Michigan Residents: Do This to Make Sure Your Vote Counts

Vote early and use dropbox. Instructions below.

With the Presidential General Election rapidly approaching, every Michigan voter should have a plan to vote. Developing a plan to vote increases the likelihood that your ballot will be counted. While this firm cannot and is not providing legal advice, we do offer the following information for Michigan residents.

 

In the midst of a pandemic, voting at the polls may not be a viable option for many Michiganders. Fortunately, the state of Michigan offers alternative ways for its residents to cast their vote. Upon request, all registered Michigan voters will receive an absentee ballot. The absentee ballot will be mailed to the registered voter’s confirmed address and can be returned by mail. Alternatively, the ballot can be returned in person at any vote-by-mail drop box location. If you do not recieve your vote-by-mail ballot before October 23′, contact your county elections official to recieve a second ballot.

As an alternative to voting in person or returning your ballot via mail, Michigan Election Officials have implemented an accessible, transparent, and convenient program for voters to drop off their mail ballot in a secure drop box. Voters can complete their ballot at home and deposit them into one of the several hundred drop boxes dispersed throughout the state of Michigan. Before dropping your ballot off in a drop box, be sure to place your voted ballot card inside the Official Return Envelope, seal the envelope, and sign and date the back of the envelope. The ballots will then be collected by election officials from the drop boxes.

WXYZ Detroit reported that Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson declared that all registered Michigan voters will receive absentee ballot applications this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. According to the Washington Post, Michigan elections officials are urging absentee voters to return their ballots via drop box rather than through the Postal Service after primary election ballots that were returned via mail were received late. The effectiveness and efficiency of the ballot drop boxes helps ensure each vote will be counted. Michigan voters must drop their completed ballot off in the drop box in their jurisdiction by 8 p.m. on November 3, 2020 but early voting has already begun. A list of Michigan’s over 700 ballot drop box locations can be found at Michigan Ballot Drop Box Locations. After returning your ballot via drop box, you can check to make sure your ballot was received and counted through the vote-by-mail status tool available at Michigan.gov/VOTE.

With the coming election being one of the most important in our nation’s history, developing a plan to exercise your right to vote is essential. Utilizing the ballot drop boxes ensures the integrity of our democracy by protecting your vote.

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