Voting Resource Center

You can register to vote in Michigan if you are a U.S. Citizen, have been a resident of Michigan for at least 30 days by Election Day, are 18 years old by election day and are not currently serving a sentence in jail or prison.

Students attending school in Michigan can register to vote at their school address or home address if it is in Michigan.

If you do not have a home, you can register to vote using a street corner, park, shelter or any other place where you usually stay as your address.

If you aren’t actively serving a sentence in jail or prison, you can also vote even if you have a felony or misdemeanor; you are on probation, parole, or tether; or you are awaiting arraignment, trial, or sentencing.

You can register to vote at any time in Michigan, up to 8 p.m. on Election Day (November 5), but we highly recommend registering early.

Through October 21, you can register to vote online, at a Secretary of State branch office, at your city/township/county clerk’s office, at any state agency that provides public assistance or services to people with disabilities, by mailing in a completed voter registration application, or through a voter registration drive.

Beginning October 22, you must visit your city or township clerk’s office and provide “proof of residency” to register to vote.

Proof of residency is a document with your name and current address of where you live. Paper or electronic copies of a Michigan ID card or driver’s license, a utility bill, a bank statement, a paycheck, a government check, or any other government document can work as proof of residency.

The short answer is no.

You will be asked for a photo ID if you register to vote in person. If you do not have one, you can sign a simple form and then register to vote.

If you register to vote through the mail, and you have a Michigan driver’s license or state ID card or a social security number, enter those numbers on your voter registration application where indicated.

If you don’t have a Michigan driver’s license, state ID card, or social security number, check the box “I don’t have a valid Michigan-driver’s license or Michigan- issued state ID card, or a Social Security number” located underneath the forms for filling in numbers.

Enter your address after you click on “where are my clerk’s offices” in the Michigan Voter Information Center.

City and township clerks’ offices must be open during their normal hours, for at least eight hours the weekend before each election, and from 7am - 8pm on Election Day.

If you are between 16 and 17.5 years old, and you otherwise meet the requirements for registering to vote, you can pre-register to vote. You can pre-register to vote using any of the voter registration methods described above. Once you turn 17.5, your pre-registration will automatically turn into a regular registration.

All registered voters in Michigan can vote before Election day using an absentee ballot. You don’t need an excuse or a reason. You can vote before Election Day from home or by visiting your city or township clerk’s office.

Even if you are on the permanent absentee voter list, you still need to request a ballot for each election. If you are on the permanent absentee voter list, your clerk will send you an absentee ballot application before each election. To receive your absentee ballot by mail, you must submit your completed application to your city or township clerk. To automatically receive your absentee ballot in the future, check the box in section 2 of the paper form that says “Automatically send me an absent voter ballot for each future election for which I’m eligible.” This option can also be selected via the online absentee ballot request form.

Complete an application for an absentee ballot, sign it, and submit it to your city or township clerk via mail, email, fax, or in person. You can track when your application is received and when your ballot is mailed to you at the Michigan Voter Information Center.

When your absentee ballot arrives in the mail, fill it out, place it in the envelope provided, and sign the outside of the envelope.

You should submit your completed ballot as soon as possible. Your ballot must be received by your clerk by 8pm on November 5. You can mail your ballot (we recommend by October 22), drop it off in a secure drop box, or you can request that your city or township clerk pick up your completed ballot.

You can go to your city or township clerk’s office to vote in person beginning September 26. Complete an application for an absentee ballot and submit it to the staff. You can then complete your ballot, place it in the envelope provided, sign the outside of the envelope with your official signature, and submit it to the staff.

The deadline to vote in person before Election Day is November 4 at 4pm. You can register to vote any time, including on Election Day.

Additionally, early voting sites must be open and available no later than October 26 and remain open through November 3. The sites must be open at least 8 hours per day during this minimum 9-day early voting period. To early vote this way, go to your designated early voting center, check in with the poll workers, complete your ballot, place it in a secrecy sleeve, and deposit it into the tabulator just like you would when voting on election day.

Michigan’s statewide general election is on November 5, 2024. Polls are open from 7am - 8pm. You have the right to vote if you are in line by 8pm.

If you are already registered to vote where you live, you must vote at your assigned polling place. Your polling place information can be found online at the Michigan Voter Information Center, on your Voter ID card, by calling your city or township clerk, or by calling the Election Protection hotline at 866-OUR-VOTE (866-687-8683).

If you are not registered to vote where you live, you must visit your city or township clerk’s office with proof of residency by 8pm on Election Day to register to vote. Once registered, you can vote by absentee ballot in the clerk’s office or go to your polling place if there is time to do so.

You should update your voter registration whenever you move. If you did not update your registration, you can register to vote at your city or township clerk’s office with proof of residency until 8pm on Election Day.

You can vote at your old polling place one last time if you have moved within the same city or township, or if you have moved to a different city or township after the 60th day before an election. If you move more than 60 days before an election day, you must vote based on your new residency. If you more less than 30 days before an election day, you must vote based on your previous residency.

Your employer is not required to give you paid or unpaid time off to vote. Ask if they have a policy that allows you to take time off. If not, vote before Election Day using one of the early voting methods outlined above.

Registered voters can view their sample ballot online at the Michigan Voter Information Center by entering the required information.

You have the right to an accessible polling place and an accessible voting machine. If it is before Election Day (November 5 for the general election), call your city or township clerk right away and ask for an assignment to an alternate site that is accessible. You can also call or text 866-OUR-VOTE (866-687-8683) to report the issue.

If it is Election Day, send someone into the polling place to request curbside voting on your behalf. The poll workers at your polling place will bring a ballot outside so you can vote.

If you vote in Clyde Township, Covert Township, or the City of Fennville, you have the right to a ballot and election materials in Spanish. If you vote in the City of Hamtramck, you have the right to a ballot and election materials in Bengali or Arabic. If you live in Dearborn, you have the right to ballot and election materials in Arabic.

If you do not read or write English, and a ballot is not available in your language, you have the right to assistance from anyone you choose. However, the person cannot be your employer, an agent of your employer or an officer or agent of your labor union.

You have the right to vote independently using an accessible voting machine. If you would like to use an accessible voting machine, tell an election official when you arrive to vote.

You have the right to assistance from the election officials. You can ask the election officials for instructions on how to use the voting equipment or for assistance at any time, even after you’ve entered the voting booth

.If you are blind, disabled, or unable to read or write, you have the right to assistance from anyone you choose. However, the person cannot be your employer, an agent of your employer or an officer or agent of your labor union.

No. But if you have it, bring it with you and provide it to the poll worker to make the process go faster.

You will be asked for photo ID when you go vote. If you do not have photo ID or do not have it with you, you can sign a simple form and vote.

No. However, a small number of first-time voters who registered through the mail or a voter registration drive may need to provide some documentation to vote. Electronic or paper copies of any of the following will work:

A photo ID with your name and picture (regardless of the address or if it has an address):
• Driver’s license or personal ID card from any state
• High school or college ID
• Passport
• Military or government-issued photo ID
• Tribal ID card

A non-photo ID with your name and address on it:
• Current utility bill
• Bank statement
• Paycheck stub
• Government check
• Any other government document

Maybe. If you have it, bring it with you. If you registered to vote close to Election Day (August 6 for the primary and November 5 for the general election), you may need it.

You do not need your Voter Identification Card to vote, but if you have it, bring it with you.