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Michigan Voting
Information
How to Register to Vote in Michigan
To be eligible to register to vote in Michigan, you must be:
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A Michigan resident (at the time you register) and a resident of your city or township for at least 30 days (when you vote)
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A United States citizen
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17.5 years of age and will be 18 by time of election
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Not currently serving a sentence in jail or prison
Note: formerly incarcerated people CAN vote in Michigan. To double check, you can go here.
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There is no deadline to register to vote in MI
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Individuals who register to vote within 14 days of an election must appear in person at their city or township clerk’s office and provide proof of residency
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What you will need to register:
You do not need a photo ID or proof of citizenship to register to vote. You will be asked to show your photo ID if you register to vote in person, but if you don’t have an ID or don’t have one with you, you can sign a simple form and then register to vote.
Only voters who register to vote within 14 days of the election must provide proof of residency. Proof of residency is a document that includes your name and current address. You can show a digital or paper copy of any of the following documents:
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MI Driver license or State ID
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Utility Bills
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Bank Statement
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Paychecks
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Government check
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Other official government documents
Michigan voter registration options:
You can register to vote in Michigan online, by mail or in-person at your local clerk's office.
How to Vote Before Election Day in Michigan
Vote From Home Using an Absentee Ballot
You can vote from home before Election Day using an absentee ballot. This is a ballot that is sent to you, then you complete it at home and return it by a certain date. Using an absentee ballot is a good option if you want to avoid lines at your polling place or early voting site, if you think you might be out of town on Election Day, or if you just want to take your time filling out your ballot.
Applying for an absentee ballot
You can apply for an absentee ballot online, by mail, or in person. Michigan voters may now sign up to receive an absentee ballot automatically for each election, instead of having to submit a new application each time. When completing your absentee ballot application, check the box indicating you would like a ballot mailed to you before each election to join the permanent mail ballot list.
Online requests can be made until 5 PM the Friday before Election Day and will require a valid Michigan driver license or state ID.
You can also download and print a paper absentee voter application online and then return it to your city or township clerk by mail or in person. If you do not have internet access, you can also call your city or township clerk and request that the paper application be mailed to you.
Visiting your city or township clerk’s office in person is the best option if you are trying to request an absentee ballot very close to Election Day.
How do I request an absentee ballot if I have a disability?
Voters with print disabilities may apply for an accessible electronic absent voter ballot that can be completed electronically, printed, and returned to the city or township clerk. To apply online for an accessible electronic absent voter ballot, complete this form.
Submitting your Absentee Ballot
After you submit your absentee ballot application, the clerk will mail you your absentee ballot. Or, if you have turned in your application in person at the clerk’s office, they may give you your ballot right there. Generally, your absentee ballot MUST be received by your city or township clerk by 8:00 p.m. on Election Day to be counted. Absentee ballots from military and overseas voters, however, can be counted if they are postmarked by Election Day and received by the city or township clerk within six days thereafter.
Your ballot will not be counted unless your signature is on the return envelope and matches your signature on file. If you received assistance voting the ballot, then the signature of the person who helped you must also be on the return envelope.
There are a few options to submit your completed absentee ballot:
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By mail: We recommend putting your ballot in the mail no later than two weeks prior to Election Day
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In person: Drop it off at your city or township clerk's office or in a secure drop box provided by your clerk. Only you, 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.
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Pick up: Your city or township clerk can pick up your completed ballot. To use this option, your completed ballot must be within the city or township where you vote, and you must call your city or township clerk by 5 p.m. on the Friday before Election Day to request that your ballot be picked up.
All registered voters can track their completed ballot by looking up their information here.
Can I change my vote after submitting my absentee ballot?
A voter can spoil their completed and submitted ballot by mailing a written request to their city or township clerk or visiting their clerk’s office in person.
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By mail: Request must be received by 5 PM the Friday before the election
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In person: Request must be received by 10 AM the Monday prior to the election
An absentee ballot that has not been returned to the clerk may be spoiled in person at the clerk’s office until 4 PM the Monday prior to the election. If a voter has not returned their ballot, they can surrender the ballot or sign a statement stating that the ballot was lost or destroyed and vote at the polls. There is no option on Election Day to spoil an absentee ballot that has been received by the clerk.
Early Voting
What is early voting?
Early voting is the opportunity to cast a ballot in person before Election Day. For voters, the early voting experience will be similar to the experience of voting at a polling place on Election Day and will include the act of putting your completed ballot into a tabulator.
Where will early voting take place?
Early voting will take place at early voting sites. An early voting site will operate similarly to an Election Day polling place but can be set up to serve voters from more than one city or township. This means that your early voting site may not be located in your community. Early voting sites can also serve more voters than an Election Day polling place can serve. Click here to find your early voting site.
When will early voting take place?
Communities are required to offer early voting in each statewide and federal election for at least nine consecutive days, beginning on the second Saturday before the election and ending on the Sunday before the election, for at least eight hours each day. Communities also have the flexibility to offer early voting in additional elections and to add additional days and hours beyond what is required. To find out when early voting will be offered in your community, check your early voting site.
Additional Voter Information
Voting for College Students who live on campus
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College students can register to vote either at their home address OR school address, but not both. You can only register and vote in one location.
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If students decide to register at an address that is different from what is listed on their driver’s license, be aware that any change to a voter registration address will automatically update the state’s records for your driver’s license address as well. A sticker will be sent in the mail to update the address on your license
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New voter ID laws now permit the use of student identification cards with a photo from a high school or accredited institution of higher education to satisfy the identification requirement to vote in person. Click here for a complete list of accepted documents.
Military and Overseas Voter Information
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Federal Government passed the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (UOCAVA) allowing US citizens who are on active duty or out of the country the ability to vote through absentee ballot
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Fill out the Voter Registration and Absentee Ballot Request Form via FVAP.gov or download it
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Recommended to submit it 90 days before the election
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Information for People Experiencing Houselessness
People experiencing houselessness or housing insecurity can still register to vote. There are a few recommended options for eligible voters without a permanent home address. You can:
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List a shelter address as your voting address on your voter registration form.
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Use a street corner or a park address on voter registration form.
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List an address where you receive mail.
Key Dates & Deadlines
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Now: Request your absentee ballot online or submit a paper application. (If you want to vote from home, we recommend that you request your ballot no later than October 15 to give yourself enough time to receive your ballot, complete it, and return it to your city or township clerk by the deadline.)
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September 26, 2024: First day you can vote in person, with an absentee ballot, at your city or township clerk's office.
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October 21, 2024: Last day to register to vote online or by mail (Starting October 22, you'll need to register in person at your city or township clerk's office with proof of residency).
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October 22, 2024: For most voters*, this is the last day we recommend dropping your ballot in the mail. Starting October 23, we recommend returning your ballot in person to your city or township clerk's office or satellite office, or in a secure dropbox provided by your clerk.
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October 26, 2024: First day of the mandatory early voting period. Locate your early voting site(s) here.
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November 3, 2024: Last day of the mandatory early voting period.
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November 4, 2024, at 4:00 p.m.: Deadline to vote in person, with an absentee ballot, at your city or township clerk's office if you're registered to vote where you live. (After 4:00 p.m. on November 4, you must vote at your polling place on Election Day)
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November 5, 2024: Election Day! Polls are open from 7:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m. local time. If you need to register to vote, you can register and then vote at your city or township clerk's office until 8:00 p.m.
*If you’re serving in the military or living overseas, your ballot must be postmarked by Election Day (November 5) and received by November 11 to count.
Michigan Redistricting
Maps have been released by the Michigan Independent Citizen Redistricting Committee. Click the button below to see the new congressional, state senate, and state house maps. You can type your address in the upper left-hand corner of each map to see what district lines you are in now.