Social Distancing, Election-Style: Vote Absentee for Any Reason in Michigan This Year

It’s true—from government lockdowns and job losses to stealthy Coronavirus infections, there’s a lot that we can’t control these days. However, as we approach key elections in August and November, let’s remember that we can still make our voices heard by doing our civic duty and voting. In 2018, more than 4 million Michiganders turned out to vote in the midterms, but that total represented just over 57% of registered voters in our state. This year, with a lingering pandemic and wounded economy threatening our livelihoods, our votes will matter more than ever.  

Unfortunately, as Wisconsin voters learned the hard way, casting a ballot in the age of Coronavirus can actually result in getting infected with Coronavirus if you’re forced to head to the polls (and put on real pants in the process!). Thankfully, Michigan voters had the foresight to make absentee voting in 2020 possible for anyone, no reason required. There’s just one catch: You must first submit an absentee voter application to your county clerk to receive a ballot.  

The good news is, Secretary of State Joselyn Benson has committed to mailing an absentee voter application to every registered voter in Michigan. Municipalities are also making it easier than ever for citizens to submit applications, including allowing residents to mail or email them. If you apply for a ballot by 5pm on the Friday before the election, your ballot will be mailed to you. Otherwise, you can apply until 4pm on the day before the election and vote the ballot in your clerk’s office. Same-day registration and voting is also possible, but voting will occur in the clerk’s office in this scenario as well. Absentee ballots must be submitted by mail or in person to the clerk’s office by 8pm on the day of the election.

With so much on our plates lately, it may be tempting to skip out on an election or two because the process is different this year, but please don’t do it! We’ve seen how important strong leadership is during a crisis, but recovery can be an even bigger battle. The people we vote for in 2020 will be the ones to guide us back into normalcy and help us cope with life after a pandemic. We need great leaders in 2021 and beyond, but that means we need reliable voters in 2020. Download your application, find your county clerk, or learn more about the absentee voting process here. I probably won’t see you at the polls this year, but let’s all commit to making it to the mailbox!