The League of Women Voters of the Copper Country encourages all voters to vote by mail using an absentee ballot. In Michigan, you can request to be placed on the permanent absent voter application list and always receive an application for an absent voter ballot. Visit the Sec. Of State website mi.gov/sos and use the elections link. You can find your local clerk’s information via the voter information center to contact them to request that you be placed on the permanent absent voter list. This ensures that you will always be sent the application for an absentee ballot for every election. You still have the option to use it or go to the polls.

Michiganders overwhelmingly voted in 2018 to amend our state constitution and afford everyone this right. As it turns out, it was an important measure to help ensure that both public health and democratic rights are protected. In the current circumstances of the pandemic, voting by mail is the optimal way to cast a ballot during the public health crisis. Many precincts will be dealing with challenges due to the COVID-19 epidemic which requires social distancing and there is likely to be a shortage of poll workers. This is one way we can all work together to keep our democratic process strong and protect one another. The League also offers Vote411.org for election information.