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February 13, 2023
Regular Edition News Update #2023-4
Proposal 2022-2: Implementation Updates and May 2, 2023 Election |
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The Bureau of Elections has begun the implementation of some aspects of Proposal 2022-2 and the preparation and planning for others for upcoming elections. At this time, the Michigan Legislature has not yet enacted legislation that likely will provide additional implementation details for early in-person voting; the permanent absent voter ballot list (permanent ballot list); state-funded absent voter ballot drop boxes; state-funded return postage on AV applications and AV ballots; and other elements of Proposal 2022-2.
Technical implementation of these proposals is a months-long process, and the major elements of Proposal 2022-2 are not ready for full implementation for jurisdictions holding elections on May 2, 2023. A status update on the major elements, and Bureau guidance for jurisdictions holding elections on May 2, 2023, is below.
Prepaid Postage
Proposal 2022-2 provides each voter the right to state-funded postage to return their absent voter ballot application and absent voter ballot. To facilitate implementation of this requirement, the Bureau of Elections is working with the United States Postal Service to establish a permit process by which each municipal jurisdiction will be able to print applications and ballot envelopes with a permit that will be billed to the state. Establishment of this permit takes several months, as separate billing details must be established for each of the 1,520 municipal jurisdictions in the state.
For the upcoming May 2023 election, the 75-day absent voter ballot application period begins Thursday, February 16. The Bureau understands that municipal jurisdictions typically send applications to voters on the permanent AV application list near this date, and some jurisdictions prefer to send applications in advance of the date. The United States Postal Service permit billed to the state will not be available statewide in advance of February 16. Therefore, it is not yet possible for jurisdictions statewide to print AV applications with return postage using the state permit. Instead, the state will reimburse municipal jurisdictions for return postage costs for AV applications.
Jurisdictions have several options for applying return postage to AV applications.
- If a jurisdiction has a USPS permit, jurisdictions may print the AV application out of QVF and place it in a return envelope pre-printed with the municipal jurisdiction’s USPS permit. Alternatively, jurisdictions may have a print vendor produce AV applications (envelope or postcard) with the jurisdiction’s USPS permit.
- If a jurisdiction does not have a USPS permit, jurisdictions may run AV application return envelopes or postcards through a postage meter to apply return postage, or they may apply stamps to return envelopes or postcards manually or using a stamping tool. Preprinted postcard applications in which the return section folds over internally into the mailed application will need to be opened to apply postage, and then resealed. This option may not be feasible for larger jurisdictions that use vendor-printed postcard applications and do not have a permit that the vendor can print on postcards. Jurisdictions should discuss with their vendor (and local counsel, if necessary) to determine the best option for providing return postage for the May 2, 2023 election.
The Bureau will provide further guidance on return postage for AV Ballot envelopes in advance of the deadline for jurisdictions to mail AV ballots to voters.
Ballot Drop Boxes
Proposal 2022-2 provides each voter the right to at least one state-funded absent voter ballot application and ballot drop box for every 15,000 registered voters in their jurisdiction. The Bureau has initiated a Request for Proposal (RFP) process to solicit bids for vendors to supply AV drop boxes that meet statutory requirements and will be durable and appropriate for use over several election cycles.
Once contracts are awarded, the Bureau will provide a catalogue of drop boxes to clerks, who will then order their box(es) from the Bureau. The boxes will be shipped by the vendors directly to each clerk at the delivery address provided by the clerk. Once the ordering process becomes available, the Bureau will prioritize jurisdictions with an August election, then ones with a November election, with final delivery to the rest of the jurisdictions prior to the absent voter ballot application period for the 2024 Presidential Primary. Each jurisdiction will have the opportunity to order a new drop box, even if they received one in 2020.
Because drop boxes will not be available for the May 2, 2023 election, the Bureau of Elections will reimburse jurisdictions with a May 2 election that do not currently have an absent voter ballot drop box for their costs in acquiring a drop box. Drop boxes may be purchased or borrowed from neighboring jurisdictions that do not have a May 2 election. Drop box requirements can be found in the eLearning center.
Permanent Absent Voter Ballot List
Proposal 2022-2 provides voters the right to complete a single absent voter ballot application to receive an absent voter ballot in all future elections. The updated printed and QVF absent voter ballot applications will provide voters with the option of joining the permanent ballot list. Development is underway to update QVF to capture a voter’s permanent absent voter ballot status in the QVF. While this feature is not available in QVF now, it will be available prior to the May 2, 2023 election. If clerks receive AV applications in which voters have requested to join the permanent absent voter list (not the permanent application list) prior to the implementation of this feature, clerks will have the option of sending these requests to the Bureau of Elections via email or retaining the applications and entering the permanent absent voter ballot status when the tool is available in QVF.
Early Voting
Proposal 2022-2 provides voters the right to at least 9 days of early in-person voting for statewide and federal elections. For local elections, jurisdictions have the option of providing early voting. Implementation of early voting will require changes to programming to voting equipment to ensure ballots can be tabulated prior to election day, with the results report not run until Election Day itself. Additionally, early voting requires an updated electronic pollbook to check-in early voters, verify their registration status, and ensure they have not already returned a ballot elsewhere. Initial development of this tool is underway, understanding that the Michigan State Legislature may provide statutory requirements regarding the early voting process. At this time, the state has not developed the technical resources to support early voting for the May 2, 2023 election.
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