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Vote on Election Day
Vote on Election Day
Voting on Election Day in Michigan
All registered voters in Michigan can vote at their polling place on Election Day.
Unregistered voters, or voters who have not updated their registration to their current address, must go to their local clerk’s office to register and may also vote at their clerk’s office using an absentee ballot.
Learn more about voting on Election Day
Voting at a polling place
A polling place is a location where voting takes place on Election Day. At each polling place, election inspectors (i.e. poll workers) are available to assist voters and run elections.
Voters can visit their assigned polling place on Election Day from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. local time.
Before visiting a polling place: Voters should remember to do the following:
- Look up the location of their polling place to ensure it has not moved.
- Look up their registration status to ensure it is current.
- Bring their photo ID to the polls if they are in possession of one. Photo ID is not a requirement to vote in Michigan.
Check your voter registration status
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Are campaign materials clothing or accessories allowed in a polling place?
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What is voter intimidation and what if I experience it at my polling place?
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Are firearms allowed in a polling place?
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Are election observers allowed in a polling place?
Voter ID in Michigan
Voters are not required to possess a photo ID to vote in Michigan. Voters without a photo ID may sign an affidavit and will be issued a ballot.
Voting at a polling place with a photo ID
By law, voters in possession of a photo ID must present it at the polls.
A photo ID presented at a polling place does not need to have the voter’s address on it. The name on the identification card can be a shorter form of the voter’s full name. For example, "Bill" for "William" and "Kathy" for "Katherine" are acceptable.
- Driver’s license or state ID card issued by Michigan or another state
- Federal, state, county or local government-issued photo ID
- U.S. passport
- Military photo ID card
- Student photo ID card from an educational institution
- Tribal photo ID card
- Local or county issued government ID
- Concealed Pistol license
Voting at a polling place without a photo ID
If a voter does not have photo ID, or if they forgot to bring their photo ID with them, they can still cast a ballot simply by signing an affidavit stating the voter is not in possession of a valid photo ID. Once the affidavit is signed, they may cast a ballot, and it will be counted with all other ballots on Election Day.
Additional questions regarding the voter identification requirement can be directed to your local city or township clerk’s office.
Locate your local clerk's office
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What should I do if my ID is expired at a polling place?
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What if my ID lists an outdated address?
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How do I submit a change of address for my voter registration?
Voting at a clerk’s office on Election Day
Eligible voters who are not currently registered to vote in Michigan, or who have not updated their registration with a current Michigan address, have until 8 p.m. on Election Day to visit their local clerk’s office to register to vote or update their registration address.
To vote, they may either request an absentee ballot and vote at their clerk's office or go to their polling place to vote if time allows. So long as an eligible, unregistered resident is in line at their clerk’s office by 8 p.m., they may register to vote and cast an absentee ballot.
Check your voter registration status
Learn more about voter registration in Michigan
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If I’m currently registered to vote, can I request an absentee ballot on Election Day?
Emergency voting on Election Day
If an emergency or unexpected circumstance occurs that prevents a voter from reaching the polls on Election Day, they may request an emergency absentee ballot.
Requirements: The emergency must have occurred at a time which made it impossible for the voter to apply for a regular absentee ballot. Voters should contact their local clerk’s office immediately to request an emergency ballot.
Emergency circumstances may include, but are not limited to:
- A sudden illness
- A death in the family
- Being arrested
Deadline: Requests for an emergency absentee ballot must be submitted in writing to the local clerk no later than 4 p.m. on Election Day.
The clerk may deliver an emergency ballot to the applicant in person, through a deputy or an election assistant, or a person named by the applicant may pick up the ballot at the clerk's office. The voter should return the completed ballot in the sealed envelope provided and deliver it to the clerk's office in any manner the voter sees fit. To be valid, the ballot must be returned to the clerk by 8 p.m. on Election Day.
Challenged and provisional ballots
A ballot is considered challenged or provisional when there is a need for more information from the voter in order to verify their eligibility to vote. Further information on each type of ballot is provided in this section.
If a voter’s ballot is designated as challenged or provisional at their polling place, at a clerk’s office, or at an absent voter counting board, the voter will be notified by election inspectors or their local clerk.
Voters can track the status of their ballot by visiting Michigan.gov/Vote.
Locate your local clerk's office
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What if my ballot is challenged, or I receive a challenge to my eligibility?
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What if I’m issued a provisional ballot?