GET OUT THE VOTE
Voting is Easy!
Voter Assistance Hotline: 833-MI-VOTES
Election Timeline
Make sure your vote counts in the August 4th election!
FAQs
A: Visit your city/township clerk’s office as soon as possible, apply for an absentee ballot, vote it while you’re in the office, and submit it. The deadline to do this is Monday, August 3 at 4 pm. All clerks’ offices must be open for at least 8 hours during the weekend of August 1-2. Find your clerk’s hours at michigandems.com/clerk.
A: Visit your city/township clerk’s office as soon as possible to cancel your first absentee ballot and request a new one. If you still have the absentee ballot, because you made a mistake or it was only partially destroyed, take it with you. The deadline to do this is Monday, August 3 at 4 pm. Or you can go to your polling place on August 4, fill out a form and vote. If you have the absentee ballot, because you made a mistake or it was only partially destroyed, take it with you and surrender it.
A: Your absentee ballot must be received by your city/township clerk by 8 p.m. on August 4 to be counted. To be sure it arrives on time, drop off your completed absentee ballot at your city/township clerk’s office or a drop box provided by the clerk. You can do this through 8 pm on August 4. If you decide not to vote by absentee ballot, you can take your absentee ballot to your polling place on Election Day and surrender it. You can then get a new ballot to vote in the polling place.
A: You can track your absentee ballot at the Michigan Voter Information Center, www.mi.gov/vote, to see if your clerk has received it. Enter your voter information and look for the box that says “Absent Voter Ballot Status.” If your absentee ballot has not been marked as “received,” visit your clerk’s office, ask to spoil your original absentee ballot, and vote a new one. The deadline to do this is Monday, August 3 at 4 pm.
A: Take your absentee ballot to your polling place on August 4, surrender it, and vote at the polling place.
A: No. If you haven’t returned your absentee ballot by August 4, take it to your city/township clerk’s office by 8 pm.
A: You can track your ballot online at michigan.gov/vote. If it shows “received,” that means it has been received and is ready to be counted on Election Day.
If you’re voting on Election Day, please wear a mask and observe social distancing at your polling place. Polls are open from 7 am to 8 pm. Find your polling place at michigandems.com/pollingplace
Register to Vote
Am I eligible to vote?
In order to register to vote, you must be: a U.S. citizen; at least 18 years old by Election Day; a resident of Michigan and the city/township where you are registering for at least 30 days prior to Election Day; and not serving a sentence in jail or prison. You do not need photo ID in order to register to vote! If you do not have photo ID, you can sign a simple form saying that and still register.
How do I register to vote?
Find out if you’re registered here.
You can register to vote anytime through 8 pm on Election Day, but it’s easier if you do it at least fifteen days before Election Day.
Prior to July 21, 2020, you can register for the August 4 primary any of these ways: online, in person at any Secretary of State branch office; at your city/township clerk’s office or your county clerk’s office; through a registration drive; or by mail with this form.
Online registration is only available if you have a Michigan driver’s license or state ID. You do not need a Michigan driver’s license or state ID to register the other ways.
From July 21, 2020 through 8 pm on August 4, 2020, you can register for the primary in person at your city/township clerk’s office, and you’ll need proof of residency. Find your city/township clerk’s office and hours here.
What works for proof of residency?
Driver’s license or state ID; utility bill; bank statement; paycheck; government check; other government document. Documents must have your name and an address in the community where you are registering. Electronic copies are ok.
Do I need a photo ID or proof of citizenship to register to vote?
No. If you register to vote in person, you will be asked for a photo ID. If you don’t have one, you can sign a simple form stating that.
If you register by mail or through a voter registration drive, write your Michigan’s driver’s license or personal ID number, or the last four digits of your social security number, on the voter registration application where indicated.
What if I moved?
When you move, you should update your voter registration. There is no charge for this.
- Online: If you have a Michigan driver’s license or state ID, you can update your voter registration address online here.
- By Mail: You can update your voter registration address by mail with this form.
- In Person: You can update your voter registration address in person at any Secretary of State branch office, or at your city/township clerk’s office.
Vote Early
All registered voters can vote early now by absentee ballot – you don’t need a reason. Early voting for the August 4 primary begins on June 25, 2020.
Option 1: Vote early from home
- Step 1: Apply for your absentee ballot. You should have received an Absent Voter Ballot Application in the mail from your local clerk or from the Secretary of State. If you didn’t, you can apply online here. Your ballot will be mailed to you about 45 days before Election Day.
- Step 2: Vote and submit your ballot. Vote your ballot, sign the outer envelope and mail it back to your city/township clerk. Don’t forget to attach enough postage.
- Step 3: Track your ballot. You can track the status of your absentee ballot online at michigan.gov/vote. If it doesn’t arrive, contact your clerk.
Important! Your ballot must be received by 8 pm on Election Day in order to count. Postmarked by Election Day doesn’t work! If it’s after July 27 when you’re ready to return your ballot, it’s best to drop it off at your city/township clerk’s office to make sure your ballot will be counted.
Option 2: Vote Early at Clerk’s Office
- Starting on June 25, 2020, go to your city/township clerk’s office and request an absentee ballot. You can also register first if necessary. Find your clerk’s office and hours here.
- Vote your ballot and return it to the clerk. You’re done!
- The deadline for voting early at your clerk’s office is on Monday, August 3, 2020 for the August 4 primary.
Permanent Absentee Application List
To automatically receive an application for an absentee ballot before each election, you can sign up for your city/township clerk’s permanent absentee application list. You’ll still have to complete and return the application each time in order to receive your ballot for that election, but the application will automatically be sent to you.
You can find out if your city/township has a permanent absentee ballot by visiting michigan.gov/vote, and entering your information.
Ways to sign up for the permanent absentee application list:
- Check the “other elections” box, on the Absent Voter Ballot Application.
- Call or email your clerk and request to be added to the list.
- Sign up on your clerk’s website (if available).
- Fill out this request form and mail it or deliver it to your clerk,
Vote on Election Day
When are polls open?
Polls are open on August 4, 2020 from 7 am to 8 pm. Find your polling place and see what’s on the ballot at michigan.gov/vote.
Can I register to vote on Election Day?
If it’s Election Day and you’re not yet registered to vote, you can still register! But you can’t do that at your polling place. To register on Election Day, you need to go to your city/township clerk’s office by 8 pm. Once you register, you can also vote there — you don’t need to go to your polling place. Find your clerk’s office here.
What if there’s a problem?
If you go to your polling place on Election Day and you have any problem getting a ballot, remember that you can go to your city/township clerk’s office until 8 pm, re-register and vote right there. This is likely to be a better option than a provisional ballot, because provisional ballots often do not get counted.
