Ashley, Michigan Public Records

Registration is available online through the Michigan Voter Information Center at www.michigan.gov/vote. Michigan offers Election Day registration, allowing eligible citizens to register and vote on the same day at their clerk's office or polling place with proof of residency. To register in advance, residents must be U.S. Citizens, at least 18 years old by Election Day, and residents of Michigan and Gratiot County for at least 30 days. Acceptable proof of residency includes a Michigan driver's license, state ID, or current utility bill with name and address. Online registration requires a Michigan driver's license or state ID number. Voters can check their registration status, view sample ballots, and find polling locations through the Michigan Voter Information Center. The Village of Ashley holds municipal elections for village council positions and village president. Village council seats are generally four-year terms, with staggered elections making sure of continuity. Information about local candidates, village ballot proposals, and election dates is available from the Village Clerk at 130 W. Center Street, Ashley, MI 48806, phone (989) 847-4501, and from the Gratiot County Clerk's election division. Village elections are nonpartisan, and candidates file nominating petitions with the village clerk. Residents can find their assigned polling place using the Michigan Voter Information Center at www.michigan.gov/vote by entering their name and date of birth or address. Village residents typically vote at polling locations within the village, often at Ashley Community Schools or the Ashley village hall depending on precinct assignments. Polling places are open from 7:00 AM to 8:00 PM on Election Day. Under Michigan law, voter registration lists are public records available for inspection and purchase for election related purposes. Campaign finance reports for candidates and committees are filed with the Michigan Secretary of State for state-level races and with Gratiot County Clerk for local races, and are available for public review. Candidate filing information and precinct-level election results are public records maintained by Gratiot County Clerk and published after each election on the Gratiot County website and Michigan Secretary of State website.Current federal, state, and local election schedules, ballot contests, candidate filings, and certified results for Ashley voters are published by the Michigan Bureau of Elections (https://www.michigan.gov/sos/elections). Ashley voters will also decide on their state representative for the 99th House District and state senator for their senate district. Local elections may include Ashley village council positions, township board positions for Elba Township, and school board members for Ashley Community Schools. Michigan voters can request absentee ballots without providing a reason under Michigan's no-reason absentee voting law approved by voters in 2018. Residents can request an absentee ballot by submitting an application to the Gratiot County Clerk or their local clerk (Village of Ashley Clerk). Applications are available online at www.michigan.gov/vote, and can be submitted online, by mail, or in person. Absentee ballot applications must be received by the Friday before Election Day, though voters can request and vote an absentee ballot in person at the clerk's office through the Monday before Election Day and on Election Day itself until 8:00 PM. Once registered, voters can join the permanent absentee voter list to automatically receive absentee ballot applications for every election. Completed absentee ballots must be returned by 8:00 PM on Election Day either by mail (postmarked by Election Day is not sufficient, must be received by 8:00 PM), by dropping in an official ballot drop box, or by delivering to the clerk's office.