Michigan residents have time to recast their absentee ballot if they already voted for a candidate who dropped out of the presidential primary since early voting began in late-January.

Michigan law gives voters who turned in an absentee ballot the option to "spoil” their ballot and obtain a new one, providing a second chance to pick a candidate who is still in the race. This can be done by submitting a request to a local clerk before election day on March 10.

Voters can submit a written request to their local clerk by mail by 2 p.m. on March 7, the Saturday before the primary. The request must specify whether the voter would like to receive a new absentee ballot or whether they will instead come in and vote at the polls on election day. The request must also be signed.

A voter can also request to spoil their voted absentee ballot in person at their clerk’s office until 4 p.m. on March 9. There is no option on Election Day to spoil an absentee ballot that has been received by the clerk.

This also applies to voters who filled out their absentee ballot but haven’t turned it in yet. Voters should destroy their spoiled ballot when asking for a new one.

Nearly 2,500 voters have “spoiled” their absentee ballot as of Feb. 21, according to the Michigan Secretary of State. That’s only 1% of the absentee ballots turned in so far.

Early voting is easier than ever thanks to new laws adopted by voters in 2018. All registered voters in Michigan can vote using an absentee ballot for any reason, but they need to request one from their local clerks first.

Requests for absentee ballots are up 71% from this point in 2016, according to the Michigan Secretary of State. Only a third of those ballots have been turned, slightly less than in 2016.

Voters started receiving absentee ballots on Jan. 25. Several candidates have dropped out since then, including: Former South Bend, Ind. Mayor Pete Buttigieg; U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn.; former U.S. Rep. John Delaney, D-Md.; businessman Andrew Yang and U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet, D-Colo.

Several Democrats and Republicans will also be listed on Michigan’s March 10 presidential primary ballot who are no longer in the race.

Democrats who are no longer running but will still appear on the ballot include U.S. Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J., former U.S. Housing Secretary Julian Castro, former U.S. Rep. Joe Sestak, D-Penn., and author Marianne Williamson.

If a candidate who isn’t in the race can still earn votes on election day even win delegates, but it’s unlikely. The Michigan Democratic Party’s delegate selection plan requires candidates to receive 15% of the vote in each congressional district to receive any delegates.

On the Republican side, former South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford and former U.S. Rep. Joe Walsh, R-Ill. ended their campaigns. The Michigan Republican Party requires candidates to receive at least 20% of the primary vote in order to receive any delegates.

There’s still plenty of time to obtain an absentee ballot.

Requests for a mailed absent voter ballot must be turned in by 5 p.m. on March 6.

People who are already registered to vote can request an absent voter ballot in person at their clerk’s office anytime before 4 p.m. on March 9.

Voters have until 8 p.m. on March 10 to return their completed ballot to their local clerk’s office, either through the mail or in person.

Voters must request an absentee ballot by sending a completed application (available in large print here) to their local clerk’s office. Applications must be filled out in writing and can be turned in by hand, mail, fax or email, as long as a signature is visible.

For the presidential election, voters choose whether to participate in the primary for Democrats or Republicans. This must be marked on the ballot application.

Some counties will also be deciding on local questions in March. Voters in those areas can select “nonpartisan” if they only want to weigh in on local issues.

Check your voter registration and find your local clerk at the Secretary of State’s Michigan Voter Information Center.

Michigan’s presidential primary is just a few short weeks away. There will be 19 candidates total on the March 10 ballot, including President Donald Trump, 15 Democrats and three other Republicans.

Candidates who dropped out are marked with an asterisk (*).

Democratic Party

Former Vice President Joe Biden

Former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg

U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, D-Hi.

U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt.

Businessman Tom Steyer

U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass.

South Bend, Ind., Mayor Pete Buttigieg*

U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn.*

U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet, D-Colo.*

U.S. Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J.*

Former U.S. Housing Secretary Julian Castro*

Former U.S. Rep. John Delaney, D-Md.*

Former U.S. Rep. Joe Sestak, D-Penn.*

Author Marianne Williamson*

Businessman Andrew Yang*

Republican Party