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As always, it's best to double check with your state for any recent changes to election rules: Michigan Election Website
Michigan voter registration
- In Person: Any time up to 8 p.m. on Election Day at your city or township clerk's office.
- By Mail: Postmarked 15 days before Election Day.
- Online: 15 days before Election Day.
You can register to vote and cast a ballot at the same time on Election Day at your city or township clerk's office. You will need to present proof of residency, such as a driver’s license or state personal identification card. If you do not have these documents, you may instead provide a current photo ID issued by a government or educational institution and a current utility bill, bank statement, paycheck, government check, or other government document containing your name and current residence address.
To register in Michigan you must:
- Be a citizen of the United States;
- Be 17.5 at the time of registration (but you will need to be 18 years old to vote in an election);
- Be a resident of Michigan and at least a 30 day resident of your city or township by Election Day;
- Not be confined in a jail after being convicted and sentenced.
Warning: Michigan law requires that the same address be used for voter registration and driver's license purposes. Therefore, if the residence address you provide on your voter registration form 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 identification card address to match your voter registration address. If an address change is made, the Secretary of State will mail you an address update sticker for your driver's license or personal identification card.
- Use our Register to Vote Tool to fill out the National Voter Registration Form.
- Sign and date your form. This is very important!
- Mail or hand-deliver your completed form to the address we provide. You can also scan and email your application to your city or township clerk’s office.
- Make sure you register before the voter registration deadline.
- If you have been convicted of a felony and have questions about whether you can register to vote, visit Restore Your Vote to determine your eligibility.
Michigan absentee ballots
- In Person: Received at your city or township clerk’s office by 4 p.m. 1 day before Election Day (if already registered where you live); received by 8 p.m. on Election Day (if a new/updated registrant). If you request your absentee ballot on Election Day, you must vote the ballot in the clerk's office.
- By Mail: Received by your city of township clerk by 5 p.m. the Friday before the election. There is no guarantee that a voter who submits their application by or close to this deadline will receive a ballot before Election Day. If it is within two weeks of Election Day, voters are strongly encouraged to request an absentee ballot in person.
- Online: Received by 5 p.m. the Friday before the election. There is no guarantee that a voter who submits their application by or close to this deadline will receive a ballot before Election Day. If it is within two weeks of Election Day, voters are strongly encouraged to request an absentee ballot in person.
- For most voters, absentee ballots must be received by their city or township clerk by 8:00 p.m. local time on Election Day.
Any registered Michigan voter may apply for an absentee ballot and vote by mail.
- Use our Absentee Ballot Tool to prepare your application.
- If you're printing the form, sign and date the form. This is very important!
- Return your completed application to your city or township clerk’s office as soon as possible. We'll provide the mailing address for you.
- All city and township clerk’s offices will accept mailed or hand-delivered forms. They will also let you fax or email the application.
- Double-check the deadlines and be sure to cast your voted ballot on time to be sure it is counted.
- Please contact your city or township clerk’s office if you have any further questions about the exact process.
- Once you receive the ballot, carefully read and follow the instructions.
- Sign and date where indicated.
- Mail your voted ballot back to the address indicated on the return envelope.
- Double-check the deadlines and be sure to cast your voted ballot on time to be sure it is counted.
Michigan Early Voting
Begins by the second Saturday prior to Election Day.
Sunday before Election Day
Michigan voter ID
If you have a photo ID, you are required to show it. If you do not have one, you may still vote by signing an affidavit. Acceptable forms of photo ID include:
- Michigan driver's license or state-issued ID card
- Driver's license or personal identification card issued by another state
- Federal, state, or local government-issued photo identification
- US passport
- Military ID with photo
- Tribal ID card with photo
- Student identification with photo from an educational institution
If you have a valid form of photo ID, you must show it when asked. If you don't have one of these forms of ID, you may sign a simple form called an affidavit stating that you are not in possession of photo identification, and then you may vote a regular ballot.
However, if you are a first time Michigan voter and registered to vote by mail or through a voter registration drive without providing ID on your application (such as a driver's license number, state ID number, or last four digits of your social security number), you will be required to show photo ID or a utility bill or other government document that shows your name and current address.
If you've voted in Michigan before or provided ID at the time of registration, you don't need to provide ID to vote by mail.
If you're a first time Michigan voter who registered by mail or through a voter registration drive and you didn't provide ID when you registered (such as a driver's license number, state ID number, or last four digits of your social security number), you'll need to provide either:
- A copy of a current and valid photo ID showing your name and photograph
- A copy of a current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck, or other government document that shows your name and address
Offsite links
- State Election Website
- Local Election Office: This is the government office responsible for running elections in your region. These are the best people to contact if you have any questions at all about voting in your state.
- Find your polling place
- Absentee ballot tracker tool
- Learn more about absentee voting
- Learn more about early voting
- Learn more about voter ID
- State Election Code