How to Spoil Your Ballot in Michigan

Overview:

In the wake of candidates ending their candidacy once ballots are already out, and once voters may have already voted, the Election Protection Program (EPP) put together the following guidance to share with voters on how they can get a new ballot and vote for a candidate that is still in the race.

Messaging Guidance:

• If a voter wants to change their vote but has already returned their absentee ballot to their local clerk?
• You have until 5 p.m. on Friday, July 24 to submit a signed, written request to your city or township clerk to spoil (cancel) your original absentee ballot and receive  a new one. We recommend submitting this request in person at  your clerk's office so you can pick up your new ballot right away. If that's not possible, you can submit this request by mail but it must be received by your clerk by the deadline (5 p.m. on July 24).
• Find your local clerk: https://mvic.sos.state.mi.us/Voter/Index/#yourclerk <OR> go to mi.gov/vote and select “Where are my clerk’s offices?”
• 
  
• If a voter wants to change their vote and still has their absentee ballot (they have not returned their ballot to their local clerk)? You have options!
• Option 1: They can submit a signed, written request to their local clerk by mail. We recommend submitting this request no later than Tuesday, July 14 to ensure they have enough time to receive it and vote a new one.
• Find your local clerk: https://mvic.sos.state.mi.us/Voter/Index/#yourclerk <OR> go to mi.gov/vote and select “Where are my clerk’s offices?”
• Option 2: They can go in-person to their city or township clerk's office by 4 p.m. on Monday, August 3 and submit a signed, written request to spoil (cancel) their original absentee ballot and vote a new ballot.
• Find your local clerk: https://mvic.sos.state.mi.us/Voter/Index/#yourclerk <OR> go to mi.gov/vote and select “Where are my clerk’s offices?”
• Option 3: They can go in-person to their early voting site or polling place on Election Day (August 4) and sign a simple form to spoil (cancel) their original absentee ballot and receive a new ballot to vote on site.
• Find your early voting site: https://mvic.sos.state.mi.us/Voter/Index#early-voting-search-section <OR> go to mi.gov/vote and select “Where do I go to Early Vote?”
• Find your Election Day polling place: https://mvic.sos.state.mi.us/Voter/Index <OR> go to mi.gov/vote and select “Where is my polling place?”