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1. Who may register to vote?

Who may register to vote?        

To register to vote, you must be all of the following:

• A U.S. citizen
• At least 18 years old by Election Day
• A resident of Michigan
• A resident of the city or township where you are applying to register to vote.

If you want to check to see if you are registered, visit www.Michigan.gov/vote. There you will find information about registering to vote and voting, voting equipment, polling place locations, state and local ballots, the candidates, campaign finance and more. Your local clerk can help with questions about your voter registration, polling place location and working at the polls.

2. When and how may I register to vote?

When and how may I register to vote?        

You can register to vote when you are age 17 1/2. You may register to vote in person, by mail, or online up to 15 days prior to an election.  Voters may also register in person with their local clerk within 14 days of an election, up to and including Election Day.  A voter registering in the final 14 days, including Election Day, will need to show proof of residency in addition to proof of identity (or an ID that proves both.  NOTE:  Only voters registering in the final 14 days must show proof of residency while registering. 

You may obtain the application at one of the following:

• Your local Secretary of State branch office 
• Your local county, city, or township clerk's office
• Offices of several state agencies, like the Department of Health and Human Services, the Department of Community Health, and the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs
• Military recruitment centers
• Voter registration drives
• Online at www.Michigan.gov/sos

Michigan law states that the same address must be used for voter registration and driver's license purposes. That means, if the residence address you provide on the application differs from the address shown on a driver's license or personal identification card issued by the state of Michigan, the Secretary of State will automatically change your driver's license or personal ID card address to match the residence address entered on this form. If a change is made, the Secretary of State will mail you an address update sticker for your driver's license or personal ID card.

If you are living outside the U.S., you may send a Federal Postcard Application to register to vote. This application is distributed through U.S. embassies and military bases. It also serves as a way to request an absentee ballot.

3. May I register to vote by mail?

May I register to vote by mail?        

Yes. With the passing of Proposal 18-3's amendments to the Michigan Constitution, the Must Vote in Person (MVIP) requirement for voters who register by mail their first time in Michigan no longer applies.  Please note, this does NOT eliminate the state and federal ID requirement for first time voters who register by mail.  The law now defines receipt of a mail-in registration form without a postmark as received on time if it is received by the 8th day prior to the election and dated at least 15 days prior to the election. To register by mail, fill out the voter registration form (PDF), and then mail it to your city or township clerk.

If you hand-deliver your application, the staff person helping you will take your form and you don't need to do anything else.

If you have never registered to vote in Michigan and choose to mail in your application, you will need to meet an identification requirement. This means you must:

• Enter your driver's license number or personal identification card number where requested on the form. OR
• Send a copy of ONE of the following forms of identification with your application:
  • A photocopy of your driver's license or personal ID card, or
  • A photocopy of a paycheck stub, utility bill, bank document or government document that lists both your name and your address.

      NEVER SEND AN ORIGINAL DOCUMENT!

4. I submitted a voter registration application. What happens next?

Your city or township clerk will send you a voter registration card upon processing your application. Keep it in your wallet or purse so you know where to go to cast your ballot.

For directions and a map to your polling place, visit www.Michigan.gov/vote.

5. What should I do if I have moved within my city or township of residence or change my name since the last election?

You should submit a voter registration application to the clerk of your city or township of your residence with the updated information so the Clerk can update your voter record.