Michigan Gov. Whitmer is relaxing deadlines for overseas military voters

Overseas voters and Michigan military members will have more time to cast their ballot-by-mail in future elections, according to legislation signed into law by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer on Monday.

All absentee ballot paperwork must be received by the local Secretariat offices by 8:00 p.m. on election day. While military and foreign voters must stamp their ballots on or before Election Day, their vote will count if the ballot is received six days after the election. The law came into force with immediate effect.

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“Michigan’s service members are the best of us,” Whitmer said in a statement. “I’m proud to sign this law into law, which extends mail-in voter access to more service members who are boldly serving around the world.”

The legislation brings Michigan’s election law up to date with the state constitution after voters last fall overwhelmingly approved a ballot proposal that significantly expanded mail-in voting.

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In addition to additional time for military and overseas voters, the proposal also required nine days early voting, ballot boxes for every 15,000 voters in a municipality, and state-funded postage for mail applications and ballots.

According to a report by the U.S. Election Assistance Commission following the 2020 presidential election, 4.6% of Michigan’s military and foreign votes were rejected, compared to less than 1% of all absentee ballots. A total of 21,464 military and foreign votes were counted in Michigan in the last presidential election.

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Michigan employees are required to electronically transmit or mail mail-in ballots to military and foreign voters who applied at least 45 days before an election.