Need to Know: Absentee Voting in Farmington and Farmington Hills

The Nov. 8 general election is less than six weeks away. If you are 60 years of age or older or are in a situation where you are unable to go to the polls, you may consider voting with an absent voter ballot. 

According to information on both the Farmington and Farmington Hills city websites, a separate absent voter ballot request must be submitted for each election unless the voter asks to be placed on the permanent absent voter ballot list. Those on the permanent list will be mailed an absentee voter ballot 75 days before each election.

To be placed on the permanent list in Farmington Hills, call 248-871-2416 or write to permlist@fhgov.com.

To be placed on the permanent list in Farmington, download the form from the city's website or call the clerk's office, 248-474-5500.

If you're not a permanent absent voter, however, you can still submit an absent voter ballot. Farmington Hills absentee voter applications are posted on-line, as are applications for Farmington absentee voters.

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 form, 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 the 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 (FPCA) 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 Marine.

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

All absent voter ballots must be received by the clerk’s office not 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.