Absentee Voting Information
Absentee ballots are generally available 45 days prior to an election.
If you file an absent voter application within 45 days of an election, your ballot will be mailed out within 24 hours of receipt.
If you want to come to the Township Office in person to request your absentee ballot, the Clerk’s Office is open 9 am – 12 pm and 1 – 4 pm, Mon – Thurs at 3792 Pontiac Trail. The Clerk’s office will also be open Saturday prior to every election 8:30 am – 4:30 pm.
TRACK YOUR ABSENT VOTER PROCESS: You can track the progress of your absent voter application and absent voter ballot at mi.gov/vote.
Returning the absentee ballot: Voters have several options to securely return their completed and signed absentee ballot envelope. If using USPS to return your absentee ballot, we encourage you to return it by mail as soon as you are able. We recommend giving your ballot a full week to arrive to the Township office by mail. Absentee ballots MUST be received by a voter’s local clerk’s office by 8 p.m. on Election Day to be counted.
Exception: military and overseas ballots which must be postmarked on or before Election Day and received by their local clerk within 6 days after the election in order to be counted.
** DROP BOX ** You can drop off your absent voter application and absent voter ballot 24 / 7 at the Township Office / Fire Station 1 at 3792 Pontiac Trail, Ann Arbor, MI 48105. The drop box is located inside the glass vestibule and is secured and locked.
Absent Voter Process
Every Michigan voter is now eligible to vote absentee if they would like to. The fastest way to get an absent voter ballot is to APPLY ONLINE. Also, ten weeks prior to every election an absent voter (AV) ballot application will be posted here. To vote absentee, a voter must first complete and sign the AV application and return it to the Township Clerk’s office. The signed application may be returned by mail, dropped off, or scanned/imaged and emailed. A ballot will be mailed to the address indicated on the AV application. Completed ballots must be sealed in the return envelope provided and signed by the voter. Completed AV ballots must be returned to either an Early Voting Center (only available for state-wide or Federal elections), or your Election Day Polling Location or the Township Clerk before the end of Election Day.
Since 2024, due to changes in the Michigan constitution known as Prop 22-2, voters can apply for the “Permanent Absent Voter Ballot List” in order to *always* receive an absentee ballot in the mail. Currently, there are over 1700 Ann Arbor Township residents on the Permanent Ballot List. To join the list, please fill out an absent voter application and select the box that says: “Automatically send me an absent voter ballot for each future election for which I’m eligible.”
Completing and returning an absentee ballot
Absentee ballot envelopes will contain a ballot, a secrecy sleeve, and ballot marking instructions. Voters who make a mistake when filling out an absentee ballot must request a new ballot from their local clerk’s office for the error to be corrected. Mistakes may include:
- Signing in the wrong place.
- Listing the incorrect date.
- Signing with a different signature than what is on file with your local clerk.
- Accidentally marking a non-preferred vote on the ballot.
Filling out an absentee ballot: Voters should complete their absentee ballot by carefully following the written instructions included with the ballot. Instructions may differ based on the type of election. Voters may contact their local clerk with questions about how to complete an absentee ballot.
Inserting the ballot into the secrecy sleeve: Completed ballots should be inserted into the secrecy sleeve as instructed.
Signing an absentee ballot envelope: Voters must sign and date the return envelope on the provided space. Voters should use their signature as shown on their driver’s license, state ID, or voter registration application.
If a voter’s signature does not fit in the provided space, a shorter signature that resembles the signature on record may be used. Voters may also sign a shortened version of their first name, for example, “Bill” for the name “William”.
Returning the absentee ballot: Voters have several options to securely return their completed and signed absentee ballot envelope. Absentee ballots must be received by a voter’s local clerk’s office by 8 p.m. on Election Day to be counted, with the exception of military and overseas ballots which must be postmarked on or before Election Day and received by their local clerk within 6 days after the election in order to be counted.
TRACK YOUR ABSENT VOTER BALLOT – You can determine the status of your AV ballot yourself online at mi.gov/vote.
Request Absent Voter Ballot
Request your absent voter application ONLINE.
Absent voter ballot application (downloadable PDF)
Please note the option on the application to: “Automatically send me an absent voter ballot for each future election for which I’m eligible.” Selecting that box will add you to the Permanent Ballot list in which you will automatically receive a ballot for each and every election going forward. There will be no need to fill out an application ahead of each election cycle. Please be aware that voters need to keep their mailing address up to date if you select this option. Ballots will not be forwarded by USPS mail.
Complete and sign application and return to the Clerk’s office no more than 75 days prior to the next election. You can mail the application to 3792 Pontiac Trail, Ann Arbor, MI 48105, or drop it off, or create an image of the application and email it to clerk@aatwp.org. Note: the fastest way to get your absent voter ballot is to apply ONLINE.
TRACK YOUR ABSENT VOTER BALLOT – You can determine the status of your AV ballot yourself online at mi.gov/vote.