Election 2024: Michigan’s early voting and absentee ballots: What you need to know
LANSING – Voting for the August 2024 primary election has already begun.
While local officials don’t expect voter turnout to match that of November’s presidential election, many local races will be decided in August, both in the Lansing area and across Michigan.
On June 27, local clerks mailed absentee ballots to all residents on the permanent absentee voter list, and for the first time in Michigan, residents will be able to cast early votes beginning in late July.
Here’s how to register and vote in the August 6 primary election. Wondering what’s on your ballot? We have a full list of candidates and ballot issues for Ingham, Eaton and Clinton counties.
Do not invalidate your ballot
The most important issue on many officials’ minds is reminding citizens that a primary is different from a general election. Voters in Michigan’s primary elections cannot “split” their ballot, or vote for candidates from multiple parties. So, for example, if on a ballot in Ingham County Elissa Slotkin, a Democrat from Holly, votes for U.S. Senate, but votes for Republican Tom Barrett of Charlotte for the U.S. House, his ballot would be invalid.
This is not a new problem in Michigan, but it is especially important given the increasing number of absentee ballots cast without explanation. Voters who split their ballot when voting in person should expect the ballot to be rejected by the electronic counting machine they insert it into. They will be notified of their error and will be able to cast a new ballot. However, voters who split a ballot and mail it or drop it in a mailbox may have the opportunity to recast a correct ballot, depending on whether staff at their local clerk’s office can reach them in time before the election. Any nonpartisan votes on the invalid ballot would be counted, such as in local judicial elections or ballot-related matters, but no partisan votes would be recorded.
“The August primary is unique in Michigan because you have to ‘stay in your lane,'” said Barb Byrum, Ingham County clerk. “The candidates from both parties appear on one ballot, so you don’t have to select a ballot type. That means you can vote for either Democratic or Republican candidates, but you can’t cross-poll and vote for some Democrats and some Republicans. If you do that, the party-related section of your ballot will be considered blank and only the nonpartisan sections will be counted.”
More: 2024 Lansing Region Election Guide: Ingham, Eaton and Clinton Ballots at a Glance
I am not registered to vote. Do I still have time?
You can register to vote at your city or town clerk’s office until 8 p.m. on Election Day. You must prove your residency with documents showing your name and current address. Acceptable documents include a Michigan driver’s license or identification card, a recent utility bill, a bank statement, a paycheck or state check, or another state document. Digital copies of documents are also accepted, according to the Secretary of State’s office.
You can also register at any Secretary of State branch office or online. Your voter registration application must be received or postmarked at least 15 days before the election. You can register online at https://mvic.sos.state.mi.us/RegisterVoter/Index.
Can I vote in person before election day?
Yes. For the first time, voters in Michigan can cast their ballots early, thanks to a state constitutional amendment approved by voters in 2022. Local officials must allow at least nine days for early voting for the August primary, although municipalities can offer additional days. The process is very similar to voting on Election Day, in that you receive a ballot, fill it out, and then insert it into a counting machine. The early voting period begins the second Saturday before Election Day, which this year is July 27, and ends the Sunday before an election, August 4. According to Michigan election officials, state law allows municipalities to offer up to 29 days of early voting. For more information on early voting locations, call your local official or visit https://mvic.sos.state.mi.us/.
How can I vote by mail?
Any voter who is registered to vote can vote by mail, as Michigan voters approved no-reason absentee voting in 2018. Additionally, voters were also allowed to add themselves to their county’s permanent absentee ballot list in 2022. In Ingham County, more than 51,000 voters chose this option.
Officials began mailing absentee ballots on June 27, so voting has already begun. If you are not on the permanent list, you can request a ballot online at https://mvic.sos.state.mi.us/AVApplication/Index or call or visit your local clerk’s office to obtain a ballot until the Friday before Election Day. After you vote, you can mail your ballot, drop it in a mailbox in your community, or drop it off in person by 8 p.m. on Election Day. Local officials and election officials recommend that all ballots submitted within two weeks of the election be hand-delivered.
Can I track my ballot?
Yes. The Michigan Secretary of State offers a tracking system at https://mvic.sos.state.mi.us/Voter/Index.
Can I change my vote if I have already cast my ballot?
Yes, it depends when you do it. Sometimes candidates withdraw from the race or voters change their minds. You can invalidate your ballot by submitting a written request to your local clerk, which you must sign. You must submit the request by 5 p.m. on the second Friday before the election if you returned your mail-in ballot, which this year is July 26. There is no way to invalidate a mail-in ballot received by the clerk during mandatory early voting or on Election Day. A mail-in ballot that was not returned to your local clerk can be invalidated in person at your clerk’s office until 4 p.m. on the Monday before the election, which this year is August 5. And if you did not return your mail-in ballot, you can take it to the polling place during early voting or on Election Day and either drop off the ballot or sign a statement that it was lost or destroyed and vote in person.
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