ABSENTEE VOTER ALERT: Deadline for replacing 'spoiled' ballot is 4 p.m. today

Peter Kobs, The Record-Eagle, Traverse City, Mich.
·2 min read

Jul. 26—TRAVERSE CITY — Absentee voters in Grand Traverse County who "spoiled" their mail-in ballot have until 4 p.m. today to request a new one for the upcoming primary election.

In a Michigan primary election, voters cannot cast their ballots for candidates from different political parties. If they do, the partisan section of their ballot would be automatically invalidated — or spoiled — and the partisan section of their votes would not count.

For example, if a voter uses his absentee ballot to vote for a Democrat for county commission and a Republican for county treasurer, the entire partisan portion of that ballot will not count. However, his votes on the non-partisan section and proposals will count — as long as he follows the directions on the ballot.

People who made this mistake on an absentee ballot for the upcoming Aug. 6 primary election can rectify the situation by visiting their assigned township or city clerk in person no later than 4 p.m. today.

They will need to explain to the local clerk that a spoiled absentee ballot was cast and ask for a replacement absentee ballot. They should make sure to bring along a valid form of identification.

Replacement absentee ballots may be placed in an official election drop box or mailed up to the day of the primary election on Aug. 6. However, county officials urge voters who use the mail to do so several days before the election because of potential mailing delays.

Voting for candidates from different parties who are running for different offices — commonly called "ticket splitting" — is allowed in the Nov. 5 general election.

To learn more about voting rules and procedures, visit the Michigan Voter Information Center at https://mvic.sos.state.mi.us/.

To view a list of candidates running in Grand Traverse County in the Aug. 6 primary election, visit https://www.gtcountymi.gov/1562/Candidate-Information.