Absentee Primary Ballots Can Be Changed

So… you’d already taken advantage of Michigan’s liberalized absentee voting rules… and cast your ballot in next Tuesday’s presidential primary… for Pete Buttigieg… or Amy Klobuchar… or one of the other candidates that has since dropped out of the race. Is your vote gone forever? No. You can take it back, and vote again.

There are two ways you can do it. 

First, you can notify your local city or township clerk in writing that you wish to “spoil” your original ballot, and start over. If you mail that request, it must be received at the clerk’s office by 2:00 pm this Saturday. You must sign the request, and also note whether you wish to have a new ballot mailed to you, or if you will be voting in person next Tuesday. Given the one-week lead time, it’s probably more reliable to vote in person. Absentee ballots must be in the hands of election officials by 8:00 pm on election day to be counted. If you must vote by mail, act quickly.

You may also spoil your original ballot by appearing in person at your city or township clerk’s office by Monday afternoon at 4:00. You can then obtain a new absentee ballot, or arrange to vote in person next Tuesday. 

There is no way to change or retract an absentee ballot on election day itself.

Remember, Michigan law now allows any voter to cast an absentee ballot without providing a reason. Contact your local clerk for more details.

The names of candidates who have withdrawn from the Democratic and Republican races since the ballot language was finalized will still appear on the ballot. Votes for those candidates will be counted, and the political parties will decide what to do with them.

Get more voting information here.