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City Elections are held in the City of Ann Arbor every even year. Elections are held on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in August (Primary) and November (General). Polling places are open from 7 a.m. until 8 p.m. on election days. The City Clerk is the City's chief elections officer and is responsible for the administration of all City Elections.
Notice of City Election Commission Meeting and Participation in Statewide Risk Limiting Audit
A meeting of the City Election Commission is scheduled for 9:30 A.M. on Thursday, January 14, 2021 at Larcom City Hall, 301 E Huron St, Basement Conference Room, for the purpose of participating in a statewide risk limiting audit of ballots cast at the November 3, 2020 General Election. Regular business of the City Election Commission, including recommending legislative priorities, will also be conducted at this meeting.
A risk limiting audit is conducted to confirm the accuracy of ballot tabulation machines. This entails hand-counting thousands of randomly selected ballots statewide. The City of Ann Arbor will participate by pulling and counting ballots selected by the State for City precincts.
The public can watch this process live via Zoom:
Webinar ID: 948 0491 5200 Passcode: 886361
or Join via Phone: 877 853 5247 (Toll Free) or 888 788 0099 (Toll Free)
Notice of Absent Voter Ballot Pre-Processing Activities
Please take notice that the City of Ann Arbor will conduct absent voter ballot pre-processing activities on Monday, November 2, 2020, beginning at 10:00 a.m. and concluding no later than 8:00 p.m. at Huron High School, 2727 Fuller Road, Ann Arbor, MI 48105 in the cafeteria.
Notice of PreProcessing of Absentee Ballots 101420.pdf
Published in compliance with Section 168.765 of Michigan Election Law.
Jacqueline Beaudry
Ann Arbor City Clerk
Publish: October 14, 2020
City Clerk's Office Extended Hours!
The City Clerk's Office is open extra hours in October!
Wednesdays, October 7, 14, 21 and 28, we are open to the public from 8am until 7pm. Come visit us to register to vote or get your absentee ballot!
The City Clerk's Office is also open to the public Saturdays, October 24 and 31 from 8am until 4pm.
City Clerk's Office Closed to the Public on Wednesday, November 4
Please note that in anticipation of a late Election Night, the City Clerk's Office will be closed to the public during regular business hours on Wednesday, November 4 to allow staff time to rest and to focus on the final closing details of the election. We appreciate your patience as we prioritize our work around the integrity of a safe and secure election.
Absentee Ballot Envelopes - Postage paid for November 3!
With support from the Michigan Secretary of State and federal CARES Act funding, absentee ballot return envelopes for the November 3 General Election are postage paid return. The USPS recommends mailing ballots at least 7 days in advance of the election.
Michigan's absentee ballot envelopes have changed with a new design and all new look. Don't miss them coming to a mailbox near you soon! All ballots being sent to voters via the mail will now come in a white and blue envelope. The ballot inside has not changed, but the return envelope is also new, with a white and green design. The Post Office has been alerted to the new look and we hope this will alleviate any delivery mistakes - green envelopes come back to City Hall for processing! Please contact the City Clerk's Office if you have any questions about your absentee ballot or if you need to apply for one.
Upcoming Elections - Statewide General Election (Presidential Election) on Tuesday, November 3
Get Election Night Results here!
The next election in the City of Ann Arbor is the Statewide General Election on Tuesday, November 3, 2020. This election, in addition to the election of the President of the United States, includes local races, including City Council Members, City Charter amendment proposals and other State and County offices. More information on all ballot proposals can be located on the County Clerk's web page.
The last day to register to vote by mail, or with any designated voter registration agency (e.g. County Clerk, Secretary of State Branch Office, etc.), for the November 3 election is Monday, October 19, 2020. After this date, voters can still register in-person at the City Clerk's Office with proof of residency until 8:00 P.M. on Election Day.
The Ann Arbor City Clerk's Office will be open for in-person voter registration and absentee ballot requests on Saturday, October 31, 2020 from 8:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. Voters registering to vote within 14 days of an election will be required to provide proof of residency.
Returning your Absent Voter Ballot
A recent court ruling has reversed a prior decision to allow receipt of postmarked ballots after Election Day. Voters MUST return ballots no later than 8 p.m. on Election. The City Clerk's Office recommends that voters return ballots in advance of Election Day, and no later than Election Night at 8 p.m. Voters can return ballots in person at City Hall or one of our secure drop boxes located around town, or via mail or other courier.
The City Clerk's Office has an indoor ballot drop box in the north vestibule of City Hall as well as a new large drop box on Ann Street for drive-up convenience. These ballot boxes are accessible 24 hours per day, 7 days per week. We recommend that voters use the drop boxes or hand-deliver to the City Clerk's Office on the 2nd Floor during the last week before the election to ensure delivery and receipt by Election Day.
Ballot Drop Box Locations
Any Ann Arbor resident voting absentee can return their ballot in one of the secure drop boxes. Following is a list of all drop box locations (or view the map at https://www.a2gov.org/departments/city-clerk/Elections/Documents/offical_ballot_drop_box_map%202020.pdf (PDF)); directional signage at some outdoor locations will provide guidance to the boxes:
Larcom City Hall, 301 E. Huron St., always open — Located inside the building, at the north entrance.
*Larcom City Hall, on Ann Street — Located outside the building by the customer service drop box, on the north side of Ann Street, just east of Fifth Avenue.
*Veterans Memorial Park Ice Arena and Pool, 2150 Jackson Ave. — Parking lot.
*Ann Arbor Fire Station 5, 1946 Beal Ave. — Outside.
*Cobblestone Farm/Ann Arbor Parks and Recreation Customer Service Center, 2781 Packard Road — Outside.
*Ann Arbor Fire Station 6, 1881 Briarwood Circle — Northwest side of building, Eisenhower entrance, outside.
*New satellite Ann Arbor City Clerk's Office: University of Michigan Museum of Art, 525 S. State St., 10 a.m.–7 p.m. only — Located inside in the Stenn Gallery on the first floor. Please note, entrance is permitted only following clearance from COVID-19 health screening, which will be conducted by personnel onsite. For more information on this satellite office, visit https://www.a2gov.org/news/pages/article.aspx?i=734.
Absentee Ballot Applications
Mailing of Absentee Ballot Applications for November 3 Election
The Michigan Secretary of State’s Office mailed all registered
voters in the State of Michigan absentee ballot application
forms by mail in early June. These absentee ballot application forms contained an
option to receive ballots in the mail for both the August 4th Primary and the
November 3rd General Elections. Voters who completed these forms requesting ballots for both elections, or any other request form, do not need to reapply for a November ballot. Active voters who did not apply for an August and November ballot over the summer will be sent another application form by the City Clerk's Office in early September. This form will allow voters to request a November ballot. Any voter registered in the City of Ann Arbor who is
interested in receiving a ballot by mail should return a completed signed
application to the City Clerk by mail or in person at 301 E. Huron Street, 2nd
Floor, Ann Arbor 48103; by fax at 734-994-8296; or email at cityclerk@a2gov.org. Faxed and emailed
forms can be in any file format (PDF,JPEG, etc), but must include the voter’s
signature. Voters no longer need a reason to receive a ballot by mail in
advance of Election Day.
NEW! Voters with a Michigan driver's license of State ID can apply online for a ballot here!
Voters who have returned application forms to the City Clerk
can expect ballots to be available and mailed beginning September 24.
Absentee Ballot Envelopes - New for 2020!
Michigan's absentee ballot envelopes have changed with a new design and all new look. Don't miss them coming to a mailbox near you soon! All ballots being sent to voters via the mail will now come in a white and blue envelope. The ballot inside has not changed, but the return envelope is also new, with a white and green design. The Post Office has been alerted to the new look and we hope this will alleviate any delivery mistakes - green envelopes come back to City Hall for processing! Please contact the City Clerk's Office if you have any questions about your absentee ballot or if you need to apply for one.
Permanent Polling Place Change, Ward 1, Precincts 1 and 12 (1-1 and 1-12) Relocated to Michigan Union
The City Clerk's Office has been notified by the University of Michigan that the Michigan Union, located at 530 S. State Street, which has been under renovation for nearly two years, will reopen in January 2020. Voters assigned to these Precincts (Ward 1, Precinct 1 and 12) will be permanently relocated back to the Michigan Union, beginning with the March 10, 2020 Presidential Primary. All affected voters in Precincts 1-1 and 1-12 will receive a new voter ID card alerting them of the new polling place assignment. Voters can look for the cards in mid January. Please email or call the City Clerk for more information.
Permanent Polling Place Change, Ward 1, Precinct 4 (1-4) Relocated to City Hall, 301 E. Huron Street
Voters previously assigned to Precinct 1-4 at Second Baptist Church, 850 Red Oak Drive, will be assigned to City Hall, 301 E. Huron Street, beginning with the March 10, 2020 Presidential Primary. All affected voters in Precinct 1-4 will receive a new voter ID Card alerting them of the new polling place assignment. Voters can look for the cards in mid January. Please email or call the City Clerk for more information.
Permanent Polling Place Change, Ward 5, Precinct 3 (5-3) Relocated to Ann Arbor Open at Mack, 920 Miller Avenue
Voters previously assigned to Precinct 5-3 at Second Baptist Church, 850 Red Oak Drive, will be assigned to Ann Arbor Open at Mack, 920 Miller Avenue, beginning with the March 10, 2020 Presidential Primary. All affected voters in Precinct 5-3 will receive a new voter ID Card alerting them of the new polling place assignment. Voters can look for the cards in mid January. Please email or call the City Clerk for more information.
Election Day Line Tracker
Check the number of people waiting in line at your City polling place and view estimated wait times before you stand in line. Line counts are updated by the City's election inspectors in real time on Election Day!
The Election Day Line Tracker includes photos of each building, as well as links to maps and directions. Know before you go!
Prefer to vote by mail or absentee? Sign up for our permanent absent voter application list and skip the lines!
Selfie Stations at Polling Places
Voters looking for the perfect backdrop to help showcase their civic pride can look no further than their polling place. Whether returning an absentee ballot at Larcom City Hall on Election Day, or voting at a precinct, voters can pause for an “I voted" selfie. Special “I voted, #A2Votes" posters will be featured at polling places; and there will even be an “I voted, #A2Votes" banner in the first floor lobby of Larcom City Hall. Tag us on social media using #A2Votes.
“I Voted” Sticker Design Winning Stickers Coming November !
Update - Thank you to all of the artists, of all ages and backgrounds, who submitted entries in the City's "I Voted" Sticker design contest. The three winning designs are being printed now for distribution in absentee ballots and at polling sites on November 3! Don't forget to share your voting pride on social media using the hashtag, #A2Votes.
November 2018 - Passage of "Promote the Vote" Brings Changes to Election Law
The passage of Proposal 3 in November of 2018, enshrined in the Michigan Constitution various changes related to the voting process, including the following new voter rights:
- Protecting the right to vote a secret ballot.
- Providing voters the option to vote a straight party ballot.
- Allowing citizens to register to vote by mail until 15 days before an election.
- Citizens can also register to vote in person with the City Clerk's Office until 8:00 P.M. on Election night with proof of residency.
- Allows for all registered voters to vote an absentee ballot without providing a reason.
With this change to the Michigan Constitution, the City of Ann Arbor has simplified the process for enrolling on the City's Automatic Absent Voter Application List. If you are interested in signing up to be on the list to automatically receive an application each election, an online request form is available here.
Special Elections
Special elections may be held on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in May as needed, or in August or November of odd-years when regular elections are not normally held.
