SEPTEMBER 3, 2008

Secretary of State Terri Lynn Land today announced that the Mobile Branch Office will be at Grand Valley State University on Wednesday, Sept. 17, and at Western Michigan University on Thursday, Sept. 18, to register students to vote.

At Grand Valley State, the office will be near the Cook Carillon Tower just north of the Kirkhof Center on the Allendale campus. At Western Michigan, the office will be near the Honors College by the flags display. Hours are 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at both visits.

"The mobile office is a convenient way to register to vote or to conduct other Secretary of State business," Land said. "I hope students take advantage of this opportunity to register to vote and take the first step to making their voices heard."

The visit is part of Land's ongoing efforts to register voters and educate them about what to expect on Election Day. At the polls, voters will be asked to present voter identification. Voter ID includes a Michigan driver's license, state-issued personal ID card or other acceptable form of ID. Voters who do not have photo ID with them at the polls can sign an affidavit attesting to that fact, and they then will receive a ballot that will be counted with all others.

In addition to a Michigan driver's license or state-issued ID, other acceptable forms of identification include:

• Driver's license or personal identification card issued by another state
• Federal or state government-issued photo identification
• U.S. passport
• Military ID with photo
• Student identification with photo from a high school or accredited institution of higher learning
• Tribal identification card with photo

Land also reminds residents to visit the online Michigan Voter Information Center, a single, comprehensive source designed for voter convenience at www.Michigan.gov/vote. The site contains information on polling locations, voting systems, registration and candidates. Offices up for election include president, U.S. senator, U.S. representatives, state House members, judges and numerous local officials, such as county sheriff and prosecutor. State and local ballot questions also will be decided.

The West Michigan visits are part of the mobile office's tour of Michigan's 15 public universities. The tour ends Monday, Oct. 6, the last day to register to vote for the November election.

Following its visit to Western Michigan University, the Mobile Branch Office will head to the University of Michigan-Flint, Oakland Community College and Oakland University. It also has made stops in July at community events in Detroit and Grand Rapids, among other communities, to offer local residents another opportunity to register and get their voting questions answered. The office has logged more than 125,000 miles since it first hit the road more than 10 years ago.

Land encourages all customers who have Internet access to check out the department's online services at www.Michigan.gov/sos before visiting any branch office. License plates and watercraft registrations, for example, can be renewed online. Browsing the site will help customers determine requirements before they go to an office.

RELATED LINKS
> To Michigan.gov/sos
> To Mobile Branch Office Schedule