Votebeat is a nonprofit news organization reporting on voting access and election administration across the U.S. Sign up for Votebeat Michigan’s free newsletter here.
This story was adapted from an article originally published June 25, 2026.
It’s time to vote once again, Michigan.
The 2026 midterms may feel millennia away, but it’s only a few short weeks. Ballots are already in the hands of voters around the state, and they’re chock-full of critical races — the kind that will decide what Michigan looks like for years to come.
Here’s everything you need to know about how to vote.
When is Election Day?
The general election in Michigan (and every other state) is Nov. 3. Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. local time.
But you can vote earlier if you choose. Absentee ballots are already available and can be returned anytime before 8 p.m. on Election Day. Your community is also required to offer early in-person voting — you can check when and where that will be for your city or township at the Michigan Voter Information Center, which is maintained by the state.
Who can vote in the midterm elections?
All registered voters are eligible to vote. To register to vote in Michigan, you need to be 18, a U.S. citizen, and a resident of the state.
How do I check if I’m registered to vote?
Some communities may send you a notice with your polling place and districts on it, but the fastest and most efficient way is to look yourself up with the Michigan Voter Information Center. There, you can see if you’re registered — and if you’re on the list to automatically receive an absentee ballot by mail.
How do I register to vote in Michigan?
Registering to vote in Michigan is relatively easy and very quick.
If you have a Michigan driver’s license, the fastest way to do it is to register online. You’ll need to affirm you’re a U.S. citizen, a Michigan resident, and at least 18 years old (although those 16 or older can pre-register to vote). You’ll need to authorize the secretary of state’s office to use your stored signature — usually in the system from when you got your driver’s license — for your registration.
From there, the hardest part is pulling out your wallet to input your driver’s license number. You’ll affirm your information as it appears on your license, input the last four digits of your Social Security number, and then answer a few more questions.
Any eligible voters can also register by mail by printing and mailing in the forms here, which are available in a variety of languages. And finally, you can register in person by bringing a photo ID to your local clerk’s office. You can look up your local clerk here.
The deadline to register online or by mail is 15 days before the election — which, for the upcoming general election, is Oct. 19. But you can still register in person at your clerk’s office after that as late as Election Day itself.
Where is my polling place?
Your polling place may have moved since you last voted. A number of communities have consolidated their precincts in recent years in response to changes in state law.
You can look up where to go on the Michigan Voter Information Center. It will have the addresses and hours of your polling place, as well as all of your early voting locations and mail ballot drop boxes.
What offices are on my ballot?
This ballot is a long one, so don’t be concerned if it takes you a little while to fill it out. A complete list of what’s on your ballot, including candidate names, parties, and related Votebeat coverage, is available here.
To check specifically what’s on your ballot, visit the Michigan Voter Information Center, click “What’s on the ballot?” and then put in your jurisdiction. You can also see it on your own voter information page, which you can access by putting in your driver’s license number or other identifying information at this link.
Unlike in the primary election, you can vote for multiple parties in the general election. You have a constitutional right to a private ballot in Michigan, and no one will know how you voted.
What should I bring to vote?
If you choose to vote in person, the process will go fastest if you bring a photo ID. That can be a driver’s license, a passport, a tribal card with photos, or a student ID — a number of things can work as long as the identification comes from a government institution and has a photo attached. You can find a list of acceptable IDs here.
But photo ID is not required to vote in Michigan if you don’t have one or forget to bring it with you. State law allows you to instead fill out an affidavit confirming your identity. On that form, you’ll confirm your name and address. Lying on the form is considered perjury, which comes with the potential for fines or jail time.
If you need help voting, you have a right to bring someone along. That person cannot be your employer or someone acting on the behalf of your union, but otherwise they can help you cast your ballot.
Can I vote early in person in Michigan?
Yes! State law requires that any election with federal or statewide races — think U.S. senators or the governor — has at least nine consecutive days of early in-person voting, starting on the second Saturday before the election (which, for this year’s election, is Oct. 24).
Communities are also allowed to offer additional days of early voting, although not all of them do. Early voting requires money and staff resources that are difficult for some smaller communities to wrangle.
This year is the first that communities across the state are allowed to offer early voting on the Monday before the election. Detroit, Lansing, and a number of other cities will be taking advantage. Other communities, such as Ann Arbor, will go even further — voters there will be able to vote early starting Oct. 21 at the city’s satellite voting centers. Grand Rapids voters can start casting early in-person ballots starting Oct. 20.
You can check your community’s specific hours and locations by putting in your information here.
How do I vote by mail in Michigan?
In Michigan, any voter can choose to vote by mail, for any reason, by requesting an absentee ballot. You can do so online here. Voters with disabilities can request an accessible ballot here.
Michigan voters have the right to be on what is referred to as the permanent absentee list, which means their local clerks will automatically send them a ballot for every election. If you’re on that list, your clerk should have already mailed your ballot no later than Sept. 24. You can check if you’re on the permanent absentee list by putting your information in here — look for a box in the top corner labeled “Absentee Ballot.” You can check your status by seeing if it says “yes” or “no” under “Permanent Ballot List.” If you’re not already on the list, you can request to be added to it when you request your absentee ballot.
The deadline to request an absentee ballot is 5 p.m. on the Friday before the election, which for this election is Oct. 30. Your clerk’s office will do their best to get it to you by Tuesday, but if it doesn’t arrive in time, you can still show up to your polling place on Election Day, ask them to cancel the absentee ballot, and vote in person.
In order for your absentee ballot to count, it must be received by 8 p.m. on Election Day; postmarks don’t count. If you’re returning it by mail, most experts recommend putting it in the mail no later than a week before the election to give it time to make it back to your clerk. If you’re running later than that (or want to ensure it arrives in time), it’s recommended to use a drop box instead. Each community is required to set up drop boxes where voters can return their absentee ballots. You can look up drop box locations by putting your information in here.
It’s worth noting that drop boxes don’t function like mail boxes — you can’t drop your ballot just anywhere and expect it to make it to your clerk. Make sure you return it in a drop box designated for your specific city or township.
Are there new rules around mail voting this year?
President Donald Trump did try to put new restrictions on voting by mail this year, but the U.S. Supreme Court blocked them from going into effect for the midterms. The Michigan Association of Municipal Clerks has gotten notices from the U.S. Postal Service confirming that “USPS processes and procedures will remain consistent with previous election cycles,” as MAMC President Michael Siegrist wrote in an email to members. Election mail is expected to be “business as usual.”
Who can I ask if I have more questions on voting in Michigan?
Your first stop is probably your clerk’s office. Your clerk and their staff are extensively trained in election administration, and they can probably answer your questions. You can find your clerk here.
You can also reach out to Votebeat if you see something strange or run into problems. We’d love to hear from you — reach out at mich.tips@votebeat.org.
Hayley Harding is a reporter for Votebeat based in Michigan. Contact Hayley at hharding@votebeat.org.
