Election Division

Next Election 

The next election is on Tuesday, May 2, 2023. 

What's on the Ballot

Voters will decide a millage renewal for the Jackson County Intermediate School District (JCISD) to fund special education programs. This is a millage renewal and will not bring any new taxes. 

Polling Place Change

Due to ongoing construction at the Boos Recreation Center, Ward 2 voters will be directed to other polling places in the City. Impacted voters will receive a mailed notice prior to the election with updated polling place information. 

2023 Elections in the City of Jackson

Ward 2 Polling Place Change for 2023

Due to ongoing construction at the Boos Recreation Center and Loomis Park, Ward 2 voters are being shifted to other polling places for the 2023 election cycle. 

Precinct 3 voters will vote at St. John's United Center for Caring at 801 S. Mechanic St. Voters in Precincts 4 and 5 will vote at St. John's Parish Center at 711 N. Martin Luther King Jr. Dr. Impacted residents will receive a mailed notice informing them of this temporary change. A Ward and Precinct Map (PDF) is available on this page for reference. 

Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Election Day for in-person voting. 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

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

There are two absentee ballot drop boxes for voters to use. One is installed outside the front entrance to Jackson City Hall at 161 W. Michigan Ave. Another is located in the parking lot behind City Hall, which can be reached by using W. Cortland Street. The dropbox behind City Hall can be used as a "drive-thru" option for voters, as it can be reached from the driver's side of vehicles. 

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 City Hall. 

Dropbox in parking lot behind City Hall off W. Cortland Street 

2023 Changes to Absentee Ballots

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 putting signs in your yard to support a candidate or cause, please be aware of where the signs should be placed.  According to a City ordinance, signs are only allowed on private property and not in the City’s right-of-way or “parkway”, which is the area between the street and sidewalk. Signs that violate the ordinance could be removed and confiscated by City staff.  Reference a video on this page for an example of where signs should be placed. 

Election Resources 

• Voter Information
• Check Voter Registration Status and Find Your Precinct
• Michigan Election and Voter Information Center
• State of Michigan Voter Registration Application (PDF)
• A Guide to Voter Identification at the Polls
• Precinct Inspector Application (PDF)