MI SOS: Don't Rely On USPS To Deliver Absentee Ballots On Time

MICHIGAN — Michigan voters should not rely on the United States Postal Service to deliver absentee ballots between now and Election Day, Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson said Tuesday.

“We are too close to Election Day, and the right to vote is too important, to rely on the Postal Service to deliver absentee ballots on time,” Benson said. “Citizens who already have an absentee ballot should sign the back of the envelope and hand-deliver it to their city or township clerk’s office or ballot drop box as soon as possible. Voters who haven’t yet received their ballot should go to their clerk’s office to request it in person. They can fill it out, sign the envelope and submit it all in one trip.”

More than 2 million people have already cast ballots absentee for the Nov. 3 General Election, according to the SOS office. More than 3.1 million people in Michigan have requested absentee ballots.

Voters wondering where they can find the locations of their clerk offices and ballot drop boxes can do so by visiting the state's election information website here. Once an absentee ballot has been submitted, it can be tracked online to ensure it is received. Anyone who sees their ballot is not received should contact their clerk immediately, the SOS office said.

Absentee ballots will be available at clerk offices until 4 p.m. Nov. 2. Anyone unregistered by wanting to register can do so at their clerk's office and then vote absentee there through 8 p.m. on Election Day.

Absentee ballots must be received by 8 p.m. on Election Day to be counted.

Voters can seek assistance from family or a household member to deliver their ballot for them, but Benson said that with only a week until the election, the USPS should be considered a last resort.