Secretary of State Ruth Johnson reminds residents that they have until Monday, Feb. 8 to register to vote in the March 8 presidential primary election.
“Each vote is equally important, and so I encourage everyone who is not yet registered to vote to do so,” said Johnson, Michigan’s chief election officer. “Voting is one of the foundations of our democracy so I urge you to participate.”
The polls will be open on Election Day from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
To register, applicants must be at least 18 years old by Election Day and be U.S. citizens. Applicants must also be residents of Michigan and of the city or township in which they wish to register.
Voters may register by mail, at their county, city or township clerk’s office or by visiting any Secretary of State office. The mail-in form is available at www.Michigan.gov/elections. First-time voters who register by mail must vote in person in their first election, unless they hand-deliver the application to their local clerk, are 60 years old or older, are disabled or are eligible to vote under the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act.
Voters who qualify may choose to cast an absentee ballot. As a registered voter, you may obtain an absentee ballot if you are:
- Age 60 or older.
- Physically unable to attend the polls without the assistance of another.
- Expecting to be absent from the community in which you are registered for the entire time the polls will be open on Election Day.
- In jail awaiting arraignment or trial.
- Unable to attend the polls due to religious reasons.
- Appointed to work as an election inspector in a precinct outside of your precinct of residence.
Those who wish to receive their absentee ballot by mail must submit their application by 2 p.m. Saturday, March 5. Absentee ballots can be obtained in person anytime through 4 p.m. on Monday, March 7. Voters who request an absentee ballot in person on Monday, March 7 must fill out the ballot in the clerk’s office. Emergency absentee ballots are available under certain conditions through 4 p.m. on Election Day.
