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    • Your guide to Election Day polls
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    Your guide to Election Day polls

    Pabio Posted on

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    It is Tuesday, November 5. Election Day is here.

    Millions of voters in Michigan have already votedeither by postal vote or by early voting. But many others I will go to the polls today to decide the presidential electiona free seat in the US Senate and other races. And if you are not registered on the electoral lists, you can still register to vote today and 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 polls are open and more:

    What time do polls open in Michigan?

    Polls are open from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. local time in Michigan. If you are in line at 8 p.m., you are still allowed to 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 tell you your voting location.

    On Election Day, in-person voting must take place at your assigned polling place. Larger cities and townships usually have multiple polling stations, so make sure you arrive at the correct one.

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    What should I expect in the Michigan election?

    Once you arrive at the polling station, you will be asked to register with local election officials. Election officials will provide you with a ballot or another option for voting if additional space is needed.

    You will be asked to provide photo identification to vote. If you don’t have 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 card (may be expired)
    • Driver’s license or identification card issued by another state
    • A photo ID issued by the federal, state, or local government
    • American passport
    • Military Photo ID Card
    • Identity photo of an educational institution
    • Tribal Photo ID Card

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

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

    First, make sure you have the right to vote. To register to vote in Michigan, you must be:

    • An American citizen
    • Michigan resident for at least 30 days when you vote
    • Be at least 17 and a half years old and be 18 years old on election day
    • Not currently serving a jail or prison sentence

    Within 14 days of an election (including Election Day itself), you must provide proof of residency. This may include:

    • Your Michigan driver’s license or state ID
    • An up-to-date utility bill
    • A bank statement
    • A paycheck or government check
    • Another government document

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

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

    In Michigan, nearly 2 million voters had already returned their mail-in ballots as of Monday. If you received an absentee ballot, but have not yet returned it, there is still time to make sure your vote is counted.

    Absentee ballots can be returned to the local clerk’s office, to a secure drop box, or by mail. But on Election Day, and within two weeks following an election, it is recommended that you submit your absentee ballot either to your local clerk’s office or to a drop box to avoid any delays with the mail. Except in the city of Detroit, voters who received an absentee ballot can also fill it out and take it to their polling place to drop it off.

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

    What’s on my ballot today?

    The presidential election, between Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris and Republican former President Donald Trump, has absorbed much of the oxygen from the general election cycle. But there are several other important races that Michiganders must decide.

    • An open seat in the US Senate: U.S. Rep. Elissa Slotkin, a Democrat from Holly, and former Congressman Mike Rogers, a Republican, are vying to replace retiring U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow, a Democrat from Lansing, in Washington.
    • The seats in the United States House of Representatives are up for grabs: All 13 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 competing to replace Slotkin in Congress.
    • The results of the Michigan House of Representatives: Much like the United States House of Representatives, Michigan House of Representatives seats are up for re-election every two years. Democrats currently have a 56-54 advantage in the House, but if Republicans were able to win back the House of Representatives, Michigan would have split party control of government, since Democrats currently hold the state Senate and the governor’s office.
    • Two Michigan Supreme Court seats 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, whom Democrats supported to serve out the remainder of her term, and Branch County Circuit Judge Patrick William O’Grady, who was nominated by Democrats Republicans. The other Supreme Court race is for a full eight-year term, between Democratic-appointed Kimberly Ann Thomas and state Rep. Andrew Fink, a Hillsdale Republican. Democrats currently hold a 4-3 lead among justices appointed to the Michigan Supreme Court.
    • A multitude of local races also: Depending on where you live, you will also be able to decide on local races. To see exactly what’s on your ballot today, go to michigan.gov/vote and click “What’s on the Ballot” under “Your Voter Information.”

    Contact Arpan Lobo: [email protected]

    Looking to learn more about Michigan’s elections this year? Check out our voter’s guidesubscribe to our election newsletter and feel free to share your thoughts in any way letter to the editor.

    Pabio
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