Student Voting Project | Michigan

Voting at School

ID Requirements

Every Michigan voter will be asked to show photo ID at the polls. The following types of photo ID are accepted: 1) Michigan driver's license or state-issued ID card; 2) an out-of-state driver's license; 3) any other federal or state government-issued photo ID card; 4) a U.S. passport; 5) a military ID card; 6) a student ID card (from a high school or an accredited college); and 7) a tribal ID card. If you do not have any acceptable form of photo ID, you can sign an affidavit and still cast a regular ballot.

In addition, first-time voters who registered by mail whose Michigan driver's license number or the last four digits of their Social Security number have not been verified by the state must show either photo ID or ID with their name and address on it the first time they vote. Photo ID that is okay under the general ID rule is also okay under this rule; however, if instead of showing photo ID you sign an affidavit, you'll have to separately show ID with your name and address on it. You can show a current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck, or other government document that shows your name and address, and you can show that ID at the polls or send a copy with your registration. Cell phone bills are not accepted as utility bills, but student housing bills with your address will be accepted, as will online printouts. If you can't show the required ID you can vote a provisional ballot, but the provisional ballot will only be counted if you provide ID to your county clerk within 6 days of the election.

Registration Requirements

You must register to vote at least 30 days before Election Day. If this date falls on a weekend day or a holiday, then the deadline extends to the next business day. Mail-in registration forms must be postmarked by this date.

Be aware that if you are a first-time Michigan voter who registers to vote by mail or through a voter registration drive, you cannot vote absentee in your first election-you must vote in person on Election Day. If you register at a public agency (like a driver's license office) or at the county, city, or township clerk's office, you will be able to vote absentee.

Residency Requirements

The Secretary of State of Michigan has indicated that students are free to choose to register to vote at school or at home. The law on residency provides that if you keep most of your things in a place and regularly sleep there, you are a resident. Residence for voting in Michigan does not necessarily equal domicile.

Students who lived in Michigan prior to attending school and who wish to establish or keep their Michigan voting residency (i.e., at their parents' address), should have no problem doing so unless they've already registered to vote in another state. Like all states, Michigan allows students to keep their voting residency even if they move out of the county or state to attend school. The only way you might lose this residency is if you "abandon" it by asserting residency in a new state. While registering to vote in another state is not automatically considered an abandonment of residency in Michigan, some judges or officials might view it as such.

For students who have Michigan driver's licenses: under a statute known as "Rogers's Law," if you register to vote at your school address, your driver's license address will be automatically updated and you'll get an update sticker in the mail. Similarly, if you update your driver's license address, your voter registration will be automatically updated. Be aware of myths related to this law. Contrary to rumors that are circulating in Michigan, changing your driver's license address in this way will not have any negative effect on your car or health insurance.

You can of course still register to vote if you don't have a Michigan driver's license.

Fighting Residency Challenges

Because Michigan law allows students to choose their voting residence, you're unlikely to face denials or challenges based on your residency. The local clerk has a duty to initially reject your registration if they believe you aren't a true resident, but they must notify you of this decision by mail. The clerk can also cancel your registration if they later come to believe you aren't a resident; you'll have the opportunity to respond to the clerk and to challenge the clerk's decision in court. Alternately, if the clerk suspects your registration, the clerk can mark your registration as challenged and you'll have to go through the challenge procedure at the polls to vote. Ordinarily, the only time a voter's record is challenged is when the voter registration confirmation mailed to you gets returned by the post office.

Your registration can also be challenged by another voter; once they challenge you, the clerk will send you notice and you have 30 days to defend your eligibility, either in person or in writing. If you don't respond or the clerk thinks you're ineligible, your registration will be cancelled.

At the polls, your right to vote can be challenged on the basis of residency only by a poll worker. Partisan challengers and other voters can only challenge you on the basis that you're not a registered voter or that you have already requested an absentee ballot. If you are challenged, you will be asked questions about your eligibility; if the poll workers determine that your answers show you're a qualified elector, you'll be able to vote.

Absentee Requirement

Voters who expect to be absent from the county where they’re registered to vote during polling hours are entitled to vote absentee under Michigan law, but first-time voters who registered by mail must vote in person. If you are interested in voting absentee the first time you vote in Michigan, you must register in person at a government office In addition, only “absent” voters may vote absentee.

Your absentee ballot request has to be received by your city or township clerk by 2:00 p.m. on the Saturday before Election Day. Blank applications are available on the web site of the Secretary of State. Your absentee ballot must be received by your city or township clerk by 8:00 p.m. on Election Day. Neither your application nor your ballot has to be witnessed or notarized.

Voting at Home

ID Requirements

Every Michigan voter will be asked to show photo ID at the polls. The following types of photo ID are accepted: 1) Michigan driver's license or state-issued ID card; 2) an out-of-state driver's license; 3) any other federal or state government-issued photo ID card; 4) a U.S. passport; 5) a military ID card; 6) a student ID card (from a high school or an accredited college); and 7) a tribal ID card. If you do not have any acceptable form of photo ID, you can sign an affidavit and still cast a regular ballot.

In addition, first-time voters who registered by mail whose Michigan driver's license number or the last four digits of their Social Security number have not been verified by the state must show either photo ID or ID with their name and address on it the first time they vote. Photo ID that is okay under the general ID rule is also okay under this rule; however, if instead of showing photo ID you sign an affidavit, you'll have to separately show ID with your name and address on it. You can show a current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck, or other government document that shows your name and address, and you can show that ID at the polls or send a copy with your registration. Cell phone bills are not accepted as utility bills, but student housing bills with your address will be accepted, as will online printouts. If you can't show the required ID you can vote a provisional ballot, but the provisional ballot will only be counted if you provide ID to your county clerk within 6 days of the election.

Registration Requirements

You must register to vote at least 30 days before Election Day. If this date falls on a weekend day or a holiday, then the deadline extends to the next business day. Mail-in registration forms must be postmarked by this date.

Be aware that if you are a first-time Michigan voter who registers to vote by mail or through a voter registration drive, you cannot vote absentee in your first election-you must vote in person on Election Day. If you register at a public agency (like a driver's license office) or at the county, city, or township clerk's office, you will be able to vote absentee.

Residency Requirements

The Secretary of State of Michigan has indicated that students are free to choose to register to vote at school or at home. The law on residency provides that if you keep most of your things in a place and regularly sleep there, you are a resident. Residence for voting in Michigan does not necessarily equal domicile.

Students who lived in Michigan prior to attending school and who wish to establish or keep their Michigan voting residency (i.e., at their parents' address), should have no problem doing so unless they've already registered to vote in another state. Like all states, Michigan allows students to keep their voting residency even if they move out of the county or state to attend school. The only way you might lose this residency is if you "abandon" it by asserting residency in a new state. While registering to vote in another state is not automatically considered an abandonment of residency in Michigan, some judges or officials might view it as such.

For students who have Michigan driver's licenses: under a statute known as "Rogers's Law," if you register to vote at your school address, your driver's license address will be automatically updated and you'll get an update sticker in the mail. Similarly, if you update your driver's license address, your voter registration will be automatically updated. Be aware of myths related to this law. Contrary to rumors that are circulating in Michigan, changing your driver's license address in this way will not have any negative effect on your car or health insurance.

You can of course still register to vote if you don't have a Michigan driver's license.

Fighting Residency Challenges

Because Michigan law allows students to choose their voting residence, you're unlikely to face denials or challenges based on your residency. The local clerk has a duty to initially reject your registration if they believe you aren't a true resident, but they must notify you of this decision by mail. The clerk can also cancel your registration if they later come to believe you aren't a resident; you'll have the opportunity to respond to the clerk and to challenge the clerk's decision in court. Alternately, if the clerk suspects your registration, the clerk can mark your registration as challenged and you'll have to go through the challenge procedure at the polls to vote. Ordinarily, the only time a voter's record is challenged is when the voter registration confirmation mailed to you gets returned by the post office.

Your registration can also be challenged by another voter; once they challenge you, the clerk will send you notice and you have 30 days to defend your eligibility, either in person or in writing. If you don't respond or the clerk thinks you're ineligible, your registration will be cancelled.

At the polls, your right to vote can be challenged on the basis of residency only by a poll worker. Partisan challengers and other voters can only challenge you on the basis that you're not a registered voter or that you have already requested an absentee ballot. If you are challenged, you will be asked questions about your eligibility; if the poll workers determine that your answers show you're a qualified elector, you'll be able to vote.

Absentee Requirement

Voters who expect to be absent from the county where they’re registered to vote during polling hours are entitled to vote absentee under Michigan law, but first-time voters who registered by mail must vote in person. If you are interested in voting absentee the first time you vote in Michigan, you must register in person at a government office In addition, only “absent” voters may vote absentee.

Your absentee ballot request has to be received by your city or township clerk by 2:00 p.m. on the Saturday before Election Day. Blank applications are available on the web site of the Secretary of State. Your absentee ballot must be received by your city or township clerk by 8:00 p.m. on Election Day. Neither your application nor your ballot has to be witnessed or notarized.