news

Your guide to polling on Election Day

Vaseline November 5, 2024

It is Tuesday, November 5. Election day has arrived.

Millions of Michigan voters have already cast their ballots, either through absentee voting or early voting. But many more people will go to the polls today to decide the presidential election, an open seat in the U.S. Senate and other races. And if you’re not registered to vote, you can still register to vote today and cast your vote before the polls close.

Here’s more information on what you need to know: how to vote, how to find your polling place, what time the polls are open and more:

What time do polls open in Michigan?

Polls in Michigan are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. local time. If you are in line at 8 p.m., you can still vote.

Where can I find my local polling station?

You can find your polling place by visiting the Michigan Voter Information Center at michigan.gov/vote. There you can enter your address and the site will provide your polling place.

In-person voting must take place on Election Day at your assigned polling place. Larger cities and townships usually have multiple polling stations, so make sure you go to the right polling station.

What should I expect at the polls in Michigan?

Once you arrive at the polls, you will be asked to report to local election workers. Elections staff will provide you with a ballot or other voting option if additional accommodations are needed.

To vote, you will be asked to provide photo identification. If you don’t have an ID, you can still vote. You will be asked to sign a form verifying your identity.

Here is a list of valid forms of photo ID, according to the Michigan Secretary of State’s office:

Michigan driver’s license or state ID (possibly expired)
Driver’s license or ID issued by another state
A federal, state, or local government-issued photo ID
American passport
Military ID with photo
ID with photo of an educational institution
Tribal photo ID

Can I still register to vote on Election Day in Michigan?

Yes! In Michigan, you can register to vote at your local clerk’s office until the polls close on Election Day, with proof of residency. If you are unsure whether you are already registered to vote, you can check your registration status by visiting michigan.gov/vote. There you will also find the address of your local clerk’s office.

First check whether you are entitled to vote. To register to vote in Michigan, you must:

An American citizen
By the time you vote, you must have lived in Michigan for at least 30 days
At least 17½ years old, and 18 years old on election day
Currently not serving any jail or prison time

You must provide proof of residency within 14 days of an election (including on election day itself). This may include:

Your Michigan driver’s license or state ID
A current energy bill
A bank statement
A salary or check from the government
Another government document

You can register to vote, request and return an absentee ballot at your local clerk’s office on Election Day itself.

You can drop off your absentee ballot at a drop box or clerk’s office until the polls close

In Michigan, nearly 2 million voters had already returned their ballots by Monday. If you received an absentee ballot but haven’t returned it yet, you still have time to make sure your vote is counted.

Absentee ballots can be dropped off at a local clerk’s office, in a secure drop box, or through the mail. But on Election Day, and within two weeks of the election, it is advisable to submit your absentee ballot at your local clerk’s office or at a post office box location to avoid mail delays. In addition to the city of Detroit, voters who have received an absentee ballot can also fill it out and take it to their polling place to cast it.

Voters can drop off their absentee ballot at a drop box, their local clerk’s office or, in communities except Detroit, their polling place until the polls close at 8 p.m. To find a secure mailbox location, visit the Michigan Voter Information Center. government/vote.

What’s on my ballot today?

The presidential election, between Democratic vice presidential candidate Kamala Harris and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, has taken up much of the oxygen of the general election cycle. But there are a number of other important races for Michiganders to decide.

An open seat in the US Senate: U.S. Rep. Elissa Slotkin, D-Holly, and former Congressman Mike Rogers, a Republican, are vying to replace retiring U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow, D-Lansing, in Washington.
US House seats up for election: All thirteen of Michigan’s congressional seats are up for election, as they are every two years. Some of them are expected to be particularly competitive, including in Michigan’s 7th Congressional District, where Democrat Curtis Hertel and Republican Tom Barrett are vying to replace Slotkin in Congress.
The balance of the Michigan House of Representatives: Like the U.S. House of Representatives, seats in the Michigan House of Representatives are up for re-election every two years. Democrats currently hold a 56-54 lead in the House, but if Republicans can retake the state House, Michigan would have split party control of government as Democrats currently control the Senate and the governor’s office.
Two seats on the Michigan Supreme Court in the nonpartisan section: Two separate races for the Michigan Supreme Court will be decided Tuesday. One for a partial four-year term between incumbent Judge Kyra Harris Bolden, who is backed by Democrats to complete the remainder of her term, and Branch County Circuit Judge Patrick William O’Grady, nominated by Republicans. The other race for the Supreme Court is for a full eight-year term, between Kimberly Ann Thomas, nominated by Democrats, and state Rep. Andrew Fink, a Republican from Hillsdale. Democrats currently hold a 4-3 lead among judge nominees to the Michigan Supreme Court.
Also a host of local varieties: Depending on where you live, you can also decide on local races. To see exactly what’s on your ballot today, visit michigan.gov/vote and click on “What’s on the Ballot” under “Your Voter Information.”

Contact Arpan Lobo: [email protected]

Want to know more about this year’s Michigan elections? Check out our voter guide, subscribe to our election newsletter, and feel free to share your thoughts in a letter to the editor.