VOTER REGISTRATION DEADLINE

Must register to vote 30 days before the election date.
Can select party affiliation at the polls.

QUALIFICATIONS

To register to vote in the State of Michigan, an individual must meet the following qualifications:
• a U.S. citizen
• at least 18 years of age by Election Day
• a resident of Michigan and the city or township
where you are applying to register to vote

OBTAINING A VOTER REGISTRATION FORM

Voters may also register to vote by mail, at your county clerk’s office (contact information) or by visiting any Secretary of State branch office. In addition, specified agencies providing services through the Department of Human Services , the Department of Community Health, and the Department of Career Development offer voter registration services to their clients. Military recruitment centers also provide voter registration services.

You must register to vote whenever you move to a new city or township.
You may also register at the same time you renew your driver's license by mail.

Obtain a voter registration form online here.

If you are temporarily outside the U.S., you may use a Federal Postcard Application (FPCA) form to register, available online here.

MICHIGAN ABSENTEE BALLOTS

Who Can Absentee Vote in Michigan?

A registered voter may obtain an absent voter ballot if:
• age 60 or older
• unable to vote without assistance at the polls
• expecting to be out of town on Election Day
• in jail awaiting arraignment or trial
• unable to attend the polls due to religious reasons
• appointed to work as an election inspector in a precinct outside of your precinct of residence

A person who registers to vote by mail must vote in person
in the first election in which he or she participates. The restriction does not apply to
overseas voters, voters who are 60 years of age or older. (voting in person on one governmental level clears the restrictions on the other level. For example, if a voter subject to the restrictions votes in person at a school election, the voter would be free to obtain an absentee ballot for the first state election in which he or she wishes to participate.

How Can I Acquire an Absentee Ballot?

A request for an absent voter ballot must be in writing and can be submitted to your city or township clerk (contact information) The request must include one of the six statutory reasons stated above and the voter's signature. You may request an absent voter ballot , by mailing the online application here with a letter or post card, or you can obtain a pre-printed application form at your local clerk’s office. Requests to have an absentee voter ballot mailed to you must be submitted to your clerk no later than 2 p.m. the Saturday before the election.

To check your absentee status, click here.

If you are temporarily outside the United States, you can use a Federal Postcard Application to apply for an absentee voter ballot, available online here. The FPCA must be signed under oath unless you, your spouse, or your parents are serving in the armed forces or Merchant Marines.

Additional Information for Overseas Voters

A separate absent voter ballot request must be submitted for each election. If you know before the primary that you will be unable to vote in person at the general election, you may request absent voter ballots for both elections at the same time.

Members of the military and their spouses and dependents may register to vote
at their last residence in Michigan. These residence in Michigan. These voters are exempt from the registration deadline established for an election. The easiest way such voters can register way such voters can register to vote is by using a Federal Post Card Application (FPCA). FPCA serves as both a voter registration application and an absentee ballot request.

How do I Return the Absentee Ballot and What is the Deadline?

All absent voter ballots must be received by the clerk’s office no later than 8 p.m. on Election Day.

Other Information on Absentee Voting in Michigan

A voter may be able to get an emergency absentee ballot if he/she has to be away on Election Day because of a family death or illness. A voter may also get one if he/she can't go to the polls because of sickness or an accident. The emergency must occur too late for the voter to ask for a regular absentee ballot.  Request for an emergency absentee ballot to the clerk's office before 4 p.m. on Election Day. Emergency ballots must be returned by 8:00 p.m. on Election Day.

 Source of information:
Bureau of Elections
Michigan Department of State
Bureau of Elections
P.O. Box 20216
Lansing, Michigan 48901-0726
Phone: (517) 373-2540
Email: secretary@michigan.gov

http://www.michigan.gov/sos