7 a.m. to 8 p.m. (EST) on Election Day

Early in-person absentee voting is available for Lansing and Detroit voters who qualify to vote by absentee ballot. 

For more information on early voting & by absentee ballot check the Voting Early & Absentee Voting section below.

Have questions or need more information? Call 1-866-OUR-VOTE (1-866-687-8683)!

Call 1-866-OUR-VOTE

Visit the Michigan Voter Information Center

Check the section on Voting Early & by Absentee Ballot for Information on how to cast your ballot early in Lansing and Detroit!

Have questions or need more information? Call 1-866-OUR-VOTE (1-866-687-8683)!

Registration Deadlines

2012 General Election: October 9, 2012

Identification Required for Registration

No identification is required to register, but, under federal law, first-time voters who register by mail and have not provided identification at registration are required to do so at the polling place.

How to Check Registration

Call 1-866-OUR-VOTE

Visit the Michigan Voter Information Center

Have questions or need more information? Call 1-866-OUR-VOTE (1-866-687-8683)!

If You Want to Vote Early
Early in-person absentee voting is available for Lansing and Detroit voters who qualify to vote by absentee ballot.  

In Lansing, early in-person absentee voting will take place on Sunday, October 28th from 12:00 noon to 4:00pm at the South Washington Office Complex (2500 S. Washington Ave. Lansing, MI 48910).

In Detroit, the following locations are open from Monday - Saturday from 9am to 6pm for in-person absentee voting

Starting Sept. 24: Detroit Department of Elections, 2978 W Grand Blvd., Detroit, MI 48202

Starting Oct. 9: Wayne County Community College: Northwest Campus, 8200 W Outer Drive, Detroit, MI 48219

Starting Oct. 9: Wayne County Community College: Eastern Campus, 5901 Conner Street, Detroit, MI 48213

If You Want to Vote Absentee

A person may vote absentee for any one of the following reasons: Because of physical disability such person is unable to vote without assistance at the polls
•    Religious beliefs
•    Role as election official in another precinct
•    In jail awaiting arraignment or trial
•    Unable to vote without assistance at the polls
•    60 years of age or older
•    Is or expects to be outside the township/city where he or she resides (including absence due to enrollment at a university, college or other higher education institute).

Voters may apply to vote absentee between 75 days and 2:00 p.m. the Saturday before an election. Voters may apply to vote absentee by mail or at the clerk of the township, city, or village where the voter is registered. A person qualified to vote as an absent voter may apply in person at the clerk's office before 4:00 p.m. on the day before the election (except a Sunday or holiday).

If an emergency, such as a sudden illness or family death prevents you from reaching the polls on Election Day, you may request an emergency absent voter ballot. Requests for an emergency ballot must be submitted after the deadline for regular absent voter ballots has passed but before 4:00 p.m. on Election Day. The emergency must have occurred at a time which made it impossible for you to apply for a regular absent voter ballot. Your local clerk will have more information about emergency absent voter ballots.       

Detroit:  All locations are open from Monday - Saturday from 9am to 6pm for early voting

Starting Sept. 24

Detroit Department of Elections 2978 W Grand Blvd Detroit, MI 48202

Starting Oct. 9

Wayne County Community College: Northwest Campus

8200 W Outer Drive

Detroit, MI 48219

Starting Oct. 9

Wayne County Community College: Eastern Campus

5901 Conner Street

Detroit, MI 48213

Have questions or need more information? Call 1-866-OUR-VOTE (1-866-687-8683)!

Every Michigan voter who offers to vote in the polls must comply with the requirement by showing picture identification or signing an affidavit attesting that he or she is not in possession of picture identification. (See MCL 168.523 for voter identification requirement.)   

Voters with picture ID:  Voters can satisfy the ID requirement by showing a Michigan driver’s license or a Michigan personal identification card.   Voters who do not possess either document may show any of the following forms of picture ID as long as it is current:
• Driver’s license or personal ID card issued by another state.
• Federal or state government-issued photo ID.
• U.S. passport.
• Military identification card with photo.
• Student identification with photo from a high school or an accredited institution of higher education.
• Tribal identification card with photo.

Voters without picture ID:  Michigan election law anticipates that not all voters will have picture ID.  Voters who do not have acceptable picture ID or forgot to bring acceptable picture ID to the polls can vote like any other voter by signing an affidavit.   

Questions regarding the voter identification requirement can be directed to your local city or township clerk’s office.  

Have questions or need more information? Call 1-866-OUR-VOTE (1-866-687-8683)!

A registered voter who has moved within the same precinct will be permitted to vote in that precinct. If a voter has not updated his or her registration, the voter may complete a change of address form at the precinct on Election Day.

A registered voter that has moved from one election precinct to another precinct within the same city or township must update his or her address. However, a registered and qualified voter who has not recorded the move with the local clerk may execute a transfer of registration request with the election precinct in which he or she is already registered (i.e., the old precinct). The clerk will file the application for transfer, and the voter will be allowed to vote in his or her old precinct for that election only.

A voter that has moved to a new city or township is required to re-register to vote.  However, if a registered and qualified voter has moved to a different city or township in a different county after the 60th day before the election, the voter will be permitted to vote in the November 2012 election at the place of last registration, upon signing a form containing an affidavit stating that the move has taken place.

A registered voter who has moved to a new city or township within the same county after the 60th day before the election (and who has not registered in that township or city before the close of registration) can register and vote in the November 2012 election if all of the following occur:
•    The voter applies for registration in person and executes the registration affidavit before the clerk (or clerk’s agent) of the township or city in which the voter resides;
•    The voter provides proof of identification sufficient to satisfy the township or city clerk as to the identity and residence of the voter; and
•    The township or city clerk determines to his or her satisfaction that the voter is presently registered in another township or city of the same county.

NOTE: At the discretion of the township or city clerk, a voter meeting the requirements above may be required to vote at the office of the clerk on or before Election Day or at the election precinct in which the voter resides on Election Day. If the voter is required to vote at the office of the clerk, he or she may vote by absentee ballot.

Have questions or need more information? Call 1-866-OUR-VOTE (1-866-687-8683)!

Military and overseas citizens can use the Federal Post Card Application (FPCA), also known as Standard Form 76, to register to vote and to request an absentee ballot.  Visit the Federal Voting Assistance Program's (FVAP) Michigan-specific FPCA page.

Military and overseas citizens can send and receive voting materials by fax and email.  If you wish to use the fax or email options, you must indicate this on your FPCA.  Instructions for doing so are found on the FVAP's Michigan-specific FPCA page.

Military and overseas citizens can use the Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot (FWAB) if they are concerned with receiving their printed ballot and returning it by the 7:00 p.m., Election Day deadline.  The FWAB is a blank ballot on which voters write-in their choices.  The FWAB may also be used  to register to vote and to apply for the absentee ballot, all in one step.  If the FWAB is being used to register to vote, it must be received by the voter registration deadline.  For specific instructions, visit the Federal Voting Assistance Program's Michigan-specific FWAB page.

Have questions or need more information? Call 1-866-OUR-VOTE (1-866-687-8683)

Have questions or need more information? Call 1-866-OUR-VOTE (1-866-687-8683)!

Any person convicted of a crime in a court of Michigan or another state or in a federal court, who has been lawfully released from prison, has the right to vote. A person who was a qualified and registered voter prior to conviction should not have to re-register upon release from prison. 

For more information, visit the Michigan Secretary of State website, or click here to read the Michigan State Election Code.

Have questions or need more information? Call 1-866-OUR-VOTE (1-866-687-8683)!

FAQ

Manual

Voter Checklist

For more information for voters with mental disabilities, visit The Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law and National Disability Rights Network’s document: “Voting Rights Guide for People with Mental Disabilities”

For more information for student voters, visit the Michigan Student Voting Guide from the Brennan Center for Justice.

Have questions or need more information? Call 1-866-OUR-VOTE (1-866-687-8683)!