The 2024 General Election will be held on November 5, 2024.

You can go to www.michigan.gov/sos to view Bureau of Elections calendars including dates of elections and local, state, federal, and school filing deadlines. You can find many helpful topics on this website for election questions on forms, dates, procedures, etc. Personalized voting information is available at www.michigan.gov/vote. 

To register to vote you must be:

• A U.S. citizen
• At least 18 years of age by election day
• A resident of Michigan and the city, township, or village where you are applying to register to vote

Where to Register

You can register to vote for federal, state and local elections by mail, by visiting your county, city, township or village clerk’s office or going to any Secretary of State branch. In addition, specified agencies providing services through the Family Independence Agency, Department of Community Health, Michigan Jobs Commission, and military recruitment centers offer voter registration services to their clients.

Whenever you move to a new location which is a different district than where you moved from you must re-register to vote. If you move within the same district you must update your address with your local clerk, at your polling place on election day, at a Secretary of State Office or by mail.

A mail-in voter registration form can be obtained by contacting your county or local clerk's office.

If you are temporarily outside the U.S., you may use a Federal Postcard Application (FPCA) form to register. FPCA forms are distributed through U.S. embassies and military bases. A Michigan resident who moves and registers out of state may not re-register to vote in Michigan until he or she reestablishes residency here.

To vote, simply appear at your assigned polling place on election day. The polls are open from 7 a.m. until 8 p.m.

Election Results and Archive

Absentee Voter Ballots are available for all elections.

A pre-printed absent voter ballot application form is available from your city, township, or village clerk upon request. Voter absentee ballot requests are available on the State of Michigan website.

If you are temporarily outside the U.S. you can use the 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 Marines.

Send the completed application to your city or township clerk for federal, state, city, township, or village elections.

If you want the ballot mailed, your application must be received by 2pm the Saturday before the election. Make your request early to allow for delivery time.

A voter eligible to vote by absent voter ballot may also vote in person at the clerk's office anytime up to 4pm the day before the election.

All absent voter ballots must be received by the clerk's office not later than 4pm the Friday before Election Day.

A separate absent voter ballot request must be submitted for each election. If you know before the primary that you will be unable to vote in person at the general election, you may request absent voter ballots for both elections at the same time.

You may be eligible for an emergency absent voter ballot if a family death or illness requires you to leave your community on Election Day or you are unable to attend the polls because of personal illness or accident.

The emergency must have occurred late enough that you could not file a regular absent voter ballot request. Have someone deliver your written request for an emergency absent voter ballot to the clerk's office before 4pm on Election Day.

Emergency ballots must be returned by 8pm on Election Day.

Board of Canvassers

The Board of Canvassers is comprised of two Democrats and two Republicans, appointed by the County Board of Commissioners, according to State law, to staggered four-year terms.

Canvassers are responsible for certification of election returns for all national, state and local offices.

The Board is also responsible for conducting recounts for all units of government in the County. The Board also inspects ballot boxes every 4 years. Administration is provided by the Office of the County Clerk.

Election Commission

The Election Commission is comprised of the Chief Judge of the Probate Court, the County Treasurer and the County Clerk.

The Commission is responsible for approval of ballot preparation for state and county elections, conducts the preliminary and accuracy tests of ballot tabulation computer programs used in elections, and passes on the clarity of language in petitions to recall elected officials. Administration support is provided by the Office of the County Clerk.

Michigan regulates campaign practices largely through a law passed in 1976 – The Campaign Finance and Reporting Act. Candidates filing with the County Clerk's Office are able to file electronically at stjosephcountymi.easyvotecampaignfinance.com. 

The basic approach of the act is one of allowing the public to observe the flow of dollars in and out of political committee treasuries. Different committees that may exist are Candidate, Ballot Question, Political Party, Independent and Political committees.

The main mechanisms are rules that require candidates to have:

• A campaign committee
• A bank account in Michigan
• Detailed records that must be reported during and after a campaign

Such committees must be established within 10 days after the person becomes a candidate as the law defines it and then they have 10 days to file the committee. The committee must have a treasurer but the candidate can be the treasurer of her/his own committee.

This campaign finance information becomes available to the public and, more important, to the media and political opponents according to a prescribed schedule.

Filing of pre-election reports are due 11 days before the election and must include the financial data up to the 16th day before the election. Post election reports close 20 days after the election and are due 30 days after the election. An annual statement closes on December 31 and is to be filed by January 31.

Candidate Committees that did not receive or spend more than $1,000 need not disclose the detailed information but they must keep track of it even if they filed the reporting waiver. Failure to meet the report deadlines can result in a penalty of $25.00 per day to a maximum of $300.00. Other committees have similar fees.

Campaign reports for state offices and judicial positions are filed with the secretary of state; all other candidate reports go to the county clerk. However, the act requires the secretary of state to make copies and send them to the clerks of the counties in which the various candidates live.

Getting on the Ballot

People who wish to become candidates for non-judicial offices in county government (county commissioners, clerk, sheriff, register of deeds, drain commissioner, prosecutor, treasurer, and surveyor) usually follow one of two procedures, although under certain conditions other means are also available. Campaign finance filing can be completed electronically at stjosephcountymi.easyvotecampaignfinance.com

Procedure #1: Nominating Petitions

One method of getting on the ballot is to file nominating petitions that contain signatures of registered voters. The number of signatures required for nomination is based on population. An affidavit of identity must also be filed when the petitions are filed. People running for local officials at village, township, or city level will file their petitions and affidavit of identity with their local clerk. People running for county elected positions and the Judge of the Probate Court file their petitions and affidavit with the county clerk. People running for circuit and district court judge and state and federal positions representing St. Joseph County file their petitions and affidavit of identity with the Secretary of State in Lansing.

Procedure #2: Filing Fee

Another way to get on the primary election ballot for some offices is by depositing a non-refundable $100.00 fee with the appropriate elections officer.

• 2022 Precinct Boundary Map