How Absentee Voters in Michigan Can "Spoil" Their Ballot and Request a New One

[RandySF]

Michigan – A lot can happen in the weeks leading up to an election. Candidates drop out or get disqualified, or voters might simply change their minds. That’s why the State of Michigan allows voters to “spoil,” or cancel, their ballot and request a new one up to a certain point before election day.

According to the State of Michigan website, here’s how that works:

“Once a ballot has been inserted into a tabulator, it cannot be changed.

Voters who complete and submit an absent voter ballot by mail, in person at a local clerk’s office, or via drop box, have the option to change their vote by spoiling their original ballot and requesting a new one:




https://oaklandcounty115.com/2026/07/05/how-absentee-voters-in-michigan-can-spoil-their-ballot-and-request-a-new-one/

[llmart]

1. I had to do that once in a primary.

I had voted for Elizabeth Warren by mail sending my ballot in long before it was due. Then she dropped out of the race. Fortunately I have a friend who has worked elections for decades and she informed me I could spoil the ballot and how to do that. I just received my ballot for August's primary and I'm not turning it in yet. I just read that Mallory McMorrow just dropped out of the race.

Most people don't know they can request a new ballot and what steps you take to do that. It's only a slight inconvenience. I'm glad the word is out there at least from this article.