GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. –Grand Rapids registered voters will soon receive an application to vote by mail. The City Clerk’s Office on Tuesday announced it would mail the applications over the next two weeks.
Voters who live in Grand Rapids may complete the application to get an absentee ballot for the Aug. 4 primary election, Nov. 3 presidential election or both. Once completed, the application can be:
- Mailed back to the City Clerk’s Office, 300 Monroe Ave. NW, second floor, Grand Rapids, MI 49503
- Placed in the drop box outside 300 Ottawa Ave. NW, which is across the street from City Hall
- Returned to the City Clerk’s Office once City buildings reopen to walk-in traffic once the state Stay Home, Stay Safe executive order is lifted
The Grand Rapids city Clerk’s office said after it receives the absentee voter application, they will scan it and mail the requested ballot to the voter. Voters may track the progress of their application and ballot HERE. Voters also may check their voter registration status, find their polling location or view a sample ballot on this website.
City Clerk Joel Hondorp said, “During these uncertain times, voting by mail is easy, safe and secure. If a voter still wants to cast a ballot in person on Election Day, we are preparing to open all 76 precincts.”
Residents 18 or older are automatically registered to vote when they make a transaction with the Secretary of State. They may register to vote by mail up to 15 days before an election and or in person at the City Clerk’s Office within 14 days of the election up to Election Day. Proof of residency is required.
The GR City Clerk's office added important dates that voters will need to be aware of about the remaining 2020 elections:
- Aug. 4 primary election for federal, state and county races– Democratic and Republican candidates are listed on the ballot. Voters need to select one or the other – can’t cross between parties.
- Nov. 3 presidential general election– Voters may cast a straight-party ballot or select candidates individually. This ballot includes federal, state, county, judicial and school races as well as proposals.
Michigan voters in November 2018 widely approved Proposal 3, which allows all voters to cast an absentee ballot.