Michigan Voting Requirements & Information
U.S. Vote Foundation’s Michigan Voting Requirements and Information directory informs you of Michigan voting rules and options. It focuses on Michigan-specific voting guidelines and information for all voters, including domestic, overseas, and military voters. Here you can find out about Michigan voter eligibility, voter ID requirements, registration, absentee and early voting options, ways to transmit voting documents and links to specific-Michigan voting tools. It's an all-in-one Michigan voting resource.
General Information
Registration
You can register to vote or update your registration information:
- by mail
- in person at your elections office
- online
- at pubic assistance agencies and some state/local government offices
Election Day Voting
Polling places are open from 7am to 8pm on Election Day.
Find my polling place
Early Voting
Voters who are eligible to vote by absentee ballot can go to their election office as early as 45 days prior to the election to request and complete the absentee ballot in person.
Absentee Voting
Any registered voter may request an absentee ballot and vote by mail. Make sure your voter registration signature matches your signature on your ballot return envelope. Anyone who helps you with your ballot should sign the envelope as well. Only you, a family member or person residing in your household, a mail carrier, or election official can deliver your signed absent voter ballot to your clerk's office.
Please visit the US Vote Disability Voting Guide to see accommodations for the registration and voting process.
Eligibility Requirements
You are eligible to vote in Michigan if you:
- Are a U.S. citizen
- Are a resident of Michigan
- Are at least 18 years old by Election Day
- Live in the precinct where you vote for at least 30 days prior to the election
You are NOT eligible to vote in Michigan if:
- You are in prison or jail for a felony conviction.
Restorative Requirements
- If you have completed a felony prison sentence, even if you are still on parole or probation, then you are immediately eligible to register to vote.
If you are a student, you are eligible to vote in Michigan if:
- You reside in Michigan but are attending college in another state
- You reside in another state but attend college in Michigan
- You provide a valid photo student ID from a college/university at the polls
Identification Requirements
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
Voter Materials Transmission Options
Domestic Voter |
In-Person |
|
Fax |
|
Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Voter Registration | |||||
| Absentee Ballot Request | |||||
| Blank Ballot To Voter | |||||
| Voted-Absentee Ballot Return |
State Lookup Tools – Am I Registered?
State Elections Website
Can I View my Sample Ballot?
Where is my Polling Place?
Where is my Ballot?
Am I Registered?
State Voter Registration FAQ
Overseas / Military Voter Information
Can I Register to Vote Online?
Where is my Ballot Drop Box?
For Ballot Dropbox Locations: Contact Local Election Office
Where are my Early Voting Locations?
Has my Ballot Been Counted?
Where is my Overseas or Military Ballot?
Eligibility Requirements
Overseas Voters
U.S. citizens living abroad have the right to vote as absentee voters, provided they are eligible to vote in their state. If you are living outside of the U.S. permanently, indefinitely, or temporarily, your voting rights stay with you, even if you never voted when you lived in the U.S. To vote from overseas:
- Complete and send an overseas voter registration/ballot request form to your election office in the U.S. This is one specific form that will register you as an overseas voter and request your absentee ballot – simultaneously.
Many states allow children who were born overseas, but never lived in the U.S., to use their U.S. parents’ last residence address to register.
Military Voters
Service members and their eligible family members living outside their voting jurisdiction (within or outside the U.S.) are able to vote as absentee voters.
- If you are a service member, or an eligible family member, there is a single form to file for both voter registration and ballot request. It is often called the “Federal Post Card Application” or the FPCA form. This form must be re-filed with your election office each time you change location.
To vote as a service member or eligible family member:
- Complete and send a voter registration/ballot request form “FPCA” to your election office in the U.S. It is the same form in all states.
Identification Requirements
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
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
Voter Materials Transmission Options
Overseas Voter |
In-Person |
|
Fax |
|
Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Voter Registration | |||||
| Absentee Ballot Request | |||||
| Blank Ballot To Voter | |||||
| Voted-Absentee Ballot Return |
Military Voter |
In-Person |
|
Fax |
|
Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Voter Registration | |||||
| Absentee Ballot Request | |||||
| Blank Ballot To Voter | |||||
| Voted-Absentee Ballot Return |