Michigan

Election Day: Polls are open from 7 AM to 8 PM local time on Election Day.  ANYONE IN LINE AT 8 PM MUST BE ALLOWED TO VOTE.

If the voter is already registered to vote where they live, they must vote at their assigned polling place on Election Day. The voter can identify their polling place location at: 

• Online at https://mvic.sos.state.mi.us/Voter/Index.
• On their Voter Identification Card; or
• By calling their city or township clerk.  For office location, Your voter information (and scroll down) 

If the voter is not registered to vote where they live, they must visit their city or township clerk’s office (or satellite office) with proof of

residency by 8 PM on Election Day to register to vote. Once they are registered, they can: 

• Vote by an absentee ballot immediately at the clerk’s office; or
• Travel to their new polling location with their new voter registration receipt ONLY IF ABLE TO ARRIVE BEFORE 8 PM;

Some voters will be able to go to an Election Day Vote Center if one is available in their community, to register and vote with a regular ballot. Check with their local city or township clerk to determine availability at: https://mvic.sos.state.mi.us/Voter/Index/#yourclerk

How to Check Registration:

A voter can check their registration status by:

• Online, at Your voter information. Enter the required information to see if they are registered to vote where they currently live. 
• Calling their city or township clerk’s office. 

Registration Eligibility

An individual may register to vote if they are:

• A U.S. citizen,
• A resident of Michigan for at least 30 days,
• At least 17 ½ years old (must be 18 years old on or before Election Day to vote), and 
• Not currently serving a sentence in jail or prison.
• Pre-registration is available for 16-17 year olds.  They will be automatically registered when they turn 17 ½. 

How to Register:

If it’s more than 14 days before Election Day, voters can register to vote:

• Online: must have a MI driver’s license or MI state ID to register online at Michigan Online Voter Registration
• Mail, Email, or Dropbox: Download and complete voter registration application ED-121: Michigan Voter Registration Application and Change of Address Form. FIRST TIME VOTERS: Pay attention to ID requirement instructions. Return directly to the voter’s city or township clerk’s office, by mail, by email, or by using a secure drop box in their city or township.
• Phone: Contact the city or township clerk to have registration form mailed if the voter does not have printer access.  Clerk’s office phone numbers can be found at Your voter information.
• Through a Voter Registration Drive: Voters can register to vote by completing a paper or online application through a voter registration drive.
• In Person: Any Secretary of State branch office, any state agency that provides public assistance or services to people with disabilities, or the voter’s city, township, or county clerk’s office. Clerk’s addresses at Your voter information.

Starting 14 days before Election Day (even up to 8 p.m. on Election Day), voters must register to vote in person at their city or township clerk’s office with proof of residency. Proof of residency is a paper or electronic document with the voter’s name and current address, including a Michigan driver’s license, utility bill, or bank statement.

Registration Deadlines: 

• Online: must be received by end of day October 21, 2024
• Mail: must be received or postmarked by October 21, 2024
• In Person:
  • October 21, 2024 at: Secretary of State branch office, voter registration drive, any designated state agency that provides public assistance or services to people with disabilities, or the voter’s city or township or county clerk’s office (without proof of residency).
  • October 22-Election Day 8 PM only at the voter’s city or township clerk’s office with proof of residency. This includes any paper/digital/electronic copies of any of the following documents:
    • A Michigan driver’s license or state ID;
    • A current utility bill;
    • A bank statement;
    • A paycheck stub;
    • A government check; or
    • Any other government document.

NOTE: MI HAS SAME-DAY REGISTRATION AT THEIR CITY OR TOWNSHIP CLERK’S OFFICE

How to Request an Absentee Ballot     

If a voter signed up for the “Permanent Mail Ballot List” in May 2023 or later, the voter will automatically be sent an absentee ballot in the mail for each election.      

Online*: The voter must have the last four digits of their Social Security Number to use the online application: Michigan Online Absent Voter Ballot Application. 

Voters with print disabilities may apply for an accessible electronic absent voter ballot that can be completed electronically, printed, and returned to their local clerk (online application at Accessible Ballot for Voters with Disabilities ). To apply online for an accessible electronic absent voter ballot, click here.  Clerk’s contact information at Your voter information. 

Phone*:  Voters can contact their local city or township clerk and ask that an application be mailed to them. Clerk’s contact information at Your voter information.

*Application Return/Deadline: Online and mailed absentee ballot applications must be received by 5 PM Friday, November 1, 2024.  Applications can be returned by: mail or scanned/photographed, and then faxed/emailed to the voter’s city or township clerk, or placed in a secure drop box located in the city or township where the voter is registered. Dropbox locations found on the clerks’ link at Your voter information.

Absent Voter Ballot Application found at  2024 Michigan Absent Voter Ballot Application; Clerk’s contact information at https://mvic.sos.state.mi.us/Voter/Index/#yourclerk.

*Requests for an absent voter ballot online or by mail must be received by the voter’s township or city clerk no later than 5 PM on Friday, November 1, 2024. However, If they should submit their request no later than two weeks prior to Election Day, so there will be enough time to receive their ballot, complete it, and return it to their city or township clerk by the Election Day 8 PM deadline. 

In Person: 

• All registered voters are eligible to request and vote an absentee ballot in person at their city or township clerk’s office beginning 40 days before Election Day (September 26, 2024).
• Voters registered to vote where they currently live have until 4 PM on the Monday before Election Day (November 4, 2024) to request an absentee ballot in person at their city or township clerk’s office. 
• Unregistered voters or voters who need to update their registration may request an absentee ballot in person at their city or township clerk’s office up to 8 PM on Election Dayafter registering to vote or updating their registration. 

How to Return the Completed Absentee Ballot/Deadlines     
By Mail: Absentee ballots (including accessible absentee ballots) must be RECEIVED by the voter’s CITY OR TOWNSHIP CLERK no later than 8 PM Election Day (November 5, 2024).  

Military/Overseas Voters: absentee ballots must be POSTMARKED by 8 PM local time, and received by the voter’s city or township clerk within six days of the election (November 11, 2024)

In Person: 

• Using a dropbox provided by the voter’s city or township clerk. Locations can be found at the clerk’s tab at Your voter information.  Ballots must be placed in a dropbox by 8 PM local time Election Day, November 5, 2024.
•  At the voter’s city or township clerk’s office by 8 PM local time Election Day, November 5, 2024. Locations can be found at the clerk’s tab at Your voter information. 
• At an early voting site. Locations and hours can be found at the clerk’s tab at Your voter information. 
• At the voter’s regular polling place on Election Day, November 5, 2024. (Not available to voters in the City of Detroit.)

Absent Voter Ballot Application and Ballot can be tracked online at  https://mvic.sos.state.mi.us/Voter/Index/.

Early Voting

Early voting must be offered starting Saturday, October 26, 2024 through Sunday November 3, 2024.  Some communities may offer ADDITIONAL early voting opportunities through the month of October. 

Check locations/hours for Early Voting at: Your voter information.

• Your early voting site will likely not be the same as your Election Day polling place.

DETROIT VOTERS: Go to Vote Early  to find early voting locations/hours closest to them.

Voter Registration

To register to vote in Michigan you should provide one of the following:

• Your Michigan Driver’s License Number
• Your Michigan ID Number

If you do not have these IDs, you may provide:

• Last Four Digits of your Social Security Number

You can alternatively provide one of these documents when you vote to complete your registration.

If you are registering for the first time by mail and can not be identified by the ID information you provided, you will need to provide proof of residence. Acceptable forms of proof of residence include:

• Current and Valid Photo ID
• Valid Michigan Driver’s License except one issued to an individual that is not a United States citizen
• Government Issued Document that shows your current name and address
• Michigan Personal ID
• Current Utility Bill or Pay Check or Bank Statement

You can alternatively show one of these documents when you vote to complete your registration. The identification requirement does not apply if you personally hand deliver the registration form to your clerk’s office, are disabled or eligible to vote under the federal Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Voting Act.

Voting In-Person

If you are registered to vote in Michigan, you are required to show a photo ID to vote; or, you may instead sign an affidavit or similar document. Accepted forms of ID include:

• Valid Michigan Driver’s License
• Michigan Personal ID

If you do not have an ID from the above list, in Michigan additional, acceptable forms of ID include:

• Valid US Passport
• Out of State Personal ID
• Valid Military ID
• Valid Federal Issued ID
• Valid Student ID
• Out of State Driver’s License or Non-driver ID
• Valid ID Issued by another State
• Valid Tribal ID

ID Requirements for Voter Registration

In-Person Registration

A person will be asked to present a photo ID when they go to register in person, but they do not need a photo ID or proof of citizenship to register to vote. Valid forms of photo ID include:

• MI Driver’s license or state ID or 
• A nonexpired driver’s or state ID from another state, or 
• Federal, state, or local government-issued photo ID;
• U.S. Passport;
• Military ID with Photo;
• Student ID with photo from an educational institution; and 
• Tribal ID with photo.

If a person does not have photo ID, they may sign an affidavit attesting to identification and eligibility and be allowed to register to vote.

If the voter registers after October 21, 2024, they must register IN PERSON at their city or township clerk’s office and provide proof of residency. Paper/digital/electronic copies of any of the following documents will work:

• A Michigan driver’s license or state ID;
• A current utility bill;
• A bank statement;
• A paycheck stub;
• A government check; or
• Any other government document

Online Registration

To register to vote online, the voter must provide the last four digits of their Social Security Number. 

Mail Registration:

If the voter has never registered to vote in Michigan and chooses to mail in the registration application, federal law requires verification of the voter’s identity by including the following:

• A Michigan driver’s license or state ID number where requested on the form; OR 
• The last 4 digits of the voter’s Social Security number where requested on the form; OR
• A copy (not an original document) of ONE of the following forms of identification with the application:
  • A Michigan driver’s license or state ID, or
  • A paycheck stub, utility bill, bank document or government document that lists both name and address.

The federal identification requirement for first-time Michigan voters who register to vote by mail does not apply if the voter: 

• hand-delivers the application to their county, city, or township clerk’s office, 
• is disabled, or
• is eligible to vote under the federal Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act.

ID Requirements for Voting 

Photo ID is not required to vote, but bringing one to the polling location will make the process easier for both the voter and the election inspectors.   If they do not have a valid form of photo ID with them, they can sign a simple form explaining that they do not have a photo ID, then be allowed to vote. However, the voter will be susceptible to a challenge should a qualified challenger choose to challenge the voter’s qualifications to vote.

NOTE: First time voters who registered through the mail or a voter registration drive and did not provide ID verification may need to provide some documentation to vote. Any electronic or paper copies of any of the following are acceptable:

• Photo ID with the voter’s 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 federal, state or local government-issued photo ID or
  • Tribal ID card with photo.
• A non-photo ID with the voter’s name and address on it:
  • Utility bill
  • Bank statement
  • Paycheck stub
  • Government check or
  • Any other government document.

Provisional Ballots If a voter is not on the voter registration list at their polling place, and does not have a photo ID with their current address, the voter should ask the election inspectors to call the clerk to verify their registration. If their registration cannot be verified, The voter must be offered a provisional ballot. The voter has until 6 days after Election Day (November 11, 2024) to go to the clerk’s office in person to provide appropriate identification documents or to provide the clerk in person, by fax, or by mail the residency documents to show that the voter is registered to vote in that precinct.

Moving within the Same City or Township

If the voter has moved within the same city or township where they are registered, they may vote at their old polling place one last time, or they may choose to register to vote at their new address.

Moving to a Different City or Township

If the voter moved to a different city or township more than 60 days before Election Day, they must register to vote at their new address.

If the voter moved to a different city or township in Michigan between 60 and 30 days of Election Day, they may vote in their old city or township (in person or from home by absentee ballot) one last time or at their new polling place after updating their registration address. 
If the voter has moved to a different city or township in Michigan less than 30 days before Election Day, they must vote in their old city or township since they will not meet the 30-day residency requirement to register to vote in their new city or township.

Voting Military

Service members and their dependents may register and request a ballot using the federal voter registration/ballot request form (“FPCA”). You will have the following identification options when completing the form:

• U.S. State or Territory or District Issued ID
• Option to Indicate that you do not have the Requested ID
• Last 4 Digits of your Social Security Number

Voting Overseas

U.S. citizens living overseas may register and request a ballot using the overseas voter registration/ballot request form. You will have the following identification options when completing the form:

• U.S. State or Territory or District Issued ID
• Option to Indicate that you do not have the Requested ID
• Last 4 Digits of your Social Security Number

Registration Options:

If the military/overseas voter has a MI drivers license/state ID, the easiest way to register is online, at  Michigan Online Voter Registration. If not, the following options are available to register:

1. ED-121: Michigan Voter Registration Application and Change of Address Form. FIRST TIME VOTERS: Pay attention to ID requirements instructions. Mail to the voter’s city or township clerk. 
2.  Federal Post Card Application (FPCA)*: Can be completed online or  by downloading the  application at (Standard Form 76, “Federal Post Card Application (FPCA)) and returning via email or fax. Emailed or faxed applications must include this transmission cover sheet Transmission Cover Sheet To: From:. The FPCA must be received by the voter’s city or township clerk’s office by November 2, 2024. For more information on the FPCA, go to https://www.fvap.gov/uploads/FVAP/States/michigan.pdf 

3. Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot (FWAB)*: Must be received by the voter’s city or township clerk’s office by November 2, 2024 if also used for registration purposes. Can be completed online at https://www.fvap.gov/fwab-privacy-notice or by downloading (Standard Form 186, Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot (FWAB)) and returned via email/fax with the required transmission cover sheet (Transmission Cover Sheet To: From:) to the voter’s city or township clerk’s office. 

*Only voters covered under the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (UOCAVA) are eligible to use the FPCA and

FWAB and receive an absentee ballot by email or fax. Covered voters include:

• A member of a uniformed service on active duty who is absent from their city or township of residence. (Voters can be inside or outside the United States.)
• A member of the Merchant Marine who, by reason of service in the Merchant Marine, is absent from their city or township of residence. (The voter can be inside or outside the United States.)
• A spouse or dependent of a member of a uniformed service or a member of the Merchant Marine who, by reason of the active duty or service of the member, is absent from their city or township of residence. (The voter can be inside or outside the United States.)
• A civilian voter who is outside the United States and is eligible to vote in Michigan.
• A member of the National Guard activated on state orders.

Absentee Ballot Voting Options:

Registered military/overseas voters can receive voting materials by fax, email, or postal service. Additionally, they have the option to select being on a permanent absentee ballot list.

Absentee ballots can be requested at any time and must be mailed to UOCAVA voters 45 days before Election Day (September 21, 2024).  

There are 4 ways to request an absentee ballot, but it MUST BE RETURNED VIA POSTAL MAIL, and POSTMARKED NO LATER THAN 8 PM MI LOCAL TIME: 

1. Online, if the military overseas voter has the last four digits of their Social Security Number at Michigan Online Absent Voter Ballot Application. 

2. Phone/Email/FAX to the military/overseas voter’s local city or township clerk’s office. For contact information, see Your voter information
3. If the military/overseas voter registered using the FPCA, their ballots are sent by the delivery method chosen in the application, either by mail, fax, or email. If voters do not select a delivery method, their ballot will be mailed. MUST BE RETURNED VIA POSTAL MAIL. NOTE: The voter will need computer/printer access to download their ballot.

2. The military/overseas voter should use the FWAB If there isn’t enough time to receive their ballot before the election. FWABs are available at consulates, embassies, from Military Voting Assistance Officers, and online.  MUST BE RETURNED VIA POSTAL MAIL. NOTE: The voter will need computer/printer access to download their ballot.

DEADLINES: 

• Ballots may be requested at any time. Ballots must be sent to military/overseas registered voters 45 days before Election Day.
• All absentee ballots must be POSTMARKED BY 8 PM MI local time, and received within 6 days of Election Day (November 11, 2024)

NOTE: A military/overseas voter can always contact (phone/email/fax) their local city or township office should they need further assistance.  See Michigan FPCA page for contact information.

A voter with a criminal conviction may vote if they are not currently serving a sentence in jail or prison.

A voter may register and vote if they:

• Are in jail but have not been sentenced;
• Are serving a sentence but are not in jail or prison;
• Are on probation or parole but are not in jail or prison; or
• Served their sentence and are no longer in jail or prison.