 
Kent County Clerk Reminds Voters of Presidential Primary Ballot Selection
Permanent Absentee Voters Are Required to Submit Presidential Primary Ballot Selection Form
Grand Rapids, MI (January 30, 2024) – Kent County Clerk Lisa Posthumus Lyons is reminding voters that for Michigan’s upcoming February 27 Presidential Primary Election, they must select which political party ballot they wish to vote.
This is particularly important for those on the permanent absentee ballot list. Because voters on this list are automatically mailed a ballot every election, they must complete the Presidential Primary Ballot Selection form by Friday, February 23 in order to have their ballot sent to them. The form can be submitted online with a valid Michigan driver’s license or state ID, or it can be filled out and returned to their respective township or city clerk's office.
“State law requires voters to select their party preference for presidential primaries,” said Kent County Clerk Lisa Posthumus Lyons. “And it’s important to clarify that this provision does not register voters with the particular party they’ve selected for this election; it simply allows clerks to provide them the correct ballot.”
The Presidential Primary Election will have separate ballot styles for the Democratic and Republican parties, each listing their respective candidates. The Democratic Presidential Primary ballot includes three candidates, while the Republican Presidential Primary ballot has seven candidates. Even if a candidate has suspended their campaign, their name will still be on the ballot.
Additionally, in areas with local proposals, cities or townships will offer a third ballot option exclusively for those proposals. If the Presidential Primary Ballot Selection form is not returned by February 23, voters will receive a ballot style with only the available proposals listed for their precinct.
"The Presidential Primary Election differs from other primary elections in which both Republican and Democratic Party candidates are listed on the same ballot, and we want voters to be aware so they’re not caught off-guard,” said Lyons. "For this election, there are two or possibly three separate ballots, and voters are required to pick one in order to cast their vote."
City or township clerks will contact voters on the permanent absentee ballot list who have not returned their Presidential Primary Ballot Selection Form, using various communication channels such as phone calls, text messages, emails, or postal mail to verify the voter's ballot selection. This outreach is not spam, rather it is a genuine effort required by law to ensure the voter receives the correct ballot.
It's important to note that clerks will never ask for sensitive information like Social Security numbers; their only request is for the completion and return of the Presidential Primary Ballot Selection form.
Voters in Kent County can find all of the information they need at KentCountyVotes.com.
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