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If you will be away at college and intend to vote in an upcoming election, PLAN AHEAD! Make sure you are registered to vote 30 days prior to the date of the election, allow plenty of time for mailing an absentee ballot application AND the return mailing of the ballot. Below is basic information you need to know!
Eligibility
You may register to vote in the State of Michigan if you are:
The 30 Day Rule
Current law requires you to register to vote 30 days before the date of the election. If you change your address within the 30 days before an election, you can still vote at the polling place of your old address.
Where to Register
If you are eligible to vote in Michigan, you must identify your “principle residence” in the state.
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As a college student, you can choose to register with your campus address, OR the address where you previously resided before moving to campus.
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Michigan will only keep one registration address on file, so you must choose whether your home or school address will be your principal residence.
About Your Principal Residence
There are several things to consider in making a decision regarding your principal residence:
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Residency requirements for various colleges and universities follow rules set down by those institutions so be aware that your residence can determine how much tuition you will pay.
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Health insurance may require that you reside with your parents if you are covered under their policy.
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Your residence may also determine automobile insurance rates.
Because Michigan only keeps one “principal residence address” on record for your driver’s license and your voter registration, if you change one, you’ll change them both! You can tell where you are expected to vote if your driver’s license is current.
How to Register
If You Are Registered, You May Vote By:
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Voting at the correct precinct in person on Election Day
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Voting in person by absentee ballot at your local clerk’s office, if you will not be present in the precinct on Election Day
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If you have voted in Michigan before or if you registered to vote in person, you have until 2:00 p.m. the Saturday prior to Election Day to request that your local clerk mail you an absentee ballot. Allow plenty of time for the application to be mailed to you, your completed application mailed back to the Clerk’s Office, and then the ballot mailed to you. The Clerk’s Office must receive the completed ballot by Election Day.
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If you are a first time Michigan voter, it is possible to appear at another clerk or Secretary of State Office in person to establish your identity and address. You can then request your local clerk to mail you an absentee ballot. Consider this option only if there is sufficient time for you to receive the ballot and get it back to your clerk by Election Day. Contact our office if you need to consider this option.
Obtaining an Absentee Ballot
Absentee ballots are usually available 30 days before an election. If you expect to be absent from the city or township where you are registered to vote for the entire time the polls are open on election day (7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.), you can obtain an absent voter ballot by:
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Full Name
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Address where you wish to receive your ballot and your current registered address
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Date of Election
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Reason for the request (i.e. I will be at college, not at home)
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Your signature.
Contact Us
By Mail: Davison Township Municipal Center
1280 N Irish Road
Davison, MI 48423
By Phone: 810-653-4156
By Fax: 810-653-2770
By Email: jkoger@davisontwp-mi.org
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