Voter Education Resources
How to register to vote
Online – Visit mi.gov/vote and select “preregister or register to vote online”
Deadline: October 19, 2026
Mail – Download a mail-in form at mi.gov/voterregform or ask your local clerk to mail a form to you, then fill it out and mail it back to your clerk
Deadline: Postmarked by October 19, 2026
Local clerk’s office – Find your clerk’s office at mi.gov/vote
Register at your city or township clerk’s office. You will be asked for photo ID. If you don’t have a photo ID, you will be asked to fill out a simple form, called an affidavit, to verify your identity.
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You can register and vote at the same time at your local clerk’s office, including on Election Day.
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Starting on October 20, you’ll need to bring proof of residency (like a Michigan driver’s license or a current utility bill)
Deadline: Up to 8 p.m. on Election Day
YOU CAN REGISTER TO VOTE ON ELECTION DAY AT YOUR LOCAL CLERK’S OFFICE
Register to Vote
Voters who have moved to a new address in Michigan should update their voter registration address.
To do this, voters must “re-register” using updated information by selecting one of the registration options listed above (online, mail, local clerk's office). Deadlines for voter registration also apply to individuals updating their voter registration.
As part of Michigan’s automatic voter registration law, when a registered voter updates their voter registration address, the voter’s Michigan driver’s license or Michigan state ID address is also updated. Similarly, when a registered voter updates their Michigan driver's license or Michigan state ID address, their voter registration address will also be updated.
Voters have moved out of state and wish to cancel their registration can make a written request to their city or township clerk that their registration record be canceled.
Update your Registration
Look up your early voting site, your Election Day polling place, and your city or township clerk information at mi.gov/vote
Find your Polling Location, Early Voting Site, or Local Clerk's Office
You can only vote once! If you have already returned your absentee ballot, a clerk will not issue another unless you ask to spoil the first one.
Returning your ballot: Unless you’re serving in the military or living overseas, your completed ballot must be received by your city or township clerk by 8 p.m. on Election Day.
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Mail it back for free in the prepaid envelope.
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Avoid postal delays! Make sure you mail your ballot at least 14 days before Election Day (by October 20). After that, it’s better to put it in a secure ballot drop box in your community or deliver it by hand to your clerk’s office by 8 p.m. on Election Day.
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Put it in a secure ballot drop box in your city or township. The drop box you use must be in your city or township or your ballot may not be counted.
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Hand-deliver it to your clerk’s office by 8 p.m. on Election Day.
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Bring it to your early voting site and feed it into a tabulator. Look up your early voting sites at mi.gov/earlyvoting
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If you live anywhere other than Detroit, bring it to your polling place on Election Day and feed it into a tabulator
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Voters can track the status of their mail ballots at mi.gov/vote.
Voting your ballot: Mark your choices on the ballot. Be sure to sign and seal the postage-paid return envelope.
Get a mail (absentee) ballot:
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Go to mi.gov/vote.
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Select “Apply for an absentee ballot online”
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OR Print an application and fill it out. Send it in the mail to your city or township clerk or drop it off at their office.
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Call your city or township clerk and ask them to mail you a ballot application.
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Visit your city or township clerk’s office in person. Ask to apply for an absentee ballot.
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You can look up your local clerk’s office at mi.gov/vote
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If you plan to vote by mail, we recommend applying ASAP. Online and mail requests for an absentee ballot must be received by your city or township clerk no later than 5 p.m. on Friday, October 30, 2026, but we recommend applying much earlier to give yourself enough time to receive your ballot, complete it, and return it by the deadline.
How to Vote Absentee
Every registered Michigan voter can vote in person at an early voting site before Election Day.
1. Come to the early voting site and get a ballot.
2. Fill out the ballot.
3. Put your ballot directly into the machine to be tabulated.
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Did you have a ballot mailed to you? You can bring it into an early voting site or ask for a new one – only one ballot per voter gets counted by law.
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Statewide early voting days: October 24 - November 1, 2026
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Look up your early voting sites at mi.gov/earlyvoting
How to Vote Early
Learn more about voting on Election Day