MICHIGAN

Election Information

Upcoming Elections

May 6, 2008 Election

State Primary Election: 8/5/08 

2008 General Election: 11/4/08

Voter Registration Information

The Lawyers’ Committee and its pro bono law firm partners have compiled comprehensive third-party voter registration guides for all 50 states and the District of Columbia.  These guides will help volunteers, organizers, and leaders navigate the complex rules that govern voter registration in each state. 

• Michigan Voter Registration Guide

Registration Deadlines

30 days before an election (except for military personnel, their spouses and dependents)

Specific Deadlines:

• May 6 Election: 2/7/08
• State Primary Election: 7/7/08
• 2008 General Election: 10/6/08

Where to Obtain Registration Form

• Register Online Now 
• Download registration form (Spanish registration form can be found here)
• Secretary of State Branch

Absentee Voting

Absentee voting is allowed if the voter is:

• At least 60 years of age
• Unable to vote without assistance at the polls
• Going to be out of town on Election Day
• Confined in jail pending acquittal or conviction of a crime
• Unable to make it to the polling place due to religious reasons
• An appointed election officer of poll worker at a polling place other than his or her regular polling place
• A member of the Armed Forces or a spouse or dependent of a member of the Armed forces
• A U.S. citizen living overseas who will be at least 18 years of age before the next General Election and whose last residence prior to going overseas was in MI

Rules and Deadlines

• Absentee ballots can be found with the county clerk and must be requested by 2pm the Saturday before the election. They must be returned to the county clerk’s office.
• Ballot must be received by 8 pm on Election Day.
• If an emergency, such as a sudden illness or family death prevents the voter from reaching the polls on Election Day, the voter may request an emergency absentee voter ballot after the deadline for regular absentee voter ballots has passed but before 4 p.m. on Election Day.

Early Voting

Yes, for voters who satisfy the requirements for voting absentee can at the city or township clerk until the day before the election.

Identification Requirements

At registration:

• Examples of Acceptable Photo Identification:
  • Document Must Be Current and Valid
  • Government issued photo identification card
  • Passport
  • Student identification card with photo
  • Credit or automated teller card with photo
  • Military identification card with photo
  • Employee identification with photo
  • Drivers license with photo
  • Personal ID with photo
• Examples of Acceptable Paychecks, Government Checks, Utility Bills and Bank Statements:
  • Must Contain Voter’s Name and Address
  • A paycheck or paycheck stub from any employer issued within the last year
  • A Social Security Administration check statement issued within the last year
  • Government or military paycheck or paycheck stub issued within the last year
  • Tax return check or check statement issued by the IRS or the State of Michigan within the last year
  • A gas, telephone, electric, water, cable or other utility bill issued within the last year
  • A statement from a bank or credit union dated within the last year
• Example of Acceptable Government Documents:
  • Must Contain Voter’s Name and Address
  • Vehicle registration
  • Electronic Benefit Transaction (EBT) card
  • Department of Social Services (DSS) card
  • Insurance card issued pursuant to a government administered or subsidized health insurance program such as Medicare or Medicaid,
  • Veteran’s identification card,
  • Lease agreement provided under a public housing program or subsidized housing program,
  • Public housing identification card,
  • Tuition statement or bill from a public college or university,
  • Correspondence or a bill received from a federal, state or local government,
  • Discharge certificate, release papers, pardon, or other official document issued to the voter in connection with the resolution of a criminal case, indictment, sentence or other matter, in accordance with state law,
  • Discount card issued by a public transportation authority or a provider to senior citizens or persons with disabilities,
  • Marriage license

At the polls, each voter must show a photo ID or sign an affidavit attesting that he or she is not in the possession of photo identification.  Acceptable forms of identification include a Michigan driver’s license or a Michigan personal identification card.  Voters who do not possess either of those documents can use one of the following types of identification so long as they are current:

• Driver’s license or personal ID card issued by another state;
• Federal or state government-issued photo ID;
• U.S. passport;
• Military ID with photo;
• Student ID with photo from a high school or accredited institution of higher education; or
• Tribal ID with photo.

Individuals who do not possess any of the above forms of ID may sign an affidavit and vote a regular ballot.

How to check registration

Check online

How to locate polling place

Check online

Information for felons

Voter is eligible to register upon release.

Download the Michigan Voter Registration Form.

For more information, go to the Secretary of State’s website.

Read frequently asked questions about Ensuring a Valid Voter Registration in Michigan.

Learn about Third Party Voter Registration in Michigan.

In The Courts

Michigan photo ID amicus brief

Legislation

Read the Michigan statute governing photo identification for voting, Section 168.523

Recent News

July 20, 2006: Michigan’s photo ID law was originally passed in 1996 but was never enforced, since the Attorney General of Michigan at that time concluded that the legislation was unconstitutional. The legislature then passed the bill again in 2005 and asked the Michigan Supreme Court to rule on the constitutionality of the new law. The Lawyers’ Committee and AARP filed an amicus brief in the Michigan State Supreme Court on July 20, 2006, asking the court to find Michigan’s photo ID law in violation of the state Constitution as well as the United States Constitution. Under this law, voters without ID (totaling over 370,000 voters in Michigan) are subject to challenges at the polls, which are often applied in a arbitrary and sometimes discriminatory manner.

Read our Michigan amicus brief here.