How to Vote

You have a few options!

Before October 25th:

You can vote early at one of the two Campus Voting Hubs!

You can pick up an absentee ballot and either vote it on site or take it home to vote and then return it.

September 24–October 25
12–6pm, Monday–Friday
UMMA: 525 S. State Street

October 21–25
12–6pm, Monday–Friday
Duderstadt Center Gallery: 2281 Bonisteel Blvd

October 26th - Election Day:

Come to the Campus Voting Hubs!

Avoid Election Day lines and be a part of Michigan’s new 9 Days of Early Voting!

October 26–Nov 3
11-7pm, every day, including Saturdays and Sundays

UMMA: 525 S. State Street
Duderstadt Center Gallery: 2281 Bonisteel Blvd

You can still register and vote in Ann Arbor, up to and including on Election Day.

If you want to vote in Ann Arbor on Election Day — make sure you register in advance so that you can go to your polling location on November 5th!

Campus Voting Hubs special hours:
Monday, November 4th: 11-4pm

Tuesday, November 5th, Election Day: the Campus Voting Hubs will be open 7am–8pm, ONLY for people who still need to register and vote in Ann Arbor.

You will be asked for a photo ID. You can use your Mcard, driver’s license or other State ID, or a passport. 

If you don’t have a photo ID, you can still vote. You’ll just need to sign a simple form called an affidavit.

Only if you need to register or update your registration.

On Election Day, if you're already registered to vote in Ann Arbor at your current address, you must go to your polling location, which you can find here.

Yes! You can bring your notes, a voter's guide, or a sample ballot into the voting booth. In some places, such as Ann Arbor, you can even do last-minute research on your phone. You’ll want to check with your local election officials.

There are nonpartisan sites, such as Ballotready.org and Vote411.org, that let you compare candidate positions and email yourself notes that you can bring with you.

See the Know Your Ballot page for more details.

Don't worry! As long as you are in line by 8 p.m. when the polls and the Campus Voting Hubs close on Election Day, you have the right to cast your ballot.

If you have any problem with voting, you can contact the Michigan Secretary of State at (517) 335-3234. You can also call the nonpartisan Election Protection Hotline at (866) OUR-VOTE (866-687-8683).

You just need to do a little planning and follow these 3 steps:

1. Once you arrive abroad, fill out the Federal Post Card Application (FPCA) and use your international address.
2. Email the FPCA application to your local clerk so that they can send you a ballot (via mail, fax, or email). Clerks in Michigan can be found here. Election officials outside of Michigan can be found here.
3. Return your completed ballot by mail, fax, or email.

If you have any questions or difficulties, reach out to your local clerk or to [email protected].

Yes! There’s an official dropbox for the City of Ann Arbor. Be sure to sign the back of the envelope and return your ballot before 8 p.m. Election Night!

It’s not hard, but you need to think through the logistics that work for you.

If you can make it back to your home district, you can:

• Vote in person during the 9 days of Early Voting or on Election Day, or
• Visit your Clerk’s office to pick up an Absentee Ballot

You might want to take advantage of Fall Break!

If you can’t make it back to your home district, you’ll need to apply for an absentee ballot online at Michigan.gov/Vote.

If you are registered, you can apply online here. You'll want to be sure you have enough time to receive and return your ballot by mail.

If there is less than 2 weeks left before the election, it is recommended that you make your request in person at your local clerk's office.

You can track your absentee ballot in the mail at Michigan.gov/Vote.

You’re almost there!!

Be sure you sign the back of the mailing envelope using your official signature (as it appears on your driver’s license, state ID, or voter registration application).

Your absentee ballot must be received by your local clerk by 8 p.m. on Election Day or it will not be counted. You can return it by mail (leave yourself at least 14 days!), an official drop box, or drop it off at your local Clerk’s Office.

Questions? Visit the Campus Voting Hubs to talk with UMICH Votes Fellows.

When voting or picking up your absentee ballot in person in Michigan, you will be asked for a photo ID such as a driver’s license, other State ID, or a passport.

If you don’t have a photo ID, you can still vote. You’ll just need to sign a simple form called an affidavit.

Yes! You can bring your notes, a voter's guide, or a sample ballot into the voting booth. Ballotready.org and Vote411.org let you compare candidate positions, vote a “sample ballot,” and email your choices to yourself.

Nope. If you bring notes with you, you should not discuss them with others while at the polls or distribute them in the polling place, and you must take them with you when you leave.

If you have any problem with voting, you can contact the Michigan Secretary of State at (517) 335-3234. You can also call the nonpartisan Election Protection Hotline at (866) OUR-VOTE [(866) 687-8683].

That’s great. You’ll need to get started early. Every state has different rules and deadlines. You’ll want to make sure you leave enough time to get and mail back your ballot. Check your state’s voting rules at vote.gov.

Check your state’s absentee ballot deadlines at vote.org. Make sure you note whether the deadline is for the postmark or your ballot’s arrival at the election office.

Stuff happens! If you are a student living out of state and have missed the deadline to participate in your home state, you still have an option to register and vote in Michigan with your local address. See the Ann Arbor or Michigan tab depending on your local address.

Contact your local election office. If you don’t have your absentee ballot or can’t get back to your home district in time and you’re a student, you can still register and vote in Michigan with your local address. See the How to Register page.

If you voted using an absentee ballot, you can make sure that your ballot was counted by using this ballot tracker tool. The precision of ballot tracking varies by state.