AARP AARP States Michigan Voters

How to Register, Vote and Track Your Ballot in Michigan

En español | Michigan voters in 2022 passed a constitutional amendment that will introduce nine days of early voting, among other measures.

The 2022 midterms decided contests for governor, secretary of state, U.S. House and the state legislature, among other races. The next statewide elections will be held in 2024.

Voters Cast Ballots In Michigan Primary
A voter casts a ballot at a polling place in Detroit.
Bloomberg/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Essential info:

  • Absentee voting: All registered voters can request a no-excuse absentee ballot and vote from home in Michigan.
  • Early in-person voting: Michiganders could previously vote early and in person by going to their local election clerk’s office and filling out an absentee ballot. But a new constitutional amendment will introduce nine days of in-person early voting.
  • Voting in person on Election Day: You'll be asked to show ID when voting in person, though you can fill out additional paperwork at the polls if you forget to bring it with you.

Have there been recent changes to voting in Michigan?

As a result of redistricting, Michigan officials in 2021 redrew legislative districts for the state House and Senate and U.S. Congress. To find your legislative district and polling location, visit Michigan.gov/vote, enter your voter information and select "View voting district information."

Michigan voters in November 2022 approved a constitutional amendment that will set up an early voting window, require the state to fund drop boxes and prepaid stamps for absentee ballots and require military and overseas ballots postmarked by Election Day to be counted, among other changes.

How do I register to vote?

You can check if you’re registered to vote through the state’s voter information portal.

Does my party affiliation matter when I vote?

Not in Michigan. Voters participating in the primaries can choose only one party’s ballot.

How can I get a mail-in or absentee ballot? Are there important deadlines?

Any registered voter can request a no-excuse absentee ballot and vote from home.

You can apply for an absentee ballot online, by mail or in person: 

Return completed ballots by mail or in person. You can return someone else’s ballot if you’re their immediate family member, someone who lives in their household, a mail carrier or an authorized election official. Election officials must receive ballots by 8 p.m. on Election Day

  • In person: Drop off your completed ballot at your local clerk’s office or at a secure drop box, once the state releases locations for the 2022 elections.

Use the state’s voter portal to track the status of your absentee ballot. 

In the event of an emergency, such as an unexpected illness or death in the family, you may be able to request an emergency absentee ballot by contacting your local election clerk’s office before 4 p.m. on Election Day.

Can I vote in person before Election Day?

Yes. Previously, you'd need to go to your local election clerk’s office and fill out an absentee ballot in person. But Michigan voters have approved a new nine-day early voting window.

What do I need to know about voting at the polls on Election Day?

You will still be able to cast a ballot after polls close as long as you were already in line. Use the state's voter information portal to find a polling place near you. 

Do I need identification to vote?

If you are voting in person, you’ll be asked to show an acceptable form of ID, like a state driver’s license or U.S. passport. If you forget or don’t have an ID, you’ll be allowed to vote but will need to fill out additional paperwork to verify your identity and explain why you don’t have the necessary documents.

Editor’s note: This guide was updated on Nov. 14 with more information about voting in Michigan. The guide was first published on July 30, 2020.

Also of Interest:

Welcome to AARP Michigan
Contact information and more from your state office. Learn what we are doing to champion social change and help you live your best life.