Need to Know: Voting Absentee in West Bloomfield

The Nov. 8 general election is less than six weeks away. If you are 60 years of age or older or are in a situation where you are unable to go to the polls, you may consider voting with an absent voter ballot. 

According to the township clerk, a separate absent voter ballot request must be submitted for each election unless the voter asks to be placed on the permanent absent voter ballot list. Those who qualify will be mailed an absentee voter ballot 75 days before the election.

If you're not a permanent absent voter, however, you can still submit an absent voter ballot. To obtain the ballot, call the clerk's office (1-248-451-4848) to have the ballot mailed to you or download and print the form for submission. When the form is completed, you can  mail, fax, or deliver it to the clerk's office — and you also can use the township's drop box at Town Hall to deliver it any time.

If you want the ballot mailed, your application must be received by 2 p.m. the Saturday before the election. 

Absent voter ballots are available for all elections. According to the form, you may vote with an absent voter ballot if:

• you are unable to vote without assistance;
• you are 60 years of age or older;
• you expect to be absent from the township on election day;
• you are in jail, awaiting arraignment or trial;
• you have been assigned to work as a precinct worker in a precinct other than where you are registered; or
• you are unable to attend the polls because of religious beliefs.

If you are temporarily outside the United States, you can use a Federal Postcard Application to apply for an absent voter ballot. The FPCA must be signed under oath unless you, your spouse or your parents are serving in the armed forces or Merchant Marine.

A voter eligible to vote by absent voter ballot may also vote in person at the clerk’s office any time up to 4 p.m. the day before the election.

All absent voter ballots must be received by the clerk’s office not later than 8 p.m. on Election Day.

Oakland County lets you track when the clerk's office received your application, mailed your ballot and received it back. Use the Absentee Ballot Tracker.