City of Jackson, MI

09/13/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 09/13/2024 10:15

Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024 Election Guide

Next Election

Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024

What's on the Ballot

Voters will decide races for federal, State and local offices. Jackson's Ward 5 will have a special election to fill a City Council seat.

There will also be millage proposals on the ballot for the Jackson County Jail, Jackson College, and the Jackson District Library.

Early Voting

Did you know you can skip the Election Day lines and vote before the election? There's now nine days of early voting for every State and federal election. The early voting site for City of Jackson residents will be located on the 2nd Floor of City Hall, 161 W. Michigan Ave., Saturday, Oct. 26 through Sunday, Nov. 3, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Early voting follows the same procedures as voting at a polling place on Election Day.

Where to Vote
Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Election Day for in-person voting.
Each ward has a designated polling place for voting on Election Day. Find your ward, precinct and polling place referencing the Ward and Precinct Map (PDF). A list of polling places is also available on this page.
  • WARD 1: Martin Luther King Jr. Recreation Center, 1107 Adrian St.
  • WARD 2: Voters are shifted from the Boos Recreation Center in 2024 to the following locations:
    • Precinct 2: St. John's United Center for Caring, 801 S. Mechanic St.
    • Precinct 3: St. John's Parish Center, 711 N. Martin Luther King Jr. Dr.
  • WARD 3: St. John's Parish Center, 711 N. Martin Luther King Jr. Dr.
  • WARD 4: First Presbyterian Church, 743 W. Michigan Ave.
  • WARD 5: St. John's United Center for Caring, 801 S. Mechanic St.
  • WARD 6: Cascades Baptist Church, 1012 W. High St.

Those opting to return absent ballots by mail are encouraged to do so as early as possible. Absentee ballots must be submitted by 8 p.m. on Election Day to be counted in the election. A ballot drop box is available at City Hall. Completed ballots may also be hand submitted in the City Clerk's Office.

Voting Absentee

Those wanting to request an absentee ballot, who have not already applied, may apply on the Secretary of State's website, by mail, by email, or in person. If you'd like to check on the status of your absentee ballot, such as if one is coming to your home or has been received by the City Clerk's Office, visit the Secretary of State's website.

It's important for absentee voters living in the same household to pay close attention to ensure the ballot assigned to them is returned in the appropriate envelope. Contact the City Clerk's Office if a mistake is made on your absentee ballot to get instructions on how to correct it. Voters may return ballots directly to the City Clerk's Office on the First Floor of Jackson City Hall.

Two ballot drop boxes are available for contactless submission of absentee ballots. One is located outside Jackson City Hall at 161 W. Michigan Ave. and another is located inside the City Clerk's Office.

Those opting to return ballots by mail are encouraged to do so as early as possible. In the days before the election, voters are urged to directly submit their completed absentee ballots to the City Clerk's Office using a drop box or in-person submission. Voters who are registering to vote on Election Day may obtain and vote an absentee voter ballot in person at the City Clerk's Office or vote in person at their voting precinct.

All absentee ballots must be submitted to the Clerk's Office by 8 p.m. on Election Day to be counted in the election.

Absentee Ballot Drop Boxes

Drop box outside the front entrance of City Hall, 161 W. Michigan Ave.

There are two absentee ballot drop boxes for voters to use. A drop box is installed outside the front entrance to Jackson City Hall at 161 W. Michigan Ave. Another is located in the parking lot at Nixon Park, which is located at 400 E. North St.

Registered voters in the City of Jackson may use the drop boxes to submit completed absentee ballots. The boxes will be open for ballot submission for every election cycle from the time absentee ballots are mailed until 8 p.m. on Election Day. The drop boxes are specially designed to keep ballots safe and secure.

The drop boxes are for completed absentee ballots only. All other City paperwork submissions, including absentee ballot applications, should be submitted to the standard drop box outside the front entrance of City Hall.

Drop box in the parking lot at Nixon Park, 400 E. North St.

2023 Changes to Absentee Ballots

Starting with the May 2, 2023 election, voters may choose to be placed on a permanent absent voter ballot list. This means you will automatically receive an absentee ballot in the mail prior to every election without having to apply each time.

If this is something you'd like to participate in, there is now an option on the MI Absent Voter Ballot Application. This change was approved by Michigan voters as part of Proposal 2 in the Nov. 2022 election. Voters may still request absentee ballots for individual elections.

A photo example of where to find this option on applications is included on this page.

Ballot Submission Deadline

The Michigan Secretary of State has ballot submission deadlines listed on its website.

Spoiling an Absentee Ballot

If a voter has already voted absentee and wishes to change their vote, a voter can spoil their ballot by submitting a written request to the City Clerk's Office. More information is available about this on the Secretary of State's website.

See your Ballot Before Voting
If you'd like to see what's on your ballot before heading to the polls, sample ballots are available online.

About Elections in Jackson
Elections in the City of Jackson are administered by the Jackson City Clerk's Office. The City Clerk is the Chief Election Officer and is responsible for conducting all elections held in the City of Jackson. Voter registrations are processed daily through the statewide qualified voter file to maintain the records of approximately 23,000 registered city voters. The city is divided into six wards and 16 precincts with conveniently located polling places for voters to cast their ballots on election days.

Election Results
City of Jackson election results are reported through the Jackson County Clerk's website.

Election Signs

Before displaying signs to support a candidate or cause, please be aware of where the signs should be placed. According to a City ordinance, election signs are only allowed on private property where you have permission to display them.

The signs are not allowed in the City's right-of-way or "parkway", which is the area between the street and sidewalk. Election signs are also not allowed in public parks or vacant lots owned by the City. Signs that violate the ordinance could be removed by City staff. Reference a video on this page for an example of where signs should be placed.

Election Resources