot will be mailed to you. Ballots are typically printed and available for mailing 45 days before an election.
D. Follow the directions that are included with the ballot and return it to us. We strongly encourage you to avoid mail delays by delivering it directly to us using one of our two secure drop boxes at the Township Hall. There is a drive-up box on the approach to our parking lot and a walk-up box inside our main entrance. Both are available 24-hours a day, and are checked multiple times a day by the Clerk’s Office.
FAQs
If you prefer to vote in person for any election, do not return the Application. You will continue to receive Applications for all future elections, but can ignore them, if you’d prefer to vote in person. You can also ask to be removed from the Permanent Absent Voter Application list.
Each Application will ask you for the address where we should send that specific ballot. Just fill in an alternate mailing address, and we will follow your instructions.
You can send us an email or call us, to supply your current contact information.
The State of Michigan ballot tracking process is extremely rigorous and transparent! When your completed ballot is received at our office, within 48 hours, it will be registered and can be tracked by you at a Michigan Bureau of Elections website that will be listed on the ballot envelope. Our numbers at Putnam Township have always balanced perfectly and that is a record we are determined to continue. Ballots received = ballots counted!