December 30, 2009 (Issue 457)

New Federal Law Makes Use of Merit Election E-Mail System Necessary: On October 28, 2009, the federal Military and Overseas Voter Empowerment (MOVE) Act was signed into law by the President.  One feature of the new federal law permits absent uniformed services voters and overseas voters to request that their absentee ballots be sent electronically via the Internet instead of by mail.  Such voters can also request the electronic transmission of registration forms and absentee ballot applications.  

To prepare for the implementation of the new federal law, it is important that you access the Merit E-Mail account established for you by the Bureau of Elections on a daily basis.  For assistance, please call the Bureau's toll free Help Desk line at 1-800-310-5697.

If you do not have access to a computer and/or the Internet, please contact the Help Desk to make alternative arrangements for the receipt of communications issued through this office.

Complete instructions regarding the implementation of the new federal law will be forwarded to all counties, cities, townships and selected villages via the Election E-Mail System over the coming weeks.  In the mean time, feel free to contact this office if you have any questions:

Michigan Department of State
Bureau of Elections
1-800-292-5973
Elections@Michigan.gov