Michigan

Land Acknowledgement

Michigan is the home of the Bay Mills Indian Community, Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians, Hannahville Indian Community, Nottawaseppi Huron Band of the Potawatomi, Keweenaw Bay Indian Community, Lac Vieux Desert Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians of Michigan, Little River Band of Ottawa Indians, Match-e-be-nash-she-wish Band of Pottawatomi Indians of Michigan, Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians, the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe of Michigan, and the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians of Michigan. It is also the traditional homeland of many tribes.

Overview

Michigan allows you to register to vote in person, online, or by mail. You can register to vote in person by 8PM on Election Day at your local County Clerk office. You must provide documentation to prove your name and address to register. You can vote in person as early as September 29.

Key Dates

September 29 - In-person early voting begins

October 24 - Voter registration deadline for online or mail registration.

November 4 - Deadline to request an absentee/mail-in ballot

November 7 - Early voting ends

November 8 - Election Day!

Michigan Voting Guide

Note: The information below is not legal advice on how to vote. Because voting information is changing rapidly during this election, make sure you check the links provided and check with your state about deadlines and voting specifics.

Registering to Vote

  • You can register in person at your city or town clerk's office at any time up until 8PM on Election Day. If you are registering online or by mail, you must register by or postmark your application by October 24.

  • No.

  • If you are registering to vote for the first time, you must provide documentation to prove your name and address. Acceptable documents include: a Michigan-issued driver's license or Michigan-issued State ID card, a copy of a paycheck stub, utility bill, bank statement, or a government document that includes the voter's name and address. If you move to a new city or township, you must re-register to vote. If you move within a city or township, and are already registered to vote, you only need to update your address.

    You can read more here: https://azsos.gov/elections/voting-election/proof-citizenship-requirements

  • Michigan requires that you include the address where you live with your registration material. This cannot be a mailing address or a P.O. Box.

    Michigan law states that the same address must be used for your registration and driver's license purposes. That means, if the residence address you provide on the application differs from the address shown on a driver's license or personal identification card issued by the state of Michigan, the Secretary of State will automatically change your driver's license or personal ID card address to match the residence address entered on this form. If a change is made, the Secretary of State will mail you an address update sticker for your driver's license or personal ID card.

  • You can contact your city or town clerk.

  • You may visit a Secretary of State office. Voters must present a valid Social Security Number or a letter of ineligibility from the Social Security Administration, as well as proof of identity, U.S. citizenship, and Michigan residency. Then, you must pay the standard State ID card, enhanced State ID card, or state driver's license fee.

  • Yes, you can register to vote online.

  • No.

  • Yes, you can register in person by visiting your town or city clerk.

  • Yes, you can mail a completed Michigan voter registration form to your town clerk.

    Find your town clerk

  • Yes, you can register to vote with a criminal record, so long as you are not currently incarcerated.

  • You can contact your town or city clerk. Otherwise, you can contact the Secretary of State office or call at (888) SOS-MICH (767-6424).

  • You can register to vote in person from October 25 through Election Day. You must register to vote through your local County Clerk's office with proof of residency. If you register to vote online or by mail, you must register by or postmark your application by October 24.

  • Yes, under federal law you can assist someone in registering to vote if they do not speak English well, if they have trouble reading or writing, or if they have a disability.

Checking & Updating Voter Registration

  • You can check your voter registration online on this website.

  • You can verify your voter registration by contacting your town or city Clerk.

  • You can change your voter registration online or by filling out a voter registration application and hand-delivering it or mailing it to your town or city Clerk.

    Find my town or city Clerk

  • Maybe. Some states regularly remove voters from voting lists that have not voted in recent elections or have not responded to letters from the state asking for the voter to confirm his or her address. If you have not voted recently, you should confirm that you are still registered to vote by contacting your town or city Clerk, or checking your registration online.

    Learn more about cancellation procedures

Voting by Mail/Absentee/Ballot Drop-Off

  • All active, registered Michigan voters will receive absentee voting applications this year that can be returned for an absentee ballot. Ballots will be mailed starting on September 29 and voters can return their ballot by mail or in person at their local clerk's office up until 8 PM on Election Day.

  • Yes. Please check that you have filled out all required fields and signed your ballot. USPS recommends you mail in your ballot a week before the deadline to ensure your ballot is received on time. However, please factor in your personal experience with mail delivery times to and from your place of residence or where you drop off your ballot.

  • Registered voters should receive a ballot application in the mail by September 29 that can be filled out and returned. Alternatively, you can request an absentee ballot by calling your local County Clerk's office or online.

  • No.

  • Yes.

  • You can register in person at your city or town clerk's office at any time up until 8PM on Election Day. If you are registering online or by mail, you must register by or postmark your application by October 24.

  • Absentee ballots will be sent on September 29. If an application is received after that date, then as soon as your application is processed.

  • You can have an absentee ballot sent to any mailing address, even if that mailing address differs from the physical address you provided on your voter registration.

  • Yes.

  • All ballots must be received by 8PM on Election Day. So, you should mail your absentee ballot as soon as possible to give it enough time to reach your local clerk's office. Michigan recommends that if you are returning your ballot within the two weeks before Election Day, you should hand deliver your ballot to your local County Clerk's office or ballot drop box to avoid possible postal delays.

  • Yes. You can drop off your ballots with your local clerk's office up until close of polls on Election Day.

    Locate your local clerk

  • Yes. A family member or person residing in your household, a mail carrier, or election official is authorized to deliver your signed absentee ballot to your clerk's office.

  • No. Ballots may only be sent through USPS or dropped at a specified location.

  • No, you do not need to have a witness or get your ballot notarized.

  • Before throwing out a ballot, the County Clerk must notify you via mail, telephone, or email that they do not have a sufficient signature on the mailed ballot. They must notify you either no later than 48 hours after they determined that the signature was not sufficient or by 8PM the day before Election Day.

  • Yes. You can track your ballot online.

  • You can contact your city or town clerk, which can be found online. Otherwise, you can contact the Secretary of State office or call at 888-SOS-MICH (767-6424)

Voting In-Person

  • You can find your polling place online.

  • No.

  • You can only vote before November 8 by filling out an absentee ballot and returning it by mail or delivering it in person to your local clerk.

  • Yes. All voters in Michigan must present picture ID at the polls or sign an affidavit attesting that they are not in possession of a picture ID. Tribal ID with a photo is a valid form of identification.

    Learn more

  • You must present a valid Social Security Number or a letter of ineligibility from the Social Security Administration, as well as proof of identity, U.S. citizenship, and Michigan residency. Then, you must pay the standard state ID card, enhanced state ID card, or state driver's license fee.

  • Yes. Michigan will provide a provisional ballot to you if you do not appear on their precinct's registration list or your eligibility has been challenged. You must provide your local city or township clerk with whatever documentation will cure the challenge no later than the sixth calendar day after the election (November 14).

  • Yes. Under federal law (Section 208 of the Voting Rights Act), you are entitled to bring anyone you trust, such as a friend, family member, or neighbor, to the polling place AND into the polling booth to assist with voting. However, that person may not be your employer, running in the election, or a representative of your labor union. The person giving assistance also may not tell the voter how to vote.

  • You can contact your city or town clerk. Otherwise, you can contact the Secretary of State office or call at 888-SOS-MICH (767-6424).