As with every statewide election in Michigan, voters will soon have the chance to take part in early voting ahead of the Tuesday, Aug. 4 primary.
Early voting begins statewide on Saturday, July 25, and runs through Sunday, Aug. 2. After voters passed a ballot initiative in 2022, municipalities in Michigan are required to hold at least nine days of early voting for each statewide and federal election, with early voting locations mandated to remain open for at least eight hours on those days.
Here's a quick guide on how early voting works, where you can find an early voting site and more.
How does early voting in Michigan work?
Early voting works just like going to the polls on Election Day, except, well, it's earlier. Registered voters can visit an early voting location, fill out their
ballots and cast them before Election Day. For voters who want to cast their ballots in person but may have time constraints on Election Day itself, early voting allows another convenient option, advocates say.
If you've already requested and received an absentee ballot, you do have the option to cast it at an early voting site by entering the completed ballot through a tabulator there. Voters also have the option to surrender an absentee ballot at an early voting location.
In Michigan, communities are required to hold at least nine days of early voting before statewide and federal elections. Communities do have the option to hold up to 29 days of early voting. However, local staffing constraints often limit communities to the mandatory nine days (in the 2024 presidential election, Detroit, Canton and East Lansing held more than 9 days of early voting). For the August statewide primary election, no community is holding more than nine early voting days, according to the Michigan Secretary of State's office.
Where do I find my early voting site?
To find hours and locations for early voting centers in your community, visit the online Michigan Voter Information Center at michigan.gov/vote and click on "How do I vote early?" underneath the section titled "Vote in person."
Larger communities may have more than one early voting site for voters to choose from.
Am I registered to vote in Michigan?
Before heading out to an early voting center, check to see if you're registered to vote!
Visit the state's voter information website michigan.gov/vote and click "Am I registered?" Once on that webpage, you can enter your first and last names, birth month and year and ZIP code to check if you're registered to vote. Or, you can enter your driver's license number and birth month and year to confirm your registration status.
How do I register to vote in Michigan?
Eligible Michigan residents can register to vote and cast a ballot in an election up until polls close at 8 p.m. on Election Day.
Within two weeks of an election, residents must register to vote in person at their local clerk's office with proof of residency. The deadline to register online ahead of the Aug. 4 primary election has passed.
To register to vote in Michigan, you must be:
- A U.S. citizen.
- A Michigan resident for at least 30 days by the time you vote.
- At least 17.5 years old, and be 18 by Election Day.
- Not currently serving a jail or prison sentence.
Within 14 days of an election (including on Election Day itself), you must provide proof of residency. This can include:
- Your Michigan driver’s license or state ID.
- A current utility bill.
- A bank statement.
- A paycheck or government check.
- Another government document.
Key dates for the August statewide primary
- Now: Absentee ballots are available. Here's how to request one.
- Through Election Day: Voter registration for those looking to vote in the August primary must take place at a local clerk's office, with proof of residency.
- Friday, July 24: Deadline to spoil an absentee ballot that's already been submitted. More on that here.
- Saturday, July 25: Communities must begin offering early voting.
- Friday, July 31, at 5 p.m.: Deadline to request an absentee ballot online or through the mail.
- Sunday, Aug. 2: Last day of early voting.
- Monday, Aug. 3, at 4 p.m: Deadline to spoil an absentee ballot that has been lost or has not been submitted.
- Monday, Aug. 3, at 4 p.m: Deadline to request an absentee ballot in person at a local clerk's office.
- Tuesday, Aug. 4, from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m: Election Day! Polls are open. Voters can also obtain absentee ballots at their local clerk's office until polls close, but only if they are registering to vote or updating their voter registration address.
You can reach Arpan Lobo at alobo@freepress.com
Looking for more on Michigan’s elections this year? Check out our voter guide, subscribe to our elections newsletter and always feel free to share your thoughts in a letter to the editor.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Early voting in Michigan's primary election starts Saturday
