All Michigan communities have a general election on November 3.
Michigan voters will play a critical role in deciding the control of Congress this November. The choice between Democrat Abdul El-Sayed or Republican Mike Rogers could determine which political party leads the US Senate.
For details on how to register and vote by mail or in person, click here. You can right now request an absentee ballot online or submit a paper application. You should request your ballot no later than Oct. 13 to ensure your city or township clerk receives your ballot by deadline.
On Sept. 24, you can start voting in person with an absentee ballot at your city or township clerk’s office.
Some communities, including Detroit, will offer in-person early voting sites beginning Oct. 5. You can contact your clerk or visit mi.gov/vote to learn where you can vote early in person.
The last day to register to vote online or by mail is Oct. 19. After that date, you’ll need to register in person at your city or township clerk’s office with proof of residency. Oct. 20 is the final day to return your ballot by mail to avoid postal delays. Starting Oct. 21, the state encourages voters to return ballots in person at the clerk’s office or in a secure drop box.
Oct. 24 is the first day of statewide in-person early voting. All communities must offer in-person early voting at a designated early voting site starting on this day. The last day of statewide in-person early voting is Nov. 1.
The deadline to vote in person with an absentee ballot is Nov. 2 at 4pm.
Election Day is Nov. 3.
Polls are open 7am to 8pm. If you need to register to vote, you can register and then vote at your local clerk’s office until 8pm.
If you’re serving in the military or living overseas, your ballot must be postmarked by Election Day (Nov. 3) and received by Monday, November 9 to count.
If you wait until Election Day to register to vote you must apply in person at the city or township clerk’s office that runs your local elections. Same-day registration can be completed up until polls close on an election day.
In Detroit, same-day registration happens at the Department of Elections, at 2978 W. Grand Blvd.
Same-day voting is a result of the passage of Proposal 2 by Michigan voters in November 2022. The citizens-led initiative brought numerous changes to local elections, and for the clerks who administer them and townships that fund them.
Prop 2 enshrined numerous new voter rights in the state constitution: early in-person voting for statewide and federal elections; prepaid return postage for absent voter (AV) applications and ballots; a permanent AV list and required absent voter (AV) applications and ballots drop-boxes.
Can I vote if…
The only time you cannot register and vote is when you are serving a sentence in jail or prison. You can vote even if you are awaiting arraignment, trial, or sentencing – whether you are in jail or not. You can vote even if you have a felony or misdemeanor or you are on probation, parole, or tether.
You can vote if you do not have a permanent address. Even if you don’t have a home or a stable address, you can register and vote using any of these as your address: Any other place where you usually stay; A street corner; park; shelter or outreach center; the home of someone who will accept your mail.
What they’re saying:
Local election officials are promising a free and fair election after President Donald Trump’s Department of Justice suggested Detroit elections required surveillance.
The federal government sent a number of election monitors to observe the August primary election. Trump has long questioned the legitimacy of elections in Detroit, though he has never provided credible evidence to prove the claims.
“Those kinds of tactics are tactics that they use when they want to discourage the vote,” Detroit Clerk Janice Winfrey said in August. “When they don’t want people to show up and exercise their vote. Everyone knows by know… Detroit has been tested, and threatened. Every time we’re proven to have accurate, fair, clean elections. That’s what we do in the city of Detroit.”
