Michigan | Voting Guide
Registration Deadlines and Election Dates
Voter Registration Deadline: Received online or postmarked by the 15th day before Election Day.
You may also register in-person through Election Day at your municipal clerk’s office. For more information, visit: https://mvic.sos.state.mi.us/Home/RegisterToVote/
2024 Election Information:
Presidential Primary Election: February 27, 2024
Voter Registration Deadline (online or by mail): February 12, 2024
Absentee Ballot Request Deadline: Friday, February 23 at 5:00PM
May Election: May 7, 2024
Voter Registration Deadline (online or by mail): April 22, 2024
Absentee Ballot Request Deadline: May 3, 2024 at 5:00PM
State Primary: August 6, 2024
Voter Registration deadline (by mail or online): July 22
Absentee ballot request deadline: August 2, 5PM
General Election: November 5, 2024
Voter Registration Deadline (online or by mail): October 21, 2024
Absentee Ballot Request Deadline: November 1, 2024 at 5:00PM
Official Election Websites
More election information at:
https://www.michigan.gov/sos/elections
Online voter registration is available at:
https://mvic.sos.state.mi.us/registervoter
A PDF voter registration form is available at:
Links to PDF Voter Registration forms in additional languages are available at: https://www.michigan.gov/sos/elections/voting/voters
Register at School or Home
Students have a decision about where to register to vote.
You have a right to register to vote at the address you consider the place where you live, whether that is your family's home or the place where you attend school. You should update your registration anytime this home address changes.
You may only be registered and vote in one location.
What Type of ID Do I Need to Register?
Online Registration: Online voter registration requires your Michigan driver’s license or state ID number.
Registration By Mail: Michigan’s mail-in voter registration form asks for your Michigan driver’s license or ID number, or the last four digits of your Social Security number. Be sure to provide one of these numbers if you have it.
In-person: If you register in person after the 14th day before an election, including on Election Day, then you must provide proof of residence. A digital copy of a document may be used. Acceptable proof of residency documents include: a webpage on your university student portal displaying your name and on-campus address (ex. Wolverine Access, StuInfo, Academica, CentralLink, GoWMU); financial aid documents; university registration forms; a driver’s license or state ID card, a current utility bill, a bank statement, a paycheck or government check, or another government document.
What Type of ID Do I Need to Vote?
If voting in-person, you will be asked to present a photo ID. Your photo ID does not need to include your home address. If you do not have a photo ID, you can sign a form that explains you did not have ID, and vote a ballot that will be counted on Election Day.
Acceptable IDs include:
Driver’s license or identification card issued by Michigan or another state
U.S. passport
Photo ID issued by a federal or state government
Military ID with photo
High school, accredited college or university photo ID
Tribal ID with photo
Where Do I Vote?
Make a plan. Look up your voting site and hours or check your absentee ballot status at:
How Can I Vote?
Absentee By Mail or In-Person: Any registered voter can vote absentee by mail or in person at a municipal clerk’s office without any excuse or reason.
Absentee Ballot Application Deadline: Absentee ballot request forms must be received by your local election official by 5 p.m. the Friday before Election Day. If you’re already registered at your current address, you can request and vote an absentee ballot in person at your municipal clerk’s office until 4 p.m. on the day before Election Day. If you’re registering to vote or updating your address by appearing at your clerk’s office on Election Day, you can request and vote an absentee ballot at the same time you register.
Completed Absentee Ballot Return Deadline: Completed absentee ballots must be received by your municipal clerk’s office by 8 p.m. on Election Day. You can return your completed absentee ballot by mailing it to your municipal clerk’s office, dropping it off at the clerk’s office in person, or using a drop box in your jurisdiction. Find your municipal clerk's office and a list of drop box locations at: https://mvic.sos.state.mi.us/Voter/Index/#yourclerk
Voters with disabilities may request that their mail ballots be electronically transmitted to them. For more information, visit: https://mvic.sos.state.mi.us/Home/AccessibleVoting.
Learn more about voting by mail at: https://www.michigan.gov/sos/elections/voting/absentee-voting
Early Voting: Beginning with the presidential primary in 2024, early voting will be available in every statewide and federal election. Early voting must be open from the second Saturday prior to Election Day and ends the Sunday before an election. Sites must be open at least 8 hours a day. Additional days may be available.
You can find early voting information here:
https://mvic.sos.state.mi.us/Voter/Index#early-voting-search-section
Election Day: Voting sites will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Election Day. The Michigan Secretary of State’s office recommends that voters with disabilities contact their clerk in advance to determine if their polling place is accessible; if it is not, the clerk will assign them to an alternative polling place. If you are in line by closing time, then you have the right to vote.
Common Questions/Concerns
Does Registering to Vote Affect my Federal Financial Aid?
Where you register to vote will not affect federal financial aid such as Pell Grants, Perkins or Stafford loans, or your dependency status for FAFSA.
Does Registering to Vote Affect my Status as a Dependent on My Parents’ Taxes?
Being registered to vote at a different address from your parents does not prevent them from claiming you as a dependent on their taxes.
Does Registering to Vote impact my Tuition Status?
Being deemed out-of-state for tuition purposes does not prevent you from choosing to register to vote in your campus community.
Will registering to vote in Michigan affect my driver’s license or car registration?
The residential address you use for Michigan voter registration will be the same as the address for your Michigan driver’s license or state ID. Submitting a change for a Michigan driver’s license or state ID address will be applied to your Michigan voter registration and vice versa. This does not apply to those with driver’s license or state IDs from a state other than Michigan.
Fair Elections Center and Campus Vote Project intend the information contained herein to be used only as a general guide. This document should not be used as a substitute for consultation with a licensed Michigan legal professional.
Last updated January 2024