Absent voter ballots are available for all elections. You may vote with an absent voter ballot if:

• you are unable to vote without assistance; 
• you are 60 years of age or older; 
• you expect to be absent from your city or township on election day; 
• you are in jail, awaiting arraignment or trial; 
• you have been assigned to work as a precinct inspector in a precinct other than where you are registered; or 
• you are unable to attend the polls because of religious beliefs.

If any of these situations exist, you can obtain an absent voter ballot by writing your city or township clerk. You must state the reason why you need an absent voter ballot and you must sign the request. A pre-printed absent voter ballot application form is available from your city or township clerk upon request.

If you are temporarily outside the U.S., you can use a Federal Postcard Application to apply for an absent voter ballot. The FPCA must be signed under oath unless you, your spouse or your parents are serving in the armed forces or Merchant Marines.

Send the completed application to your city or township clerk for federal, state and city/township elections. (Send the application to your school district for school elections and your village clerk for village elections.)

If you want the ballot mailed, your application must be received by 2 p.m. the Saturday before the election. Make your request early to allow for delivery time.

A voter eligible to vote by absent voter ballot may also vote in person at the clerk's office anytime up to 4 p.m. the day before the election.

All absent voter ballots must be received by the clerk's office not later than 8 p.m. on election day.

A separate absent voter ballot request must be submitted for each election. If you know before the primary that you will be unable to vote in person at the general election, you may request absent voter ballots for both elections at the same time.

Emergency Absent Voter Ballots. You may be eligible for an emergency absent voter ballot if a family death or illness requires you to leave your community on election day, or you are unable to attend the polls because of personal illness or accident.

The emergency must have occurred late enough that you could not file a regular absent voter ballot request. Have someone deliver your written request for an emergency absent voter ballot to the clerk's office before 4 p.m. on election day.

Emergency ballots must be returned by 8 p.m. on election day.

With Adobe Acrobat Reader, you can get an absent voter application by clicking here. If you need Acrobat Reader, click below.