Absentee Voting

Vote From Home

Absent Voter Ballots

Ballots become available beginning 40 days before each election.

1. Request Your Ballot

Submit an absent voter ballot application online, by mail, or directly to the City Clerk’s Office. Voters on the Permanent Ballot List do not need to submit an application for each election.

Your signature will be compared with the signature in your voter registration record before a ballot is issued.

2. Complete Your Ballot

Follow the ballot instructions carefully. Place the completed ballot in the provided secrecy sleeve and return envelope.

3. Sign the Return Envelope

Your ballot cannot be counted unless the return envelope is signed and the signature matches the signature in your voter registration record.

4. Return Your Ballot

Return the completed ballot using one of the following methods:

• Mail it to the City Clerk’s Office.
• Deliver it directly to the City Clerk’s Office.
• Place it in an official City of Farmington ballot drop box.
• Take it to an assigned early voting site or Election Day polling location for verification and direct tabulation.

Ballot Return Deadline

Your completed absent voter ballot must be received by the City Clerk’s Office no later than 8:00 p.m. on Election Day.

A postmark does not satisfy the deadline. Allow adequate mailing time or return the ballot directly to the Clerk’s Office or an official ballot drop box.

Friday Before Election Day at 5:00 p.m.

Deadline for the City Clerk’s Office to receive an application requesting that an absent voter ballot be mailed to the voter. Voters are encouraged to apply much earlier to allow enough time to receive and return the ballot.

Monday Before Election Day at 4:00 p.m.

Deadline for a registered voter to request an absent voter ballot in person at the City Clerk’s Office. A ballot requested that day must be voted at the Clerk’s Office.

Election Day Registration

An eligible resident who registers or updates their registration at the City Clerk’s Office on Election Day may request and vote an absent voter ballot there. Voters must be in line by 8:00 p.m.

Any registered Michigan voter may join the Permanent Ballot List. Voters on this list automatically receive an absent voter ballot for every local, state, and federal election.

To join, select the Permanent Ballot List option when completing an absent voter ballot application or contact the City Clerk’s Office.

Absent voter ballots are not forwarded by the United States Postal Service.

Ballots are mailed to the voter’s registered address unless a temporary mailing address is provided. Contact the City Clerk’s Office as early as possible if your ballot should be sent to a different address.

If an emergency—such as a sudden illness or death in the family—occurs after the regular application deadline and prevents a voter from reaching the polls, the voter may submit a written request for an emergency absent voter ballot.

Emergency ballot requests must be received by 4:00 p.m. on Election Day. Contact the City Clerk’s Office immediately for assistance.