The August 2nd primary elections finalized the ballots for the 2022 midterm elections in Michigan. Midterms are particularly important this year as the Supreme Court has handed the right to regulate abortions to the state level, and may continue to turn similar decisions to the states as well. Here is everything you need to know about voting this November 8th.
Are You Registered?
You can check your voter registration status at https://mvic.sos.state.mi.us/Voter/Index. If you aren’t registered to vote, follow the prompt on your screen and click ‘Register to Vote.’ You can also register to vote online at https://mvic.sos.state.mi.us/RegisterVoter?Length=0 as long as you have a valid Michigan driver’s license or state ID. Your online registration application must be submitted 15 days before Election Day.
You can also register to vote in person any time before 8 p.m. on Election Day. This must be done at your city or township’s clerk’s office. Mailed applications must be submitted 15 days before Election Day. If you are registering within 14 days of Election Day, you need to have proof of where you live. Bring a document like your license, a utility bill, or a bank statement that shows your name and address.
To be eligible to register to vote, you have to be a Michigan resident and a resident of your city or township for at least 30 days when you vote. You also have to be a United States citizen and at least 18 years old when you vote. You can register when you are 17.5 years old, but must be 18 on Election Day to be eligible to vote. If you are currently serving a jail or prison sentence, you are not eligible to register.
Visit https://mvic.sos.state.mi.us/Home/RegisterToVote for more information.
Absentee Ballots
All registered voters in Michigan have the option to vote from home using an absentee ballot. For college students, absentee ballots are a great way to ensure you can vote even if you can’t make it to your polling place on Election Day. You must vote in the city or township you are registered in, so if your campus is not in or near that area, vote absentee!
The Michigan Voter Information Center recommends applying for an absentee ballot at least two weeks before election day to avoid postal delays. You can apply for your ballot online at https://mvic.sos.state.mi.us/AVApplication/Index starting August 25th, 2022. An online request must be submitted before 5 p.m. on the Friday before Election Day. You can even opt to vote absentee in all future elections.
You also have the option of getting an absentee ballot in person at or in the mail from your city or township’s clerk’s office, or download an application form to mail in. For more information on these options, visit https://mvic.sos.state.mi.us/Home/VoteAtHome.
Your completed absentee ballot has to be received by the clerk’s office by 8 p.m. on Election Day. Take postal time and possible delays into consideration if you are mailing in your ballot. The Michigan Voter Information Center recommends that you don’t mail in your ballot any later than two weeks before Election Day.
You can track the status of your ballot at https://mvic.sos.state.mi.us/Voter/Index. You can also use this link to locate your polling location and view a sample ballot.
The age demographic least likely to vote, especially in midterm elections, is 18-24. This same group makes up 9.48% of the population in Michigan. Remember that your vote matters! Find an option that works for you, and get out and vote.