Some elections in this list are local and do not apply for all Michigan voters. Please click the “View all” button below to view all election dates in your state.
Absentee voting is available starting 40 days before Election Day, and no excuse is required. All voters must apply for an absentee ballot unless they are on the permanent mail ballot list. We encourage voters to submit their applications as soon as possible. You can return your absentee ballot application through the mail, in person at your local elections office, or online. Voted ballots from most absentee voters must be received by 8:00 pm on Election Day in order to be counted. You can sign up to track your absentee ballot and application on your Department of State website. All cities and townships can begin counting absentee ballots the Monday before Election Day. Cities and townships with a population of 5,000 or more can begin counting ballots as early as 8 days before Election Day.
Options to apply for an absentee ballot:
You can sign up for the Permanent Mail Ballot List by checking the box on your absentee ballot application that says, “automatically send me an absent voter ballot for each future election for which I’m eligible.”
Deadline: Online absentee applications may be submitted until 5 p.m. the Friday before Election Day.
Options for returning an absentee ballot:
Deadline: After receiving your absentee ballot, you have until 8pm on Election Day to complete and return the ballot, unless you are serving in the military or living overseas. 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.
Emergency Absentee Ballot:
If you have an emergency that prevents you from going to the polls you may request an emergency absentee ballot. Requests must be submitted after the deadline for regular absentee ballots has passed (5pm on the Friday before Election Day) but before 4pm on Election Day. The emergency must have occurred at a time in which it made it impossible to get to the polls.
Additional Information
Those who requested an absentee ballot but end up voting in person: Do not mail a ballot and vote in person. If a voter who has been issued an Absentee Voter Ballot decides to vote at the polls, they can bring their absentee ballot with them and insert it into the tabulator. The voter must check in with a poll worker before doing so. Please note: This option is not available in the City of Detroit. If the absentee ballot was lost or destroyed, the voter should go to their polling place, fill out the Application to Vote, and then vote a regular ballot.
Overseas citizens and U.S. military personnel can find information on how to register to vote and request an absentee ballot at the Federal Voting Assistance Program
Ballot curing is when a voter corrects an issue with their ballot, so it can be counted.
Yes, Michigan allows voters to fix an issue with their ballot.
The county clerk will notify you of the ballot issue by phone, email, text message, or mail.
The deadline to cure (correct) your absentee/ ballot is before 5pm on the 3rd day following the election, by filing out a cure form and returning it in person, by email, or by mail.
You can track the status of your absentee/mail ballot using your state’s online tool.
Voters who cast a provisional ballot due to voter ID must submit their acceptable voter ID in-person at your city or township clerk’s office, by fax, or mail by the 6th calendar day after the election.
For information on federal campaign contributions, please visit Open Secrets.
For information on state campaign contributions, please visit your state's resource.
Information on local, state and federal candidates and ballot measures may be available here.
A drop box is a secure, locked structure operated by election officials where voters can deliver their absentee ballot any time, day or night.
Yes, vote-by-mail drop boxes are available in Michigan.
Every qualified voter in Michigan now has the right to at least one State-funded drop box for every municipality. In larger cities, voters now have the right to at least one drop box for every 15,000 registered voters. Drop boxes are distributed equitably throughout the municipality and are accessible 24 hours a day during the 40 days before an election until 8 pm on Election Day.
Ballot drop box locations are now available at Michigan.gov/Vote. Choose “Where are my clerk’s offices?”
Yes, you can track your ballot by looking up your on the Secretary of State website and by subscribing to electronic notifications.
Early Voting Starts: 9 days before Election Day
Early Voting Ends: The Sunday before Election Day
Yes. All registered voters in Michigan can vote before Election Day by voting early in person at an early voting site or by using an absentee ballot.
No. You do not need to apply to vote early in person. You can go directly to your assigned early voting site during the early voting period.
You must apply if you want to vote using an absentee ballot, unless you are on the permanent absentee list.
Early in-person voting runs for at least 9 consecutive days, beginning the second Saturday before Election Day and ending the Sunday before Election Day. Some communities may offer additional days.
You can find your assigned early voting site up to 60 days before Election Day at Michigan.gov/Vote.
Your next election date can be found here https://www.vote411.org/michigan
Contact your local Local Clerk & Recorder for more information.
Polling places will be open from 7:00 am to 8:00 pm local time on Election Day.
To register to vote in Michigan, you must be:
*If you are at least 16 years old, you can pre-register to vote and will automatically become an active registered voter when you turn 17.5 years old.
In Michigan, you cannot vote if you are currently incarcerated for a misdemeanor or felony conviction. Your voting rights are automatically restored when you are released, and you can register to vote right away.
Your voting rights are not affected by pretrial detention, probation, or parole.
You can still register and vote in Michigan if you do not have a permanent address. You have the right to vote regardless of housing status. When registering, you can describe or list an address where you usually stay. This can include:
Yes. Students can register and vote in Michigan if they meet all voter eligibility requirements. College and university students can choose to register using either their Michigan home address or their campus address.
You do not need a Michigan driver’s license or ID to register, but you cannot register online without one. You can still register by mail or in person at your local clerk’s office.
If you are a student from out of state, you can also choose to vote in your home state using an absentee ballot, but you’ll need to follow your home state’s rules and deadlines. You can find the rules for your state on VOTE411 or by contacting your state’s election office.
It depends on how you register:
Accepted forms of ID include:
Students may also register with a school-issued ID card plus a lease agreement or postmarked mail showing their current address.
If you do not have the above ID when you register you will need to provide it before you vote either in person or by mail.
Voters can call or text 844-338-8743 at any time to reach VoteRiders Voter ID Helpline
Official results are never available on Election Day. Election officials are working around the clock to count a large number of ballots, and it’s essential that they take the time to make sure every vote is counted.
Official election results will be uploaded on Michigan’s Secretary of State website as they become available.
Official ResultsYou are a Military or Overseas voter if you are in uniformed services, living overseas OR a spouse or dependent of a uniformed services voter. To get registered and vote, you can utilize Overseas Vote Foundation. In Michigan, absentee ballots from military and overseas voters can be counted if postmarked by Election Day and received within 6 days of the election.
If you have additional questions about elections and voting overseas you can use our state specific elections official directory or contact the Overseas Vote Foundation.
Poll workers, also called election inspectors, are trained local workers who help run elections. They may:
To be an election inspector in Michigan, you must:
If hired, you will receive official training from your local or county clerk on how to run elections and assist voters in accordance with Michigan election law.
Yes. Poll workers are paid for their work. Pay is set by each city, township, or county, so the amount can vary depending on where you work. For more information, please contact your local election officials.
You can apply by filling out the Democracy MVP Election Inspector Interest Form at Michigan.gov. After you submit the form, your local clerk may contact you about training and next steps if they are hiring.
You can find your polling place by utilizing your state resource.
If you have further questions on your polling place location, please contact your city or township clerk.
Michigan is an “open primary” state. This means that you can vote for either party. This decision does not register you with that party, and it is a private decision.
If you have any questions about your state’s primary election, please contact your local election officials.
Provisional ballots ensure that all voters can cast a ballot even if voter eligibility isn’t certain when they vote. Voters can mark a provisional ballot, and election workers set it aside until eligibility is verified at a later time.
Yes, Michigan offers provisional voting.
Before completing the provisional balloting process because your name does not appear on the registration list, you should consider going in person to your local clerk's office on Election Day to register to vote. After you register, you will be able to vote using a regular ballot that will be counted on Election Day.
If you’re at the correct polling place but your name does not appear on the registration list, you cannot produce a registration receipt, and you do not re-register on Election Day at your local clerk's office, you may vote a provisional ballot at your polling place.
In order to get a provisional ballot, you must:
You may ask election workers for help in filling out these forms.
If you can provide a photo ID with an address that shows you’re eligible to vote in that polling place, your provisional ballot will be counted on Election Day.
If not, the ballot will be placed in a provisional ballot security envelope and returned to the clerk’s office. You have six days after Election Day to satisfy the residency and/or identification requirements at their clerk’s office in order for your ballot to be counted.
The Help America Vote Act requires that election authorities have voting equipment for voters with disabilities to vote privately and independently, and Illinois is no exception.
There are options for a seated voting booth, voting assistance from a friend, relative, or two election judges (one from each party), voting by mail, and curbside voting.
Language assistance is also available where required.
For more information on the provisions available for disabled voters, please contact your local election authority.
If you have any questions about receiving help in voting, please ask the clerk or inspector at the polling place.
Vote-by-mail (absentee voting) is available in Michigan and no excuse is required. You can find more about how to vote by mail here.
For more information, you can utilize the American Association of People With Disabilities (AAPD) resource.
What do I need to register to vote in Michigan?
Here is what you need to know to register in Michigan:
There are three ways to register to vote in Michigan: online, by mailing a completed application to your local clerk, or in person at your city or township clerk’s office.
Can I register to vote using my college address in Michigan?
Yes, if you consider your campus address your residence, you can register to vote there. If you move to a different dorm or off campus, be sure to update your voter registration with your new address so you vote in the correct district.
What’s the deadline to register to vote in Michigan?
The deadline to register to vote in Michigan online or by mail is 15 days before Election Day. Be sure to check the exact date each year. You can also register in person through Election Day at your city or township clerk’s office.
What form of ID do I need to vote in Michigan?
Michigan voters are asked to show photo ID at the polls, such as a Michigan driver’s license, U.S. passport, military ID, student ID, or other accepted forms. If you don’t have ID or forget to bring it, you can still vote by signing a simple affidavit, your ballot will still be counted.
I’m originally from another state—can I still vote in my home state while studying in Michigan?
Yes, you can vote in your home state using an absentee ballot, but you'll need to follow your home state's rules and deadlines. You can find the rules for your state on VOTE411 or by contacting your state’s election office.
Does registering to vote affect my financial aid, parents’ taxes, and/or tuition in Michigan?
Registering to vote in your college community will not affect your Federal Financial Aid, status as a dependent on your parents’ taxes, or tuition status.
There is no state law mandating paid or unpaid time off for voting in Michigan, so voters should plan ahead. You can vote early in person, vote by absentee ballot, or vote before or after your work shift on Election Day. Some employers may choose to offer time off, but it is not required by law.
To verify your voter registration status
click here!Yes, Michigan requests a photo ID to vote in person. If you don’t have an accepted ID, there are other ways to confirm your identity.
Voters can meet the photo ID requirement by showing a Michigan driver’s license or state ID. If you do not have a Michigan driver’s license or state ID, you can use any of the following current (not expired) photo IDs:
If you do not have a photo ID, you can still vote by signing an affidavit stating you do not have one. Once signed, you will be able to vote a regular ballot that will be counted.
Any registered voter in Michigan can request an absentee ballot. You do not need to provide a reason.
If you apply online, you must provide your Michigan driver’s license or state ID number, or the last four digits of your Social Security number.
If you apply by mail or in person, you do not need to provide these numbers. Instead, your signature will be checked against your voter registration record.
Student IDs are accepted if they include a photo and are from a high school or accredited institution. Digital or mobile IDs are not listed as acceptable forms of identification in Michigan. If you have any questions, please reach out to your local elections official.
Voters can call or text 844-338-8743 at any time to reach VoteRiders Voter ID Helpline
Beginning on the 14th day before the election and through 8 pm on Election Day, you have one way to register to vote: visit your city or township clerk’s office. You must show proof of where you live.
Documents must have your name and current address. You can show a digital copy of any document. Acceptable documents include:
You can verify your voter registration status using Michigan’s voter information tool.
Yes! Use our online registration tool to complete your application
Yes, Michigan has same-day voter registration.
Yes, you can pre-register to vote if you are 16 or 17 years old.
Pre-register online, by mail, or automatically at the Secretary of State’s office when applying for a Driver's License, State ID, Graduated Driver’s License or when updating your address.
Check if you’re eligible to register here.
The voting system used in Michigan is Optical Scan.
With optical scan voting, you will receive a card or sheet of paper, which you take over to a private table or booth. The card has the names of the various candidates and ballot measures printed on it.
You can learn more about voting systems by checking out the Elections Assistance Commission's (EAC) resource.
Department of State
Michigan Department State
Lansing 48018
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