All 38,000-plus registered voters in the City of Battle Creek will receive absentee ballot applications by mail, so they can easily take part in the Aug. 4 primary election and Nov. 3 general election; they were mailed last week and are arriving in voter mailboxes.
Absentee voting, or voting by mail, is easy, convenient, safe, and secure. Every voter in Michigan has the right to vote by absentee ballot.
Voters also can complete a form to be placed on the permanent absentee voter list – do this at battlecreekmi.gov/elections. Once you are on this list, you automatically will receive an absentee ballot application by mail before every election. There is no commitment once you do this; even if you apply to vote by mail, you can change your mind and vote in person on Election Day.
Please note that sending registered voters absentee ballot applications does not automatically guarantee them a ballot. You must complete the application, sign it, and mail it back to the City Clerk’s Office, drop it in the new drop box outside the entrance to City Hall (Coming soon!), or scan/photograph the application and email it to the Clerk’s Office at cityclerk@battlecreekmi.gov. Staff will verify your signature against the voter registration record before sending a ballot.
If you receive an application for a person who no longer lives at your address, please write “return to sender – no longer lives at this address” on the envelope and place it back in the mail. This helps local clerks update the address and status of all registered voters.
Not sure of your voter registration status? Use the Michigan Voter Information Center at www.michigan.gov/vote to verify your voter registration and track your absentee ballot.
For more information, contact the City Clerk’s Office at 269-966-3348.