The Permanent AV List (the checkbox) means we will automatically mail you an application before every election. In Michigan, there is no way to automatically receive a ballot without doing anything; you must fill out an application every time you want an AV ballot. Being on the Permanent AV List means we’ll always mail you the red-white-and-blue application; you can decide each time whether you want to use it or not.

You can register or update your address in person at Ferndale City Hall, or at any Secretary of State branch office.

You can also register in person at other locations like the Oakland County Clerk's office, State of Michigan agency offices (such as MDHHS), and military recruitment centers, but voter forms submitted at these locations must be mailed to Ferndale Elections so they will take longer to be processed.

You can mail your voter registration application to:
     Ferndale Elections
     300 E. Nine Mile Road
     Ferndale, MI 48220-9905

If you mail it to the Oakland County Clerk, it will take longer to process because it will be forwarded to Ferndale Elections.

Applications for an absentee voter (AV) ballot will be accepted beginning 75 days prior to each election.

You can apply online at the Michigan Voter Information Center. Your application will be electronically sent directly to Ferndale Elections.

You can deliver your application in person at Ferndale City Hall during regular operating hours.

You can place your application in any of the following dropboxes, available 24 hours a day:
     - the black dropbox outside City Hall (available 365 days a year)
     - the gray Ferndale Elections dropbox outside City Hall (available during the 75 days before an election)
     - the gray Ferndale Elections dropbox outside Kulick Community Center (available during the 75 days before an election)

You can mail your application to:
     Ferndale Elections
     300 E. Nine Mile Road
     Ferndale, MI 48220-9905

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To receive an absentee voter (AV) ballot by mail, your application must be received at the Elections Department by 5:00 p.m. on the Friday before the election.

To pick up an absentee voter (AV) ballot in person and take it home, you must apply at Ferndale City Hall by 2:00pm on the Sunday before the election.

On the Monday before the election, you may apply for an AV ballot in person until 4:00 p.m., but the ballot must be voted at City Hall; you cannot take it out of the building.

No, you can have the ballot mailed to you, or you may complete our online application form, and return it to the City Clerk by mail or use our convenient drop box outside City Hall. Any US citizen qualified to vote absentee can pick up their ballot at City Hall until 4:00 p.m. the Monday before the election. Any ballots obtained in person the Monday before the election must be voted in the City Clerk's Office. New regulations mandate that voters applying in person for an absentee ballot must provide photo identification to be issued a ballot. Voters who do not provide ID must complete an Affidavit of Voter not in Possession of Picture Identification.

All absentee ballots must be received by 8:00 p.m. on Election Day.

Go to the Michigan Voter Information Center and input your information to check your ballot's status.

Visit the Michigan Voter Information Center and follow the instructions to get this information.

The City of Ferndale has nine polling locations, each open between 7:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. on all election days. Check our Polling Locations page to find out which precinct you are located in.

If you are outside the United States, or if you are a member of the Armed Forces or Uniformed Services (or a spouse of someone who is) on active duty anywhere outside of Ferndale, visit the Federal Voting Assistance Program website to complete the Federal Post Card Application (FPCA). This allows Ferndale Elections to email or fax your ballot to you, and provides other benefits and protections to your vote.

No, you don’t! You have two options: (1) If you are living away from Ferndale while attending college, you can register to vote in the city or township where you live, and vote there—even if you only live there for part of the year. (2) If you are registered at a permanent address in Ferndale, you can request an absentee ballot and we can mail your ballot to wherever you are—no matter where that is or why you’re there!

Start by visiting the City Clerk's Office to receive your nominating packet, which includes:

• Nominating petitions
• Calendar of important dates
• Other useful information.

The City Clerk's Office is located at Ferndale City Hall, 300 E. Nine Mile rd. Open hours are Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m.–5:30 p.m.

The state has stringent requirements for petitions. Three important points:

• The state has official petition blanks that you must use. They are available at City Hall—you cannot print them at home. Circulators should not sign until after a sheet is filled. Signatures dated later than the circulators cannot be counted.
• You can only sign petitions equal to the number of seats open. Where any name appears on more petitions than there are candidates to be elected to a specific office, that name cannot be counted for any petition for that office.
• The state-mandated deadline to submit nominating petitions is 105 days before the election, by 4:00 p.m. at City Hall. No petitions will be accepted after this date and time.

What happens to the petitions once they’re submitted

• The City Clerk has 5 days to determine the sufficiency of the signatures. Candidates will be notified in writing immediately if they do not have at least 100 valid signatures. As long as the 105-day at 4:00 p.m. filing deadline has not passed, candidates may submit more signatures to make up for the deficiency.
• There are many statutory reasons a signature may not be valid. It is highly recommended to exceed the 100-signature minimum, keeping in mind no more than 150 can be accepted.

Please contact the Michigan Secretary of State.