Election Day is Tuesday, November 3, 2020. Michigan will mail an absentee ballot application to every registered voter. You can also vote in person. Michigan offers early voting.
Vote in Person | Who Can Vote | Vote by Mail | Election Day Registration | Military and Overseas Voters | Check your Voter Registration Status | Dates and Deadlines | Election Contact Information for Michigan
Vote in Person
Vote on Election Day
Voters registered in Michigan can look up where to vote on Michigan’s site.
Vote early
Michigan voters can also vote before Election Day through a process called absentee in-person voting. The period for absentee in-person voting runs from Thursday, September 24, 2020, to Monday, November 2, 2020, but dates and hours may vary based on where you live.
What to bring
- You will be asked to show current photo ID to vote in Michigan. Acceptable forms include: Michigan driver’s license or state ID card; current (non-expired) driver’s license or personal ID card issued by another state; federal or state government-issued photo ID; US passport; military ID card with a photo; tribal ID card with a photo; or a student ID with a photo from a high school or an accredited institution of higher education.
- Voters without ID: If you are unable to provide ID, you can vote like any other voter by signing an affidavit.
Who Can Vote
You have to register to vote before Election Day in Michigan. You can find the deadline to register to vote in the “Dates and deadlines” section.
To register in Michigan you must:
- be a citizen of the United States
- be 18 years old by the next election
- be a resident of Michigan and at least a 30 day resident of your city or township by election day
- not be confined in a jail or prison after being convicted and sentenced
- *find more information on voting rights restoration here.
Vote by Mail
- Michigan will mail an absentee ballot application to every registered voter.
- Fill out the application completely.
- Submit the request to your local election office. You should request your ballot as far in advance of the election as possible. The deadline to request a ballot by mail is (received by) Friday, October 30, 2020. Your request must be received by 5 p.m. the Friday before the election (October 30, 2020).
- When your ballot arrives, read it carefully and follow the instructions to complete it and return it.
Election Day Registration
Michigan does offer registration on Election Day at designated locations in each town. It is not available at your polling place.
Military and Overseas Voters
Active-duty military, their families, and overseas citizens can register to vote and request their absentee ballot using the Federal Post Card Application (FPCA). The FPCA process is done by mail, but your state may offer other options to request and return ballots. Please contact your election official for more information about delivery and return methods, including email, fax, and state online portals. To follow the FPCA process:
- Fill out the Federal Post Card Application (FPCA), or download a copy. Your election official may have questions, so please provide an email address or phone number where they can reach you.
- Send the application to your election official.
- It is never too early to submit an FPCA! Please do so as soon as possible. You can look up recommended mailing dates by country and region.
- Please fill out and send back your ballot as soon as you receive it. The following are recommended return dates to make sure your ballot arrives at your election office on time:
- 35 days before the election – On a ship at sea: September 28, 2020
- 30 days before the election – Outside of the US: October 2, 2020
- 11 days before the election – Stateside: October 23, 2020
- States begin mailing absentee ballots at least 45 days before Election Day. If you haven’t received your ballot by 30 days before Election Day, contact your local election office.
If after submitting your FPCA, your ballot does not arrive, contact your election official first. Then:
- You can still vote using the Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot (FWAB). Print, sign and mail your FWAB to your local election office.
- If you mail an FWAB and then receive your regular absentee ballot, you should complete and mail your absentee ballot also. Election officials will ensure that only one ballot is counted.
The Federal Voting Assistance Program – FVAP.gov offers additional information on military and overseas voting in Michigan. You can also call 1-800-438-VOTE or email vote@fvap.gov.
Check Your Voter Registration Status
You can look up your voter registration record and verify that your information is correct using Michigan’s voter registration lookup tool.
Dates and Deadlines
- Election Day is Tuesday, November 3, 2020.
- The deadline to register online to vote is Monday, October 19, 2020.
- The deadline for registering by mail to vote is (postmarked by) Monday, October 19, 2020.
- The deadline to register in person to vote is Tuesday, November 3, 2020.
- The deadline to request a ballot by mail is (received by) Friday, October 30, 2020. Your request must be received by 5 p.m. the Friday before the election (October 30, 2020).
- The early voting period runs from Thursday, September 24, 2020 to Monday, November 2, 2020, but dates and hours may vary based on where you live.
- Michigan does offer registration on Election Day at designated locations in each town. It is not available at your polling place.
Election Contact Information for Michigan
Address:
Secretary of State
Richard H. Austin Building – First Floor, 430 W. Allegan
Lansing, MI 48933
Phone Number:
(517) 335-3234