Elections
Track Your Ballot
Apply For An Absentee Ballot
Check Your Voter Registration
Find Your Polling Location
The City Clerk's office oversees all elections in the City of Battle Creek, working in coordination with the Calhoun County Clerk.
The City of Battle Creek is divided into 5 Wards, which are made up of 21 Precincts.
A registered voter must vote at the polling location which is determined by the voter's address. Check the Wards and Precinct Maps tab to determine your ward and precinct and check the Polling Locations tab for the address of your polling location.
Additional elections and voter information is available by clicking on the menu tabs above. For more information about elections or to check your registered voter status online, visit the State of Michigan Voter website.
Important Dates to Remember:
| Date | Election | Last day to register to vote in any manner other than in person at the Clerk's Office |
|---|---|---|
| Tuesday, May 2, 2023 | Special School Election - Climax-Scotts Community Schools & KRESA | April 18, 2023 |
ABSENTEE VOTING
ABSENTEE BALLOTS
Absentee ballots are mailed 45 days before each election. Voters must submit a signed application each election in order to receive a ballot. Ballots are not sent automatically!
All returned absentee ballot envelopes are processed and tabulated on Election Day. Absentee ballots are counted by an absent voter counting board and the votes are applied to each voter’s assigned precinct along with all of the votes cast on Election Day.
BECOME PART OF OUR PERMANENT ABSENTEE VOTER LIST
Avoid the lines on Election Day. With the passage of Proposal 3 in November 2018, a reason is no longer required for requesting an Absentee Ballot. If you would like an Absentee Ballot Application automatically mailed to you for every election you can sign up for the Permanent Absentee Voter List: Permanent Absentee Ballot Request Mailing List.
ABSENT VOTER BALLOT APPLICATION
An Absentee Voter Ballot can be requested by
- Applying online at: https://mvic.sos.state.mi.us/AVApplication
- Mailing a request letter to the Clerk’s Office
- Submitting an application to City Clerk’s Office
- Faxing your request to 269-966-3555
- Emailing your request to cityclerk@battlecreekmi.gov
Please include your name and return address in your written request to the City Clerk’s office. Please return all completed applications to:
City of Battle Creek Clerk's Office
Attention: Absentee Ballot Application
10 N. Division St, Rm 111
Battle Creek, MI 49014
Applications for absentee ballots are accepted by mail beginning 75 days prior to each election. Registered voters can apply for an absentee ballot by mail until the Friday just prior to the election. Registered voters can also apply for and vote an absentee ballot in person at the Clerk’s Office during regular business hours beginning forty days before each election or during special hours on the last Saturday before each election. The final deadline to apply for an absentee ballot in person is 4 pm, the Monday before each election.
The Clerk’s Office will be open for in-person voter registration and absentee ballot requests on the Saturday before each election from 8:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. Voters registering to vote within 14 days of an election will be required to provide proof of residency.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Voters requesting and picking up absentee ballots in person at the Clerk’s Office will be subject to the Michigan voter identification requirement. Ballots issued in person are only given to the voter. Spouses and family members may return applications, but may not pick up ballots for each other.
City Commission Candidates
| *************************************** | *************************************** ********************************* |
|---|---|
| DATE OF ELECTION: | Tuesday, November 8, 2022 |
| SEATS AVAILABLE: | Nine (9) City Commission Members - One (1) Mayor; Five (5) Ward and Three (3) At-Large positions available |
| REQUIREMENTS: | Mayor and At Large Candidates: Must be a registered elector in the City or any annexed area.
Ward Candidates: Must be a registered elector in the City or any annexed area and reside in the ward for which that person is a candidate.
|
| PETITION AVAILABILITY: | Monday, June 6, 2022 |
| PETITION FILING DEADLINE: (Petition & Affidavit of Identity)
|
Tuesday, July 26, 2022, 4:00 P.M. |
| PETITION SIGNATURE REQUIREMENTS: |
Ward Candidates: Not less than 50 valid signatures nor more than 75 valid signatures of registered voters in the City.
Mayor and At Large Candidates: Not less than 100 valid signatures nor more than 150 valid signatures of registered voters in the City.
*No elector shall sign petitions of more than the number of candidates for At-Large City Commissioners to be elected. No elector shall sign the petition of more than one Mayor and one Ward Commissioner candidate, which petition must be for the ward where the signing elector resides.
|
| IMPORTANT REMINDERS AND INFORMATION: | A candidate must form a committee within 10 calendar days of accepting your first contribution or making an expenditure and then, within an additional 10 calendar days, you must register the committee by filing a Statement of Organization with the Calhoun County Clerk's Office. The "Statement of Organization" form can be found here More information on forming and registering a candidate committee can be found on the Michigan Bureau of Elections website Additional forms and filing information, including campaign finance information can be found here The City Charter currently provides for a Commission consisting of one Mayor, three At-large and five Ward Commissioners, with the Vice Mayor selected by City Commission. On March 10, 2020 a charter amendment ballot proposal was approved by the voters to allow for the direct election of the Mayor as a separate office. |
Election Inspector
The City of Battle Creek is looking for people to work the polls on Election Day. By serving as an Election Inspector, residents can serve their community and earn extra income at the same time!
Responsibilities
Inspectors will be stationed at 1 of 21 precincts (PDF) throughout the city and will be responsible for opening the precinct on Election Day, ensuring that voters are registered and are voting in the proper precinct, assigning ballots, assisting voters and closing the polls. Election Inspectors are paid for working on Election Day and will also receive additional payment for attending mandatory training prior to Election Day. The City is currently looking for Election Inspectors, Chairpersons, and Computer Operators.
Apply
A precinct Election Inspector for the City of Battle Creek shall be a qualified and registered elector of the state of Michigan, shall have a good reputation, and shall have sufficient education and clerical ability to perform the duties of the office. Anyone, ages 16 & 17 can also serve as an Election Inspector with a valid work permit. An Inspector cannot be a challenger, candidate, member of a candidate's immediate family, or a member of the local Board of Canvassers. Anyone convicted of a felony or an election crime may not serve.A person must file an application in his own handwriting to the City Clerk at least 45 days prior to the election they wish to serve.
- Election Inspector Application (PDF)
- Under 18 Election Inspector Application with Work Permit (PDF) **Please note that the last four (4) pages of this application MUST be printed in color or on yellow paper.
- State of Michigan Combined Offer of Employment and Work Permit/Age Certificate
The City Clerk's Office
10 N Division Street
Suite 111
Battle Creek, MI 49014
Inspector Resources:
City of Battle Creek Election Inspector Training Presentation City of Battle Creek EPB Training Presentation
Processing AV Ballots in the Precinct
BOE Training: Election Inspectors' Procedure Manual
BOE Training: Election Day Issues
The Bureau of Elections also has training videos available to view on their YouTube channel. View the BOE channel here.
Military and Overseas voters:
The Federal Voting Assistance Program works to ensure Service members, their eligible family members and overseas citizens are aware of their right to vote and have the tools and resources to successfully do so - from anywhere in the world.You may use the Federal Post Card Application to register to vote and/or request an absentee ballot. This form will allow you to receive an absentee ballot for all elections in the calendar year it was submitted. You can chose to have the ballot e-mailed to you or sent to you via regular mail. Submitting a VOTED ballot electronically, however, is not allowed.
Please contact our office at (269) 966-3348 or visit
if you have further questions.| Precinct | Location | Address |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Trinity Lutheran Church | 2055 Columbia Avenue E |
| 2 | Journey Church | 800 S. 24th Street |
| 3 | Journey Church | 800 S. 24th Street |
| 4 | Christ United Methodist Church | 65 N. Bedford Road |
| 5 | Woodland Church | 14425 Helmer Road S |
| 6 | Chapel Hill United Methodist Church | 157 Chapel Hill Drive |
| 7 | Trinity Neighborhood Center | 10 W. Bidwell Street |
| 8 | St. Peter Lutheran Church | 1079 Riverside Drive |
| 9 | Chapel Hill United Methodist Church | 157 Chapel Hill Drive |
| 10 | Christ United Methodist Church | 65 N. Bedford Road |
| 11 | Woodland Church | 14425 Helmer Road S |
| 12 | Second Baptist Church | 485 N. Washington Avenue |
| 13 | Trinity Neighborhood Center | 10 W. Bidwell Street |
| 15 | Battle Creek Community Church | 552 E. Emmett Street |
| 17 | Battle Creek Community Church | 552 E. Emmett Street |
| 18 | Cherry Hill Manor | 10 Clay Street |
| 19 | Maple United Methodist Church | 342 Capital Avenue NE |
| 20 | Woodland Church | 14425 S. Helmer Road |
| 21 | Second Baptist Church | 485 N. Washington Avenue |
| 22 | Journey Church | 800 S. 24th Street |
| 23 | Journey Church | 800 S. 24th Street |
Voter Registration
Individuals are eligible to register to vote if they meet the following qualifications:- At least 18 years of age by Election Day
- A resident of the State of Michigan and a 30-day resident of the City of Battle Creek
- A United States citizen
Voters may register in person, online or by mail up to 15 days prior to an election. You may register to vote by mail, at the Office of the City Clerk or at any Michigan Secretary of State Branch Office.
Voters may also register within 14 days of an election, up to and including Election Day, only through the following:
- Must be done in person at the Office of the City Clerk, and
- Must show proof of residency in addition to proof of identity (or an ID that proves both).
include the applicant’s name and current address): • a current utility bill • bank statement • paycheck • government check • other government document.
By law, voters must be 30-day residents of a jurisdiction to be qualified to vote in that jurisdiction.
Crimes & Felonies
Attention registered voters who have been convicted and sentenced for a crime and are in confinement as a result of that conviction and sentencing: You may not vote during the time you are in confinement. Confinement is defined by Michigan Department of Prisons for the purpose of voting as incarcerated in jail or prison, under house arrest, on a tether or serving in a work release program.
Your voting rights are restored once you have completed your sentence, even if you have been convicted and sentenced for a felony charge. If you are charged with a crime, but not convicted or sentenced, you may vote even if you are in jail.
Contact the City Clerk's office at 269-966-3348 for directions on applying for an absentee ballot for the election you wish to vote in. If your sentencing prevents you from entering public school grounds and your precinct voting location is located in a school, please contact the City Clerk's office about voting absentee ballot.
Voting Information Web Map
Use this interactive map by entering your address to find your ward number, commissioner name, precinct number, and polling location name and address.
City of Battle Creek Voting Ward & Precinct Boundary Maps
Use the maps below to view the current voting Ward and Precinct boundaries.
- I will not be able to vote in person on Election Day. How do I obtain an absent voter's ballot?
- Do I need to show identification in order to vote?
- Can I vote a "split" ticket?
- May I receive assistance when voting?
- Can I bring my child with me to vote?
- Does my voter registration expire?
- Where do I go to vote?
- How can I learn more about the presidential primary process?
- How can I check the status of my absent voter ballot request?
- How do I register to vote?