Voting FAQ
Who is eligible to vote?
To vote you must be:
- A Michigan resident (at the time you register) and a resident of your city or township for at least 30 days (when you vote)
- A United States citizen
- At least 18 years of age (when you vote)
- Not currently serving a sentence in jail or prison
Can I vote as a student?
Yes. According to the Secretary of State's website :
If you're from Michigan and go to school...
- In Michigan: register to vote at either your school address or your home address.
- Out of state: register to vote at your home address in Michigan.
If you're from out of state and go to school in Michigan: register to vote at your school address in Michigan. (Remember to update your address each time you move).
Who needs to register or re-register?
- New voters (people who are just turning 18)
- People who are new to Michigan
- People who move to a new city within Michigan (Note: if you move within a city where you’re already registered, you only need to update your address.)
I haven't voted in a while. How can I check my registration?
How late can I register to vote?
How do I get an absentee ballot?
You can request an absentee ballot online or in person at your local clerk's office. (Enter your address at the top to find it.) At the same time, you can also check the additional box to be added to the permanent absentee ballot list, so that you will automatically get a ballot for all future elections.
See the Secretary of State's website for more information about absentee voting.
Where is my ballot drop-box?
What if I'm worried about voting by mail?
Recent legal cases continue to uphold Michiganders' rights to vote by mail. Here's what to know:
- If you're already on the permanent mailed ballot list: your ballot is coming and mail voting remains fully legal and protected. Return it by mail (2 weeks ahead), drop box, clerk's office, early voting site, or your polling place by 8 pm on Election Day.
- If you prefer to vote in person: visit your clerk's office, vote during early voting, or go to your polling place on Election Day.
- If your ballot didn't arrive: see the FAQ What if my ballot didn't arrive in the mail?
How do I track my ballot?
- Using the Michigan Secretary of State's website, you can check the status of your absentee ballot.
- Or you can subscribe to receive automatic emails when your ballot is mailed to you, received, and processed.
What if my ballot didn't arrive in the mail?
- You can ask for a new ballot at your city or township clerk's office until 4 p.m. on the day before election day.
- On election day, you can vote in person at your polling place.
- Officials at either of these locations will guide you through the process.
What help is there for people with disabilities?
- Voters with print disabilities can apply for an accessible ballot that can be completed electronically, printed, and returned to your local clerk.
- All voters, including voters with disabilities, have access to a Voter Assist Terminal in all polling places. The Voter Assist Terminal allows the voter to mark their choices using the electronic interface and then print a ballot with those choices marked. The printed ballot is scanned into the tabulator machine in exactly the same fashion as all other ballots.
- Learn more about accessible voting.
Can I change my vote?
Where is my early-voting location?
Where is my Election Day polling place?
What if I have an emergency on Election Day?
You may request an emergency absent voter ballot after the deadline for regular absent voter ballots has passed, but before 4 PM on Election Day.
The emergency must have made it impossible for you to apply for a regular absent voter ballot. For more information about emergency absent voter ballots, contact your local clerk's office. (To find your clerk, enter your address at the very top of this page.)
What if I don't have an ID on election day?
- If you don't have your ID with you, you will be asked to sign a form to confirm your identity. Once you sign, the poll workers will check if you appear on the precinct's registration list. If you are on the list, you can still vote.