This article was originally published by Votebeat, a nonprofit news organization covering local election administration and voting access. Sign up for Votebeat Michigan’s free newsletter here.
Election season is officially kicking off in Michigan.
We’re still months out from the general election, but ballots start going out this week for the August primary election. And the sheer number of critical races means it’s an election you won’t want to miss. Here’s everything you need to know about how to vote.
When is the Michigan primary election?
Primary Election Day in Michigan is Aug. 4. Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. local time.
But you can vote earlier if you choose. Absentee ballots will go out starting June 25 and can be returned any time between then and 8 p.m. on Election Day. Your community is also required to offer early in-person voting — you can check when and where that will be for your city or township at the Michigan Voter Information Center, which is maintained by the state.
Who can vote in the Michigan primary election?
All registered voters can vote in primaries in Michigan. The state doesn’t give voters the option to affiliate with a political party, meaning you will have to choose which partisan section of the ballot to fill out: Democratic or Republican. (Other parties, meaning any that got less than 5% of the statewide vote in the last secretary of state election, instead choose their candidates for all offices at conventions.)
It’s important to vote in only one of those sections. But who you voted for, including the party you selected, remains a secret.
How do I check if I’m registered to vote?
Some communities may send you a notice with your polling place and districts on it, but the fastest and most efficient way is to look yourself up on the Michigan Voter Information Center. There, you can see if you’re registered — and if you’re on the list to automatically receive an absentee ballot by mail.
How do I register to vote in Michigan?
Registering to vote in Michigan is relatively easy and very quick.
If you have a Michigan driver’s license, the fastest way to do it is to register online. You’ll need to affirm you’re a U.S. citizen, a Michigan resident, and at least 18 years old (although those 16 to 17.5 can pre-register to vote). You’ll need to authorize the secretary of state’s office to use your stored signature — usually in the system from when you got your driver’s license — for your registration.
From there, the hardest part is pulling out your wallet to input your driver’s license number. You’ll affirm your information as it appears on your license, input the last four digits of your Social Security number, and then answer a few more questions.
Any eligible voters can also register by mail by printing and mailing in the forms here, which are available in a variety of languages. And finally, you can register in person by bringing a photo ID and proof of where you live to your local clerk’s office. You can look up your local clerk here.
The deadline to register online or by mail and participate in the primary is 15 days before the election — which, for the upcoming primary election, is July 20. But you can still register in person at your clerk’s office after that — as late as Election Day itself.
Where is my polling place?
Yourpolling place may have moved since you last voted. A number of communities have consolidated their precincts in recent years in response to changes in state law.
You can look up where to go on the Michigan Voter Information Center. It will have the addresses and hours of your polling place, as well as all of your early voting locations and mail ballot drop boxes.
What offices are on my ballot?
This ballot is a long one, so don’t be concerned if it takes you a little while to fill it out. However, remember to vote in only one of the two partisan sections (the Democratic column or the Republican column). If you vote in both, none of your votes in any partisan races will count. (This mistake, known as crossover voting, inadvertently disenfranchises thousands of voters each primary, so make sure you’re paying attention!)
In the primary, voters will decide each party’s nominees for the November election for the following offices:
- Governor
- U.S. senator
- U.S. representative
- State senator
- State representative
- Certain local offices, such as township clerk, roads commissioner, and county executive
- Delegate to county convention
Your ballot may have a nonpartisan section as well, if your community has any races like that this year. Mount Pleasant, for example, will vote for a nonpartisan city commissioner, while Clawson voters will weigh in on judges.
Most communities will also have on the ballot proposals, millages, or whatever endeavors local officials are looking to approve. These often come from school districts, but they can also be to support roads, parks, animal shelters, and more.
To check specifically what’s on your ballot, visit the Michigan Voter Information Center, click “What’s on the ballot?” and then put in your jurisdiction. You can also see it on your own voter information page, which you can access by putting in your driver’s license number or other identifying information at this link.
What should I bring to vote?
If you choose to vote in person, the process will go fastest if you bring a photo ID. That can be a driver’s license, a passport, a tribal card with photos, or a student ID — a number of things can work as long as it comes from a government institution and has a photo attached. You can find a list of acceptable IDs here.
But photo ID is not required to vote in Michigan if you don’t have one or don’t bring it with you. State law allows you to instead fill out an affidavit confirming your identity. On that form, you’ll confirm your name and address. Lying on the form is considered perjury, which comes with the potential for fines or jail time.
If you need help voting, you have a right to bring someone along. That person cannot be your employer or someone acting on the behalf of your union, but otherwise they can help you cast your ballot.
Can I vote early in person in Michigan?
Yes! State law requires that any election with federal or statewide races — think U.S. senators or the governor — has at least nine consecutive days of early in-person voting, starting on the second Saturday before the election (which, for this year’s primary, is July 25).
Communities are also allowed to offer additional days of early voting, although not all of them do (early voting requires money and staff resources that are difficult for some smaller communities to wrangle). You can check your community’s specific hours and locations by putting in your information here.
How do I vote by mail in Michigan?
Absentee ballots — which are used to vote by mail — will go out starting June 25. If you are already registered to vote and would like to request one, you can do so online here. Voters with disabilities can request an accessible ballot here.
Michigan voters have the right to be on what is referred to as the permanent absentee list, which means their local clerks will automatically send them a ballot for every election. If you’re on that list, your clerk will mail your ballot on June 25. You can check if you’re on the permanent absentee list by putting your information in here — it will be in a box in the top corner labeled “Absentee Ballot,” and you can check your status by seeing if it says “yes” or “no” under “Permanent Ballot List.” If you’re not already on the list, you can request to be added to it when you request your absentee ballot.
The deadline to request an absentee ballot is 5 p.m. on the Friday before the election, which for this election is July 31. Your clerk’s office will do their best to get it to you by Tuesday, but if it doesn’t arrive in time, you can still show up to your polling place on Election Day, ask them to cancel the absentee ballot, and vote in person.
In order for your absentee ballot to count, it must be received by 8 p.m. on Election Day; postmarks don’t count. If you’re returning it by mail, most experts recommend putting it in the mail no later than a week before the election to give it time to make it back to your clerk. If you’re running later than that (or want to ensure it arrives in time), it’s recommended to use a drop box instead. Each community is required to set up drop boxes where voters can return their absentee ballots. You can look up drop box locations in your community by putting your information in here.
It’s worth noting that drop boxes don’t function like mail boxes — you can’t drop your ballot just anywhere and expect it to make it to your clerk. Make sure you return it in a drop box designated for your specific city or township.
Who can I ask if I have more questions on voting in Michigan?
Your first stop is probably your clerk’s office. Your clerk and their staff are extensively trained in election administration, and they can probably answer your questions. You can find your clerk here.
You can also reach out to Votebeat if you see something strange or run into problems. We’d love to hear from you — reach out at mich.tips@votebeat.org.
Hayley Harding is a reporter for Votebeat based in Michigan. Contact Hayley at hharding@votebeat.org.
Republish our articles for free, online or in print, under our Republication Guidelines. Questions? Email republishing@bridgemi.com
