Elections
The City Clerk's Office now has a drop box for City of Battle Creek voters to return absentee applications and ballots. This drop box is located just outside of the east entrance to City Hall at 10 N. Division St. The drop box is accessible 24 hours a day, 7 days a week until 8 pm on election day.
Election ballot audit
- Overview
- Absentee Ballots
- Candidate Filing Information
- Election Inspectors
- Election Results
- Federal Post Card Application
- Polling Locations
- Voter Registration
- Wards and Precinct Maps
The City Clerk's office oversees all elections in the City of Battle Creek, working in coordination with the Calhoun County Clerk.
The City of Battle Creek is divided into 5 Wards, which are made up of 21 Precincts.
A registered voter must vote at the polling location which is determined by the voter's address. Check the Wards and Precinct Maps tab to determine your ward and precinct and check the Polling Locations tab for the address of your polling location.
Additional elections and voter information is available by clicking on the menu tabs above. For more information about elections or to check your registered voter status online, visit the State of Michigan Voter website.
Important Dates to Remember:
| Date | Election | Last day to register to vote in any manner other than in person at the Clerk's Office |
|---|---|---|
| Tuesday, May 4, 2021 | Special Election - Proposals for Battle Creek Public Schools, Lakeview School District and KRESA |
April 19, 2021 |
Absentee Ballot Information New rights for Michigan voters now in effect:
Absentee Ballot Information New rights for Michigan voters now in effect: All eligible and registered voters in Michigan now may request an absentee ballot without providing a reason and vote early as a result of the passage of the statewide ballot proposal 18-3 in November 2018. Ballots will be counted on Election Day.
NEW! Sign up to join the City’s Permanent Absentee Voter List
Registered voters who wish to vote by absentee ballot can sign up to automatically receive an application by mail for each election. Signing up for the Permanent Absentee Voter List is fast, easy, and will save you time previously spent waiting in line or having to contact the Clerk’s office by phone or e-mail to request an application.
By joining the Permanent Absentee Voter List, you will receive an application to vote by absentee ballot before each election. Complete the application, turn it in, and then receive your absentee ballot by mail before the election. Don’t want to vote absentee? Simply throw the application away and head to the polls on Election Day.
Click here to sign up for the Permanent Absentee Voter List
To obtain a ballot prior to Election Day:
- Drop off your ballot request in person at your township or city clerk’s office no later than 4 p.m. the Monday before Election Day.
- Mail the application, a letter or a pre-printed application form obtained from your local clerk's office. Requests to have a ballot mailed to you must be received by your clerk no later than 5 p.m. the Friday before the election. USPS may take up to five business days to deliver your ballot.
After receiving your ballot, you have until 8 p.m. on Election Day to complete the ballot and return it to the clerk’s office. It will be counted with other ballots on Election Day. When returning an absentee ballot by US Mail, please use the inside envelope provided and place Two First Class Postage Stamps on that envelope. Remember to sign the outside of your return envelope in the space indicated; your ballot will not be accepted without it! If an emergency, such as a sudden illness or family death prevents you from reaching the polls on Election Day, you may have someone deliver your request for an emergency absentee ballot to your city or township clerk’s office before 4 p.m. on Election Day. Requests for an emergency ballot must be submitted after the deadline for regular ballots (5 p.m. the Friday before the election) but before 4 p.m. on Election Day. The emergency must have occurred at a time which made it impossible for you to apply for a regular ballot. Emergency ballots must be returned to the clerk’s office by 8 p.m. on Election Day. |
The State of Michigan requires a voter who is receiving his or her own ballot in person at the Clerk's Office to present a valid photo ID or sign an affidavit. Valid forms of ID are the same as required at the polls on Election Day and include:
- Driver's license or personal identification card
- Federal or state government-issued photo identification
- US passport
- Military identification card with photo
- Student identification from a high school or accredited institution of higher learning with photo
- Tribal identification with photo
If a voter does not have a valid photo ID, the voter will be asked to sign an affidavit stating that he or she is not in possession of a valid ID. If the affidavit is signed, the voter will be issued a ballot.
State law does not allow one person to pick up a ballot for another person. If an individual returns an application for an absentee ballot on behalf of another, that ballot will be mailed to the voter.
For more information contact the City Clerk's Office at (269) 966-3348, or access the Secretary of State's Web site where you can view your sample ballot for the upcoming election, track the status of your absentee ballot and verify your voter registration information.City Commission Candidates
Click here to view a list of City Commission Candidates for the November 3, 2020 General Election |
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| DATE OF ELECTION: | Tuesday, November 3, 2020 |
| SEATS AVAILABLE: | Nine (9) City Commission Members - Five (5) Ward, Three (3) At-Large & One (1) Mayor positions available |
| REQUIREMENTS: | At Large Candidate: Must be a registered elector in the City or any annexed area.
Ward Candidates: Must be a registered elector in the City or any annexed area and reside in the ward for which that person is a candidate.
Mayor Candidates: Must be a registered elector in the City or any annexed area. |
| PETITION AVAILABILITY: | Monday, June 1, 2020 |
| PETITION FILING DEADLINE: (Petition & Affidavit of Identity)
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Tuesday, July 21, 2020, 4:00 P.M. |
| PETITION SIGNATURE REQUIREMENTS: |
Ward Candidates: Not less than 50 valid signatures nor more than 75 valid signatures of registered voters in the City.
At Large & Mayor Candidates: Not less than 100 valid signatures nor more than 150 valid signatures of registered voters in the City.
*No elector shall sign petitions of more than the number of candidates for At-Large City Commissioner to be elected. No elector shall sign the petition of more than one Ward Commissioner to be elected, which petition must be for the ward where the signing elector resides. No elector shall sign the petition of more than one Ward Commissioner to be elected |
| IMPORTANT REMINDERS AND INFORMATION: | A candidate must form a committee within 10 calendar days of accepting your first contribution or making an expenditure and then, within an additional 10 calendar days, you must register the committee by filing a Statement of Organization with the Calhoun County Clerk's Office. The "Statement of Organization" form can be found here More information on forming and registering a candidate committee can be found on the Michigan Bureau of Elections website Additional forms and filing information, including campaign finance information can be found here The City Charter currently provides for a Commission consisting of one Mayor, three At-large and five Ward Commissioners, with the Vice Mayor selected by City Commission. On March 10, 2020 a charter amendment ballot proposal was approved by the voters to allow for the direct election of the Mayor as a separate office. |
Election Inspector
The City of Battle Creek is looking for people to work the polls on Election Day. By serving as an Election Inspector, residents can serve their community and earn extra income at the same time!