By Lansing City Clerk Chris Swope
If you are at least 60 years of age, are physically unable to attend the polls without the assistance of another, or meet one of the other requirements under state law, you are entitled to vote by absentee ballot. In fact, we want to make it even easier for you by placing you on the Permanent Absentee Application List.
Voters on the Permanent Absentee Application List automatically receive an absent voter application for every election, not just the Presidential Election. If you choose to return that application, we will send you a ballot as soon as it arrives in our office. No phone calls, no time crunch, no lines, no hassle.
If this appeals to you and you live in the City of Lansing, please call the Lansing City Clerk’s Office at (517) 483-4133 and request to be placed on the Absentee Application List. If you want to vote by absentee just for the Presidential Election, we can send you the application or you can print the form off the web page at lansingmi.gov/clerk. For those who do not live in the City of Lansing, contact your local municipal clerk.
Thousands of voters in the City of Lansing vote by an absentee ballot. Absentee ballots can be mailed, dropped off or even completed in person before 8 p.m. on Election Day. You can mail or drop off your absentee ballot or application at the South Washington Office Complex, located at 2500 S. Washington, or at City Hall 24 hours a day in our secure drop boxes.
Absentee ballots are counted exactly the same way as other ballots. I encourage voters to use the absentee ballot option if they are eligible. I have heard out in the community that some people believe that absentee ballots are not counted. This is not true. Every ballot is counted on Election Day.
Voting Options for Military and Overseas Citizens
Those in the military and citizens living outside of the United States have more options available to receive an absentee ballot. Military Service members, their eligible family members and citizens living abroad, such as university students studying overseas, have the ability to request absentee ballots that may be faxed or emailed to them. There is a special application available at lansingmi.gov/clerk. This Federal Post Card Application is both a voter registration form and an absentee ballot request application.
If you have a family member or friend who is in the military or out of the country, please encourage them to visit FVAP.gov to submit the Federal Post Card Application. The process is very easy for those who are serving our country or studying or researching abroad to still be part of our community by voting.
Chris Swope has served as the Lansing City Clerk since 2006, reelected in 2009 and 2013. A Certified Michigan Municipal Clerk, he was elected as President of the Michigan Association of Municipal Clerks and is a member of the Tri-County Regional Planning Commission, Community Mental Health Authority, and the Tri-County Office on Aging Consortium Board.
Printed in the September 4, 2016 – September 17, 2016 edition
