Voting Guide 2024 Michigan
Michigan General Election
Election Day
Tuesday November 5
Registration Deadline
October 21 (online, postmarked)
October 22-November 5 (in person at local clerk)
Check Your Registration status.
Automatic Voter Registration
YES, when you complete a Michigan license or ID transaction with the Secretary of State, unless you opt-out.
Election Day Registration
YES, BUT if registering on election day (or any day less than 15 days prior to the election), you must register in person at the local clerk’s office. You cannot register to vote at the polling place. If you register at the clerk’s office, you also have the option of voting with an absentee ballot while there.
Youth Pre-Registration
YES. If you are between the ages of 16 and 17.5, you can now legally preregister to vote. If you preregister, you can participate in early in-person or absentee voting for an election, as long as you will be 18 on or before the date of that election. You can preregister the same way you register to vote.
How to Register to Vote
Download MI registration form.
Use Federal Registration Form.
Early Voting
YES. Early Voting in Michigan.
Early Voting Dates
October 26 - November 3
Early Voting Drop Boxes
YES, for absentee ballots.Find your local drop boxes here via the “Search for your city/township clerk” box. Note that the search screen does not mention drop boxes, but the results should bring up both the local clerk’s office and dropbox locations. If that doesn’t work, check your local clerk’s website or call them. If you use the “Search by county” screen, it will only show you the clerk’s office info.
Early Voting Locations
Absentee Ballot
NO EXCUSE NEEDED.
Absentee Ballot Request
Request online or via paper application.
Application Deadline: November 1 @ 5:00pm.
Paper applications can be downloaded here, you can request that one be mailed to you by calling your city or township clerk, or you can request one in person at your local city or township clerk.
REQUEST EARLY TO RETURN ON TIME
Absentee Ballot Return
Return Deadline: Election Day November 5 @ 8:00pm.*
Military & Overseas Voters
Absentee ballots from military and overseas voters must be postmarked by Election Day and received by your local clerk within 6 days of the election (November 11).
How to Vote Mail-In and Absentee Ballot
Absentee ballot envelopes will contain a ballot, a secrecy sleeve, and ballot marking instructions. Completed ballots should be inserted into the secrecy sleeve as instructed. Sign and date the return envelope in the provided space. More info.**
Sample Ballots
Election Day Vote In Person
Tuesday November 5, 7am-8pm
Election Day Polling Places
Look Up Polling Place or contact local clerk's office
Polling Place Electioneering
Buffer Zone: 100 ft. from the entrance to a building where a polling place is located.
Prohibited Activities: Influencing voters/soliciting votes/political persuasion; displaying election-related material.*** See, NCSL Electioneering Table.
Press Access to Polling Place
Polling locations are open to poll watchers, and media may film from the public area; Exit polling should take place at least 20 feet from building entrances and exits; this guidance comes from the Election Inspector’s Procedure Manual, which is binding instruction from the Secretary of State. See Media Access Overview: Michigan.
Poll Worker Info
Democracy MVP is the state of Michigan’s non-partisan poll worker recruitment program. Sign up here, and if a local clerk in your area is hiring, they may contact you with next steps including training and hiring as an election inspector.
Photo ID
NO … and YES. Voters are not required to possess a photo ID. If you do not possess a photo ID, you can sign an affidavit instead. However, if you do possess a photo ID, you are required to present it when you vote.***
Provisional Ballots
YES. See, Michigan Dept. of State for rules.****
Tracking
Voters can track the following: Registration Status, Polling Place and Early Voting Locations and Hours, View Sample Ballot, Track Absentee Ballot, and more.
Ballot Measures
Citizen initiatives and legislative referrals.
No ballot measures certified for upcoming 2024 general election.
College Students
To register to vote in Michigan, all voters must prove residency. College students may use their home or campus address. Note that when you change address on voter registration, it is automatically updated on driver’s license or ID. If you register to vote within two weeks of an election, you must provide proof you have lived in the state where you are registering for at least 30 days by Election Day.
People with Felony Convictions
Allowed to vote if not currently incarcerated and otherwise qualified.
Helpful Websites
Michigan Voter Info, Vote411 MI, Michigan Bureau of Elections Contact Info
Photo Credit: Pavol Svantner