Voting Is A Civil Right

On May 23, 2022, the Michigan Civil Rights Commission passed a resolution declaring that voting is a civil right and charged the Michigan Department of Civil Rights with educating the people of Michigan on the importance of exercising that right.

Hear from Michigan leaders on the importance of exercising your right to vote.

• Gloria Lara, Chair of the Michigan Civil Rights Commission
• John E. Johnson, Jr., Executive Director of the Michigan Department of Civil Rights
• Kamilia Landrum, Executive Director of the Detroit Branch NAACP
• Luke Londo, Secretary of the Michigan Civil Rights Commission and the first openly LGBTQ+ individual to serve on the Commission (coming soon)
• Zenna Elhasan, member of the Michigan Civil Rights Commission (coming soon)

Did you know?

• Michigan residents have the right to:
  • Same-day voter registration
  • Early voting
  • Absentee ballots
  • Voting by drop box
  • Accessible voting, including physical polling places, ballots and machines

• If you are a returning citizen, you can vote.
  • If you have a past conviction, you can vote. Individuals with felony convictions automatically have their right to vote restored once they have served their time.
  • If you are in or out of jail waiting to be sentenced, you can vote.
  • If you are on parole, you can vote.
  • If you are on probation, you can vote.
  • If you recently received or renewed a Michigan ID or driver’s license, you are registered to vote.

• If you are homeless or housing unstable/insecure, you can vote.
  • While there is a 30-day residency requirement for elections, you can register to vote by listing a street corner, shelter, park or any other place you usually stay as your address. The address can also be a local shelter, outreach center, advocacy organization or someone who will accept mail for you.

• If you speak a language other than English, you can vote.
  • You have the right to bring an interpreter with you to the polls. You can ask anyone to serve as an interpreter, unless they are someone who could influence your vote. Your interpreter can’t be:
    • Your employer
    • An agent of your employer
    • An officer or agent of your labor union

MDCR is committed to reaching Michigan residents on their fundamental right to vote. MDCR’s voting rights team is available to speak at your event, and to staff and supply a table with information on the right to vote. Contact Anthony Lewis, Director of Community Engagement and Education, at LewisA4@michigan.gov.

For answers to all your voting-related questions, visit the Michigan Voter Information Center.

Follow MDCR on social for up-to-the-minute updates on exercising your right to vote! Find us on:

Facebook - MiCivilRights

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LinkedIn - MiCivilRights