New Voting Options for Michigan Voters

Under the newly enacted Candidate for Office Financial Disclosure Act & Public Officers Financial Disclosure Act, many candidates and public officials will have new annual financial disclosure requirements with the State of Michigan beginning in 2024. This impacts our clients because different parties and transactions between candidates, officeholders, businesses, lobbyists, and other entities may be disclosed to the public more than before. It is important to understand the impact that these disclosures will have on our clients so that we can limit potential sensitive disclosures about personal, business, and lobbying activities.

Early Voting

What is early voting?

• • Voters in Michigan have a new right to vote early for each statewide and federal election.
  • Voters go to designated early voting sites and cast their ballot under the same requirements and conditions as in-person Election Day voting.
  • From the second Saturday before Election Day to the Sunday before Election Day (i.e., nine consecutive days), early voting must be made available at least eight hours per day to all voters in their municipality.

How are early voting sites selected?

• • Municipalities will need to consider the expected turnout, population density, public transportation, and overall accessibility.
  • The early voting site must be a publicly owned or controlled building unless it is not possible or convenient.
  • These early voting sites may serve voters from more than six precincts and voters from more than one municipality within a county.
  • The early voting sites must be finalized at least 60 days before Election Day.

How are early voting results reported?

• • Early voting results must be reported separately from absentee ballot counting boards.
  • Results from an early voting site cannot be generated or reported until after 8 p.m. on Election Day.

Election Day Vote Centers

What is an Election Day vote center?

• • These centers tabulate ballots issued to individuals who register to vote or update their voter registration on Election Day.
  • If a municipality has processed at least 500 voter registrations on Election Day in either or both of the previous two general elections, then the municipality may establish Election Day vote centers. So, these Election Day vote centers are currently optional.

Who can vote at an Election Day vote center?

• • Only a voter who registers to vote or updates their registration on Election Day may cast a ballot at an Election Day vote center.

Absentee Ballots

What are the main changes to the law for absentee ballot procedures and requirements?

• Permanent Absent Voter List
  • A registered voter has the right to receive an absentee ballot for each election by submitting a single absentee ballot application that covers all future elections.
• Clerks’ Duties
  • When a clerk receives an absentee ballot application, he/she must immediately determine if the applicant is registered to vote in that municipality and if the signature on the applicant sufficiently matches the signature in the voter’s file.
  • Clerks no longer have to issue absentee ballots in the same order that absentee ballot applications are received.
  • Only a clerk can collect any remaining absentee ballots from the post office as close to 8 p.m. on Election Day.
• Absentee Ballot Drop-off
  • An absentee voter may now bring their absentee ballot to their polling place on Election Day or to their early voting site and place it into the tabulator.
  • Absentee Voter Drop Boxes, Key New Requirements:
    • There must be one secure drop box for every municipality and at least one drop box for each 15,000 registered voters in municipalities within more than 15,000 registered voters.
    • The absentee voter drop box must be accessible 24 hours each day during the 40 days before Election Day and accessible until 8 p.m. on Election Day.
    • Beginning January 1, 2026, video monitoring must be used for all drop boxes during the 75 days before each election and on Election Day.
• Processing and Tabulating Absentee Ballots
  • • If the municipality has a population of at least 5,000 or establishes an “absent voter counting board” (AVCB) to count absentee ballots, then the municipality may process and tabulate absentee ballots between 7 a.m. and 8 p.m. on any of the eight days before Election Day.
    • Regardless of population, a municipality may authorize and establish an AVCB to process and tabulate absentee ballots between 7 a.m. and 8 p.m. on the Monday before Election Day.