Secretary of State Sending Every Michigan Voter an Absentee Ballot Application for August, November Elections
The Michigan Secretary of State has announced they will send applications to all Michigan voters to vote via mail in both the August and November 2020 elections.
According to Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, the move is to increase safety during the pandemic for voters, clerks and volunteers.
“By mailing applications, we have ensured that no Michigander has to choose between their health and their right to vote,” Benson said in a statement. “Voting by mail is easy, convenient, safe, and secure, and every voter in Michigan has the right to do it.”
Currently, roughly 1.3 million of Michigan’s registered voters are on the permanent absent voter list, out of 7.7 million.
“We appreciate that some clerks are proactively protecting public health by mailing applications to all their registered voters, and we are fulfilling our responsibility to provide all voters equal access,” Benson said. “We know from the elections that took place this month that during the pandemic Michiganders want to safely vote.”
In the mail, registered voters will receive a cover letter with instructions on how to fill out the application from Secretary Benson. The voter must then sign the application and mail or email a photo of it to their local clerk. Contact information for the clerk will be included on the application.
Voters may also download the application via Michigan.gov/Vote, plus register and join the permanent absent voter list on that website.
“The vast majority of voters across the political spectrum want the option to vote by mail,” Benson said. “Mailing applications to all registered voters is one of the ways that we are ensuring Michigan’s elections will continue to be safe, accurate and secure.”
