How do I register to vote or check my registration?

City or Township Clerk (local level - each of Michigan's ~1,775 cities and townships) / Michigan Secretary of State (state level)

Step by Step

How to do it

Confirm eligibility: Must be a U.S. citizen, Michigan resident, at least 18 years old by Election Day (may pre-register at 16; automatically becomes active at 17.5), and not currently serving a sentence in jail or prison for a conviction (misdemeanor or felony); pretrial detention, parole, and probation do NOT affect eligibility
Choose your registration method:
ONLINE: mvic.sos.state.mi.us - Michigan Voter Information Center; requires Michigan driver's license or state ID number; deadline: 5:00 PM the Friday before Election Day for online registration; within 14 days of election: must use in-person registration
BY MAIL: Download Michigan voter registration form from michigan.gov/sos; must be received by city/township clerk at least 15 days before Election Day; can also scan and email form to clerk in some jurisdictions
IN PERSON: City/Township Clerk's office; Michigan Secretary of State branch offices; many government assistance agencies; deadline: 15+ days before election OR in person at clerk through 8:00 PM on ELECTION DAY (same-day registration in person)
SAME-DAY REGISTRATION: Michigan offers same-day in-person voter registration through 8:00 PM on ELECTION DAY at the city/township clerk's office with proof of Michigan residency; this is the broadest window nationally
Submit registration by the applicable deadline
Receive voter registration confirmation from your city/township clerk

Details

What you need to know

Required Docs

Michigan driver's license or state ID number (for online/mail registration)
OR Social Security number
Date of birth and current Michigan address (must reside in the city/township for at least 30 days by Election Day)
SAME-DAY REGISTRATION: requires proof of Michigan residency (Michigan DL/ID with current address; or utility bill, bank statement, paycheck, or government document with name and current address; digital copies acceptable)

Fee

Free ADVANCE REGISTRATION DEADLINE: 15 days before Election Day (online by 5 PM the Friday before election; mail received; in-person at Secretary of State office or clerk) SAME-DAY REGISTRATION: YES - at city/township clerk's office through 8:00 PM on Election Day; requires proof of residency CHECK YOUR REGISTRATION: mvic.sos.state.mi.us ABSENT VOTER BALLOT (Michigan's absentee voting): Michigan offers NO-EXCUSE absentee/mail voting - any registered voter may apply; request online at mvic.sos.state.mi.us or contact your clerk; can request a Permanent Mail Ballot List (automatically receive ballot every future election); absentee application deadline: 5:00 PM Friday before Election Day for online; ballots due by 8:00 PM Election Day ONLINE OPTION: Yes - mvic.sos.state.mi.us (Michigan Voter Information Center) WHERE TO GO: City/Township Clerk; Michigan Secretary of State branch offices; many government agencies; city/township clerk on Election Day for same-day registration

Online Option

Yes - mvic.sos.state.mi.us (Michigan Voter Information Center)

Where to Go

City/Township Clerk; Michigan Secretary of State branch offices; many government agencies; city/township clerk on Election Day for same-day registration

County-specific variations apply

Michigan's ~1,775 city and township clerks each administer their own voter registration and elections. Moving within Michigan between cities/townships: update registration with your new local clerk. Larger cities (Detroit, Grand Rapids, Lansing, Ann Arbor, Flint, Warren) have multiple resources; smaller townships may have part-time clerks. For same-day registration, go to your specific city/township clerk's office - not the county clerk. Michigan warning: if you update your voter registration address and it differs from your driver's license, the Secretary of State will automatically update your license address too.

Michigan Notes

Important state-specific details

Michigan has SAME-DAY VOTER REGISTRATION through 8:00 PM on Election Day - one of the most permissive nationally.
NO-EXCUSE ABSENTEE VOTING: any registered voter may vote by absent voter ballot in Michigan; Permanent Mail Ballot List available for automatic ballot delivery each election.
FELONY CONVICTION: Michigan restores voting rights AUTOMATICALLY upon release from jail/prison - can register immediately after release; parole and probation do NOT affect voting rights.
PRE-REGISTRATION: at age 16; automatically becomes active voter registration at age 17.5.
Michigan warning about address synchronization: updating voter registration can update your driver's license address - plan accordingly.
PHOTO ID at polls: Michigan requires photo ID to vote in person OR sign an affidavit attesting to identity; signing the affidavit allows voting without photo ID (ballot counted same as regular ballot as of November 2023 constitutional amendment).
Polls open 7:00 AM - 8:00 PM; anyone in line at closing must be allowed to vote.

Official Source

State office contact

State Office

Michigan Secretary of State, Elections - michigan.gov/sos/elections | (517) 373-2540; Michigan Voter Information Center: mvic.sos.state.mi.us; City/Township Clerk (varies by local unit)