Michigan

Election Day: Polls are open from 7 AM to 8 PM local time on Election Day, or until the last person in line at 8 PM has voted.

Most of Michigan is in the Eastern Time Zone. Note that four counties of Dickinson, Gogebic, Iron, and Menominee in the western Upper Peninsula, are in the Central Time Zone.

In Person Before Election Day: In every election, all registered voters in Michigan can vote during the 40 days before Election Day using an absentee ballot at the local election clerk’s office.

Some communities in Michigan may offer early in person voting in November 2023. To find out whether their community is offering early voting in November 2023, voters should contact their city or township clerk’s office or visit mi.gov/vote up to 60 days prior to Election Day.

Starting with the presidential and primary election in 2024, in statewide and federal elections, voters may cast a regular ballot in person at an early voting site. In statewide and federal elections, early voting must be offered 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, but some communities may offer early voting for additional days and additional hours. 

From Home Before Election Day: Voters may drop off their absentee ballot at their city or township clerk’s office or a secure drop box provided by their clerk by 8 PM on Election Day, or they may mail in their absentee ballot. For most voters, their absentee ballot must be received by their city or township clerk by 8 PM on Election Day; however, the ballots of military and overseas voters are considered timely received if they are postmarked by Election Day and received within six days after. Information about city and township clerks and drop box locations and hours can be found under the “Your Clerk” tab at mi.gov/vote.

How to Find Your Polling Place: The voter can visit the Michigan Voter Information Center at this link to locate their polling place.  The voter can also find their polling place by visiting mi.gov/vote, clicking on “your voter information” and entering the required information.

Online: Michigan residents with a valid Michigan driver’s license or state ID may register to vote (or update their voter registration) online at this link. The deadline to register using this method is 15 days before Election Day.

By Mail: Voters may mail a completed voter registration application postmarked 15 days or more before Election Day. This method requires verifying the voter’s identity by including a Michigan Driver’s license or state ID number, OR the last four digits of Social Security Number, OR a COPY of ONE of the following: photocopy of Michigan driver’s license or state ID number OR a photocopy of a paycheck stub, utility bill, bank document or government document that lists the voter’s name and address.

The application in English, Arabic, Bengali, Dari Farsi, Korean, and Spanish can be found here. 

In person: Voters may register in person at their city or township clerk’s office or county clerk’s office, at a Secretary of State Branch Office, at any state agency that provides public assistance or services to people with disabilities up to 15 days before Election Day.  Voters may also register to vote  through a voter registration drive.

Beginning 14 days prior to the election through 8 PM on Election Day, voters may only register to vote (or update their registration) in person at their city or township clerk’s office, and they must provide proof of residency. Proof of residency is a document that includes the voter’s name and current address. Paper or electronic copies of any of the following documents will work:

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

Students from Michigan attending school in Michigan can register to vote at their school or their home address in Michigan.  

Students from Michigan attending school outside of Michigan can register to vote at their home address in Michigan.  

Students who are not from Michigan but are attending school in Michigan can register to vote at their school address in Michigan.

If a voter has a Michigan driver’s license or state ID card, and they are registered to vote in Michigan, their voter registration address and the address on their ID will be the same.

If a voter changes their address on one, it will automatically change the other. The Secretary of State will mail them a sticker with your new address to place on their license or ID card.Voters can check to see whether they’re registered at their current address at mi.gov/vote by clicking on “your voter information” and entering the required information.

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 a ballot in the mail each election. If not, the voter will need to request an absentee ballot.

To request an absentee ballot, the voter must fill out an application for an absentee ballot. If the voter has a Michigan driver’s license or state ID, the voter can complete the application online at mi.gov/vote by clicking on “Apply for an absentee ballot online.”   

Voters with disabilities may apply for an accessible absentee ballot at mi.gov/vote by clicking on “Voters with disabilities” and then “Apply online for an accessible electronic absent voter ballot.”

The voter can also submit a paper application, sign it using their official signature, and submit it to their city or township clerk by mail, email, fax, or in person. Someone in the voter’s immediate family or living in their household can help deliver this application. If that is not possible, any Michigan registered voter can deliver the application. The person assisting the voter must sign the “Certificate of Authorized Registered Elector Returning Absent Voter Ballot Application” in Section 5 of the application.

The voter can download an application (in English, Arabic, Bengali, Dari/Farsi, Spanish, or large print) from the Michigan Voter Information Center (mi.gov/vote) or may call their city or township clerk and ask that an application be mailed to them. The voter may also use an application for an absentee ballot mailed to the voter by the Secretary of State, their clerk, a political party, or another civic engagement organization.

The voter can also get the application at the clerk’s office, complete it there, and—if it is within 40 days of the election—receive their absentee ballot immediately. 

If the voter would like to have an absentee ballot mailed to them, it is strongly encouraged that they submit their request no later than one month prior to Election Day, so that they’ll have enough time to receive their ballot, complete it, and return it to their city or township clerk by the deadline.

How to Return the Completed Absentee Ballot:

The voter should fill out the ballot, place it in the envelope provided, and sign the outside of the envelope with the voter’s official signature. 

Generally, the voter’s completed absentee ballot must be received by their city or township clerk by 8 PM on Election Day. If the voter is going to mail the ballot, the state of Michigan recommends that the voter do so at least 14 days prior to Election Day. The voter also may hand-deliver the ballot to their city or township clerk’s office or a drop box provided by their city or township clerk. The voter can find the location of their ballot drop box(es) on the Michigan Voter Information Center: mi.gov/vote.

If the voter is a military or overseas voter, their ballot must be postmarked by Election Day and received by their city or township clerk within six days of the election.

If this is the voter’s first time voting in Michigan and the voter registered to vote through the mail or a voter registration drive, the voter may need to provide some documentation to their local clerk before voting absentee. See “Identification Requirements” for more information. 

Early Voting

Some voters may be able to vote before Election Day at an early voting site using a regular ballot. To see whether early voting is available in their community, voters should contact their city or township clerk’s office or visit mi.gov/vote starting 60 days prior to Election. 

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

NOTE: The information above should also include:

Registration

Individuals in Michigan do not need a photo ID or proof of citizenship to register to vote.  Other means of identification may be required depending on the method and timing of registration. 

To register to vote online, the voter must provide a valid Michigan driver’s license or state ID number. 

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
• Sending 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 choosing registration by mail does not apply if the voter (1) hand-delivers the application to their county, city, or township clerk’s office, (2) is disabled, or (3) is eligible to vote under the federal Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act. 

If the voter registers to vote in person, the voter will be asked for a photo ID.  If they do not have one or do not have one with them, the voter will be asked to sign a simple form and will be allowed to register to vote. 

Valid forms of photo ID include: 

• Driver’s License or personal ID card issued by Michigan or another state;
• Federal or state government-issued photo ID;
• U.S. Passport;
• Military ID with Photo;
• Student ID with photo from a Michigan high school or an accredited institution of higher education; and 
• Tribal ID with photo.

If the voter registers to vote between 14 days prior to Election Day and 8 PM on Election Day, the voter will be required to provide “Proof of Residency”. Proof of Residency is a document with the voter’s name and current address in the city or township where the voter lives. Paper or electronic copies of any of the following documents will work:

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

Voting 

Photo ID is not required to vote in person or by mail in Michigan. If the voter has a photo ID, they should bring it with them and provide it to the poll worker or clerk staff to make the process go faster. 

Voters will be asked for photo ID when they go to vote. If they do not have a photo ID, or do not have it with them, they can sign a simple form explaining that they do not have a photo ID. The voter will then be permitted to vote, and the vote will be counted on Election Day.

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:

• 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 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.

Casting a Provisional Ballot

A voter who is in the correct precinct but is not listed on the voter registration list and does not have a photo ID with their current address must be offered a provisional ballot if:

• The voter cannot present a voter registration receipt; and
• The voter refuses or cannot go to their city or township clerk’s office to register and vote.

If the voter in this situation is provided a provisional ballot, it will go into a sealed envelope, and the clerk will review it after Election Day to determine if the voter voted in the proper precinct. 

The voter has six days after Election Day to go to the clerk’s office to provide appropriate residency or identification documents to show that the voter is registered to vote. 

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

Military and other overseas citizens may use the standard procedure for absentee voting by mail, but there are also special provisions for members of the U.S. Armed Forces and merchant marine, commissioned corps of the Public Health Service and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, along with family members of all these groups, and other citizens who reside outside the United States (together these groups are called UOCAVA voters).

Register to Vote  

Go to the Federal Voting Assistance Program (www.fvap.gov) to download and complete a Federal Post Card Application (FPCA). 

Receiving an Absentee Ballot

The FPCA can also be used to obtain an absent voter ballot by email, fax, or regular mail. 

Each year, go to the Federal Voting Assistance Program; download an FPCA; complete and submit by postal mail, fax, or scan and email to the voter’s city or township clerk based on their Michigan home residence.

Only those voters covered under the UOCAVA are eligible to use the FCPA 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 his or her city or township of residence. (Voter 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 his or her 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 ballots of military voters and voters living overseas can count if they are postmarked by Election Day and received by the voter’s city or township clerk within six days of the election.

Yes, 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.