Voting in Michigan
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The policies governing voter participation are enacted and enforced primarily at the state level. These policies, which include voter identification requirements, early voting provisions, online voter registration systems, and more, dictate the conditions under which people cast their ballots in their respective states.
This article includes the following information about voting policies in Michigan:
- Voter registration details, including deadlines and eligibility requirements.
- In-person voting details, including identification requirements, poll times, and early voting provisions.
- Absentee/mail-in voting deadlines and rules.
- Details about voting rules for people convicted of a felony.
- Contact information election agencies.
- Summaries of noteworthy policy-related events.
See Election administration in Michigan for more additional information about election administration in the state, including voter list maintenance policies, provisional ballot rules, and post-election auditing practices.
Do you have questions about your elections? Looking for information about your local election official? Click here to use U.S. Vote Foundation’s election official lookup tool.
Voter registration
The table below displays voter registration information specific to Michigan's 2024 election cycle.
Eligibility and registration details
- Check your voter registration status here.
To vote in Michigan, a voter must be a United States citizen and a resident of their city or township for at least 30 days. Voters must be at least 18 years old by Election Day, and not be currently serving a sentence in jail or prison.[1]
Voters may register to vote online, by mail, or in person at clerk's offices in their county, city, or township, or at a state department branch office 15 days or earlier before an election .[1]
Within 14 days of an election and on Election Day, voters can register in person at their local clerk's office by presenting proof of residency documentation.[1] According to the Michigan Secretary of State's website:[1]
| “ | Proof of residency is official documentation (paper or digital) that lists a voter’s current name and address. When registering to vote within 14 days of an election, voters must present one form of proof of residency in person at a local clerk’s office. Proof of residency examples include:
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” |
In-person voting
The table below displays in-person voting information specific to Michigan's 2024 election cycle.
Poll times
- See also: State poll opening and closing times
In Michigan, polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. local time. Most of the state is observes Eastern Time, while several counties observe Central Time. An individual who is in line at the time polls close must be allowed to vote.[3]
Voter identification
- See also: Voter identification laws by state
Michigan requires voters to present photo identification while voting.[4] Voters without identification can cast a regular ballot by signing an affidavit.[4]
The following list of accepted ID was current as of October 2024. Click here for the Michigan Secretary of State page on accepted ID to ensure you have the most current information.
- Michigan driver’s license
- Michigan personal identification card
- Current driver’s license or personal ID card issued by another state
- Current operator's or chauffeur's license
- Current federal, state, or local government-issued photo ID
- Current U.S. passport
- Current military identification card with photo
- Current student identification with photo from an educational institution
- Current tribal identification card with photo.
Voters can obtain a state identification card at a secretary of state branch office for $10. Voters over the age of 65, voters who are blind, and voters whose driving privileges have been terminated due to a physical or mental disability can obtain an identification card for free. Additionally, voters who can present a reason for having the fee waived may also obtain an ID for free. Visit the Michigan secretary of state’s page or call (888) SOS-MICH (767-6424) for more information.[4]
Early voting
- See also: Early voting
Michigan permits early voting. Michigan refers to early voting as early in-person voting. Early voting dates vary across the state, but must include a minimum of nine consecutive days, ending on the Sunday before an election. For more information, click here.
Early voting permits citizens to cast ballots in person at a polling place prior to an election. In states that permit no-excuse early voting, a voter does not have to provide an excuse for being unable to vote on Election Day. States that allow voters to cast no-excuse absentee/mail-in ballots in person are counted as no-excuse early voting states.
As of February 2024, 47 states and the District of Columbia permitted no-excuse early voting.
Absentee/mail-in voting
- See also: Absentee/mail-in voting
The table below displays absentee voting information specific to Michigan's 2024 election cycle.
Any Michigan voter can cast an absentee ballot. To vote absentee, a request must be received online or by mail no later than 5 p.m. on the Friday before the election. In person requests can be made until 4 p.m. on the day before Election Day. Completed absentee ballots must then be returned by 8 p.m. on Election Day.[5]
Local election officials
Do you need information about elections in your area? Are you looking for your local election official? Click here to visit the U.S. Vote Foundation and use their election official lookup tool. |
Voting rules for people convicted of a felony
In Michigan, people convicted of a felony that are in prison are not eligible to vote. Upon completion of their prison time, voting rights are automatically restored.[6]
Voting rights for people convicted of a felony vary from state to state. In the majority of states, people convicted of a felony cannot vote while they are incarcerated but may regain the right to vote upon release from prison or at some point thereafter.[7]
Noteworthy events
Proposal 2 adds new election rules to state constitution (2022)
Proposal 2 added several voting and election policies to the Michigan Constitution. As of 2022, Article II, Section 4(a) of the Michigan Constitution provided voters with specific election-related rights. Proposal 3, which voters approved in 2018, added these rights. Proposal 2 added language regarding additional voting-related rights and provided citizens standing to bring legal actions to enforce these in circuit court.[8] A detailed list of the initiative's provisions is found here.
Some of the policies Proposal 2 added to the Michigan Constitution were new, such as early voting. Others existed as state statute and were codified as constitutional law, such as the state's requirement that voters show identification or sign an affidavit when voting in person.
The ballot summary was as follows:[9]
| “ |
This proposed constitutional amendment would:
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” |
As provisions of the Michigan Constitution, legislators can not repeal or amend these policies without first passing a constitutional amendment, which would require voter approval.
Court invalidated 2020 mail-in ballot signature verification rule (2021)
On March 9, 2021, Michigan Court of Claims Judge Christopher Murray invalidated an absentee/mail-in ballot rule instituted by Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson (D) in the run-up to the November 3, 2020, general election. Murray held that Benson's rule, which directed local clerks to presume validity when verifying signatures on absentee/mail-in ballot applications and return envelopes, had been issued in violation of the Administrative Procedures Act (APA).[10][11]
Benson's guidance, issued on October 6, 2020, directed local clerks to treat signatures as valid if there were "any redeeming qualities in the application or return envelope signature as compared to the signature on file." "Redeeming qualities" were described as including, but not being limited to, "similar distinctive flourishes" and "more matching features than non-matching features." Allegan County Clerk Robert Genetski and the Republican Party of Michigan filed suit against Benson, alleging that her guidance violated the state's election laws and the Administrative Procedures Act. The plaintiffs asked that the court strike down the guidance as unlawful and enjoin its enforcement in future elections.[10][11]
Murray sided with the plaintiffs, finding that Benson's guidance was in fact a rule "that should have been promulgated in accordance with the APA. And absent compliance with the APA, the 'rule' is invalid." Under the Administrative Procedures Act, a state agency is required to follow formal rulemaking procedures (e.g., when establishing policies that "do not merely interpret or explain the statute of rules from which the agency derives its authority," but rather "establish the substantive standards implementing the program."[10][11]
As of March 18, 2021, It was unclear whether the state would appeal Murray's decision.[10][11]
Election administration agencies
Election agencies
- See also: State election agencies
Individuals seeking additional information about voting provisions in Michigan can contact the following local, state, and federal agencies.
Michigan County Clerks
Michigan Department of State, Bureau of Elections
- Richard H. Austin Building, First Floor
- 430 W. Allegan St.
- Lansing, Michigan 48918
- Phone: 800-292-5973
- Email: elections@michigan.gov
- Website: https://www.michigan.gov/sos
U.S. Election Assistance Commission
- 633 3rd Street NW, Suite 200
- Washington, DC 20001
- Phone: 301-563-3919
- Toll free: 1-866-747-1471
- Email: clearinghouse@eac.gov
- Website: https://www.eac.gov
Ballotpedia's Election Administration Legislation Tracker
State election laws are changing. Keeping track of the latest developments in all 50 states can seem like an impossible job.
Here's the solution: Ballotpedia's Election Administration Legislation Tracker.
Ballotpedia's Election Administration Tracker sets the industry standard for ease of use, flexibility, and raw power. But that's just the beginning of what it can do:
- Ballotpedia's election experts provide daily updates on bills and other relevant political developments
- We translate complex bill text into easy-to-understand summaries written in everyday language
- And because it's from Ballotpedia, our Tracker is guaranteed to be neutral, unbiased, and nonpartisan
The Ballot Bulletin
The Ballot Bulletin is a weekly email that delivers the latest updates on election policy. The Ballot Bulletin tracks developments in election policy around the country, including legislative activity, big-picture trends, and recent news. Each email contains in-depth data from our Election Administration Legislation Tracker. You'll also be able to track relevant legislation, with links to and summaries of the bills themselves.
Recent issues
Click below to view recent issues of The Ballot Bulletin.
- The Ballot Bulletin: December 13, 2024
- The Ballot Bulletin: December 6, 2024
- The Ballot Bulletin: November 22, 2024
- The Ballot Bulletin: November 15, 2024
- The Ballot Bulletin: November 1, 2024
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Ballotpedia's election coverage
- United States Senate Democratic Party primaries, 2024
- United States House Democratic Party primaries, 2024
- Democratic Party gubernatorial primaries, 2024
- Democratic Party Secretary of State primaries, 2024
- Democratic Party Attorney General primaries, 2024
- State legislative Democratic primaries, 2024
- United States Senate Republican Party primaries, 2024
- United States House Republican Party primaries, 2024
- Republican Party gubernatorial primaries, 2024
- Republican Party Secretary of State primaries, 2024
- Republican Party Attorney General primaries, 2024
- State legislative Republican primaries, 2024
See also
- State of Election Administration Legislation 2024 Year-End Report
- Voter ID in Michigan
- Election administration in Michigan
- Ballot access requirements for political candidates in Michigan
Elections in Michigan
- Michigan elections, 2025
- Michigan elections, 2024
- Michigan elections, 2023
- Michigan elections, 2022
- Michigan elections, 2021
- Michigan elections, 2020
- Michigan elections, 2019
- Michigan elections, 2018
- Michigan elections, 2017
- Michigan elections, 2016
- Michigan elections, 2015
- Michigan elections, 2014
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Michigan Secretary of State, "Registering to Vote," accessed October 7, 2024
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ Michigan Secretary of State, "Frequently Asked Questions: Elections and Voting," accessed April 16, 2023
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Michigan.gov, "Notice to Voters: Voter Identification Requirement in Effect," accessed October 7, 2024
- ↑ Michigan Secretary of State, "Vote at home (Absentee)," April 17, 2023
- ↑ The Office of Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, "Returning Citizens - You Can Vote!" accessed April 17, 2023
- ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "Felon Voting Rights," April 6, 2023
- ↑ Michigan Board of State Canvassers, "Promote the Vote 2022," accessed February 1, 2022
- ↑ Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs namedlanguage - ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 10.3 Michigan Court of Claims, "Genetski v. Benson: Opinion and Order Granting Summary Disposition in Part to Plaintiffs and Granting Summary Disposition in Part to Defendants," March 9, 2021
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 11.3 M Live, "Court invalidates Michigan rule on how to verify absentee ballot application signatures," March 16, 2021
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