If you are a resident of the City of Kalamazoo, please call us at 269.337.8793 or send an email to cokcityclerk@kalamazoocity.org with Absentee Ballot Application Request in the subject and an application will be mailed to you. Please include your name, registered address and date of birth in the body of the email and an alternate address to mail the application to if needed. An application must be received before a ballot can be mailed. If requesting within a couple of weeks of the election, please fax or mail this application request to expedite the process.
Ballots may also be picked up by the voter in person at the City Clerk's office in Room 104 of City Hall at 241 W South Street. Ballots cannot be given to anyone other than the voter.
If you are not a City of Kalamazoo resident, please contact your local clerk for an absentee ballot. Remember a Kalamazoo address does not always indicate a City of Kalamazoo residence. Your voter identification card will list the jurisdiction of residence and contact information. If your jurisdiction is within Kalamazoo County, use the Kalamazoo County Officials Directory for contact information.
An absentee ballot may be requested 75 days prior to an election. Ballots may be requested by mail up until 2 p.m. on the Saturday prior to an election. Please note, that is rarely enough time to complete the process. Request your ballot as soon as possible.
The last day to obtain an absentee ballot in the office is the Monday prior by 4 p.m. The ballot must be voted in the office and returned. All ballots must be returned by 8 p.m. on Election Day to be counted.
Absentee ballot deadlines for the scheduled 2010 elections are:
Inside your ballot envelope will be the ballot and two envelopes. Vote the ballot by completely filling in the oval to the right of the candidate's name. Be sure to vote for only the number of candidates listed in the heading for that office. Some offices allow more than one candidate to be nominated. Complete both sides of the ballot. Making sure the ballot stub is shown, refold the ballot and place in the gray envelope. Place the gray envelope into the manilla envelope, seal and sign within the red box on the front of the manilla envelope. The ballot will not count if the envelope is not signed!
Ballots may be returned by postal mail or dropped off at the Clerk's office by the voter, an immediate family member, a person residing in the same household or an assistant of the clerk. Ballots must be returned by 8 p.m. on Election Day.
Tips for mailing
Don't forget to sign!
Mail early! Ballots must be in the City Clerk's office by 8 p.m. Election Day.
Place a line through your address on the manilla envelope. That helps the post office but also allows us to identify who's ballot has been returned.
The City Clerk's office provides a permanent absent voter application list. Voters on this list will automatically receive an application for every election. If you'd like to be placed on this list, please call us at 269.337.8793 or send an email to cokcityclerk@kalamazoocity.org with Permanent Absent Voter Application List in the subject and your record will be updated. Be sure to provide your name and registered address in the body of the email.
The State of Michigan allows Military and Overseas Citizens to vote using their last known registered address.
You may contact your commanding officer and receive a Federal Post Card Registration and Absentee Ballot Application (FPCA). If you are a citizen overseas you may contact your Consulate Office. Or visit the Federal Voting Assistance Program's website at http://www.fvap.gov/
I registered to vote using the mail-in form, can I vote absentee?
Under Michigan State election law you cannot vote your first election as a Michigan resident by absentee ballot if you used the mail-in form to register to vote and are under the age of 60. You must vote in person the first time you vote. Meaning you must vote at the polls on election day or obtain your absentee ballot in person at the City Clerk's office. After voting in person you may receive an absentee ballot by mail for future elections.
Can an absentee ballot be sent to a Post Office Box?
We can mail your absentee ballot to your Post Office Box, if the post office box is where you would normally receive your personal mail and you do not receive mail at your registration address. Your registration address is still necessary to complete the application.
I made a mistake on my absentee ballot, can I receive another absentee ballot?
If you spoil your ballot in any way, you can receive another absentee ballot. If there is plenty of time before the election. Simply return the ballot in the envelope provided. Instead of signing the envelope, write "SPOILED" in the signature box. Upon receipt, a new ballot will be issued. If time is running short, please call office at 269.337.8793 for further instruction.
Can you cast an absentee ballot on election day?
Normally you cannot vote an absentee ballot on election day. However, if an emergency has occurred, such as you have been hospitalized on election day, or sickness or death has occurred in your family which will not allow you to go to the polls, you may receive an emergency absentee ballot. You will need to contact our office if this has occurred.
Can I drop off my absentee ballot at my voting precinct?
No, you cannot drop off your absentee ballot at your voting precinct. You must bring your absentee ballot to the City Clerk's Office.
Can I vote at my voting precinct after I have voted an absentee ballot?
Only if you have not turned in your absentee ballot! To do so, you must take your absentee ballot to your voting precinct. The pollworker will then void your ballot, and allow you to vote in a normal manner.
I've recently moved from another State and am ineligible to vote in Michigan. Can I still vote?
It depends on the State but most will allow you to vote one last time if your move was within 60 days of the election. To verify this information with the State you formerly lived in, visit the National Association of Secretaries of State (NASS) website for contact information.
I've heard absentee ballots are only counted if the election is close, is that true?
No, all absentee ballots returned by 8 p.m. on Election Day are counted!
I'm a military and/or overseas resident, I've requested a ballot but am afraid there won't be time to receive it, vote it and have it back by Election Day. What can I do?
You should contact your commanding officer or US Consulate and vote a Federal Write-in Absentee Ballot (FWAB). Please note, you may only vote for federal offices with that ballot. Those offices include President, US Senator and US Representative. Be sure to attempt to return the ballot we send you so that votes for all candidates and issues on the ballot will be counted.
