Voting Absentee in Royal Oak

The Feb. 28 presidential primary election is less than one week away. If you are 60 years of age or older or are in a situation where you are unable to go to the polls that day, you may consider voting with an absent voter ballot.

City Clerk Melanie Halas expects a 20-25 percent turnout on Election Day. As of Tuesday afternoon, Halas said the city had sent out 3,067 ballots; 1,914 have been returned so far.

According to the city clerk, a separate absent voter ballot request must be submitted for each election. Download and print the form, write to the city clerk or stop by the city clerk's office. You must state the reason why you need an absent voter ballot and sign the request, fill it out and mail it to the city clerk at Royal Oak City Clerk, 211 Williams St., PO Box 64, Royal Oak, MI 48068-0064.

If you want the ballot mailed, your application must be received by 2 p.m. the Saturday before the election.

Absent voter ballots are available for all elections. According to the city clerk, you may vote with an absent voter ballot if:

• you are unable to vote without assistance;
• you are 60 years of age or older;
• you expect to be absent from your city or township on election day;
• you are in jail, awaiting arraignment or trial;
• you have been assigned to work as a precinct worker in a precinct other than where you are registered; or
• you are unable to attend the polls because of religious beliefs.

If you are temporarily outside the United States, you can use a Federal Postcard Application to apply for an absent voter ballot. The application must be signed under oath unless you, your spouse or your parents are serving in the armed forces or Merchant Marine.

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

All absent voter ballots must be received by the clerk’s office no later than 8 p.m. on Election Day.

Oakland County lets you track when the clerk's office received your application, mailed your ballot and received it back. Use the Absentee Ballot Tracker.