Absentee ballots now available to
vote in March 8 presidential primary
Absentee ballots are now available for the March 8 presidential primary in Michigan, Secretary of State Ruth Johnson announced.
Voting absentee is only allowed in certain circumstances for registered voters in the state, including if you are:
- age 60 years old or older
- unable to vote without assistance at the polls
- expecting to be out of town on election day
- in jail awaiting arraignment or trial
- unable to attend the polls due to religious reasons, or
- appointed to work as an election inspector in a precinct outside of your precinct of residence.
When voters request an absentee ballot or arrive at the polls and fill out their application to vote, they must indicate whether they wish to vote in the Democratic or Republican party primary. They will then receive a ballot listing candidates for that party. Some communities will have additional special local election items on the ballot. Voters who wish only to vote in the special election may request a ballot that does not include presidential candidates.
Johnson continues to support secure absentee voting in Michigan, which if passed by the Legislature and signed by the governor would allow registered voters to cast absentee ballots up to 45 days before an election. Voters wanting to vote absentee would have to pick up the ballot at a local clerk’s office and show ID.
For more election resources, please visit the Michigan Voter Information Center at mi.gov/vote.
