Michigan's Voting Rights!
As a result of the passage of Proposal 2 of 2022 and later actions, voters have expanded voting options, rights, and protections. Below are summaries of what's new, and links to help you find further details.
More Options for Voters
- Nine days of early in person voting in federal and state elections.
- Permanent absentee ballot voting/receiving ballots automatically.
- More drop boxes for absentee ballots in many communities.
- Free postage to return absentee ballots by mail.
- Additional types of ID used to vote; a signed ID affidavit works for those without ID.
- Effective tracking of absentee ballots, allowing voters to make timely corrections.
- More time for military and voters living overseas to vote.
Protecting the Vote
- Increased drop-box security.
- Outlawing interference with anyone’s fundamental right to vote, either by act of law or by harassment or intimidation.
- Election results must be based solely on the ballots cast. Neither the Board of Canvassers nor the Legislature can override the will of the voters.
Protecting Poll Workers and Voters
- Intimidating/threatening an election official is a crime, punishable by fines or imprisonment or both.
- Michigan voters have the right to cast their ballots free from intimidation and without being solicited for votes when they are within 100 feet of a polling place. Violators may face criminal charges.
- Clerks may begin to tabulate results up to 8 days before an election in certain communities
- No open carry at polling places, ballot counting locations, or drop boxes.
Protecting Voting Equity
"...to protect the least powerful, to register all who are eligible to vote, and to make voting fair and easy." Stacey Abrams
- Several state agencies: Military and Veteran's Affairs, Health and Human Services, Housing, Corrections, etc. must help clients register to vote.
- Prohibits governments or state agencies from imposing any law, practice, policy, or method of election that leads to a disparity in voter participation of minority groups.
- Expanding the translation of election-related information into languages other than English.
- Enhancing protections for voters with disabilities or who otherwise need assistance to vote.
- Paying for another person’s transportation to the polls or to give someone a ride to vote IS legal.
- Teens may pre-register to vote at the age of sixteen.
Find out how to register to vote, apply for absentee ballots, find your polling place for early in person voting and voting on Election Day, find your drop-box...and everything else about voting at the Michigan Voter Information Center (MVIC).
Help a potential voter whose first language is other than English via the Michigan Secretary of State's Translation Services. Select a language and scroll down.