All absentee voters now can track their ballots

Secretary of State Ruth Johnson reminds absentee voters of an innovative online feature that allows voters to check the status of their ballot. "I encourage absentee voters to visit the Michigan Voter Information Center at www.Michigan.gov/sos to check the status of their ballot," Johnson said. "If they want to know when their ballot was mailed or if it's been received, they can find out online from anywhere they have Internet access." Once a local clerk receives a voter's application for an absentee ballot, the voter's ballot information is continually updated by the clerk's office as it's sent and received. Absentee ballots are counted on Election Day after polls close. This election cycle is the first one in which all absentee voters will be able to use the ballot tracking feature. Previously, local clerks were required to use the tracking system only for military and overseas ballots, but legislation promoted by Johnson was signed into law that requires all jurisdictions to participate. Although many large jurisdictions had made use of the feature, many small jurisdictions did not. The Secretary of State's Office had new software created so that clerks in small jurisdictions also would be able to participate. Voters who can't find up-to-date information about their ballot or who don't have access to the Internet should call their city or township clerk's office. Besides checking their absentee ballot at the Voter Information Center, voters also can view a sample ballot, their polling location, learn how to fill out their ballot properly and find contact information for their local clerk. A mobile version of the website is also available for smartphone users. Published: Tue, Oct 30, 2012