Your guide to polls on Election Day

It’s Tuesday, Nov. 5. Election Day is here.

Millions of voters in Michigan have already cast ballots, either through absentee voting or early voting. But many more will head to the polls today to decide the presidential election, an open seat in the U.S. Senate and other races. And if you’re not registered to vote, you can still register to vote today and cast your ballot before polls close.

Here’s more 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 a.m. until 8 p.m. local time in Michigan. If you are in line at 8 p.m., you are still permitted to vote.

Where can I find my local polling place?

You can find your polling precinct by visiting the Michigan Voter Information Center at michigan.gov/vote. There, you can enter your address and the site will provide your polling place.

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

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What should I expect at the polls in Michigan?

Once you arrive at the polls, you’ll be asked to check in with local election workers. The election staff will provide you with a ballot or another option to vote if additional accommodation is needed. 

You will be asked to provide a form of photo ID to vote. If you don’t have an ID, you can still vote. You’ll be asked to sign a form verifying your identity.

Here’s a list of valid forms of photo ID, according to the Michigan Secretary of State’s Office:

• Michigan driver’s license or state ID (may be expired)
• Driver’s license or state ID issued by another state
• Federal, state or local government-issued photo ID
• U.S. passport
• Military photo ID
• Photo ID from an educational institution
• Tribal photo ID

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

Yes! In Michigan, you can register to vote up until polls close on Election Day at your local clerk’s office with proof of residency. If you’re unsure whether you’re already registered to vote, you can check your registration status by visiting michigan.gov/vote. There, you can also find the address of your local clerk’s office.

First, make sure you are eligible to vote. To register to vote in Michigan, you must be:

• A U.S. citizen
• A Michigan resident for at least 30 days by the time you vote
• At least 17½ years old, and be 18 by Election Day
• Not currently serving a jail or prison sentence

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

• Your Michigan driver’s license or state ID
• A current 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 turn in your absentee ballot at a drop box or clerk’s office until polls close

In Michigan, nearly 2 million voters had already returned absentee ballots by Monday. If you received an absentee ballot, but haven’t returned it yet, there’s still time to make sure your vote is counted.

Absentee ballots can be returned at a local clerk’s office, at a secure drop box, or through the mail. But on Election Day, and within two weeks of an election, it’s recommended to submit your absentee ballot either at your local clerk’s office or at a drop box location 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 bring it to their polling place to cast it.

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

What’s on my ballot today?

The presidential election, between Democratic nominee Vice President Kamala Harris and Republican nominee former President Donald Trump, has taken up much of the oxygen of the general election cycle. But there are several other important races for Michiganders to decide.

• An open U.S. Senate seat: U.S. Rep. Elissa Slotkin, D-Holly, and former congressman Mike Rogers, a Republican, are vying to replace the retiring U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow, D-Lansing, in Washington.
• U.S. House seats up for election: All 13 of Michigan’s congressional seats are up for election, as they are every two years. A few 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 balance of the Michigan House of Representatives: Just like in the U.S. House, seats in the Michigan House of Representatives are up for reelection every two years. Democrats currently have a 56-54 edge in the chamber but if Republicans can recapture the state House, Michigan would have split party-control of government, as Democrats currently hold the state Senate and the governor’s office.
• Two Michigan Supreme Court seats on the nonpartisan section: Two separate races for the Michigan Supreme Court will be decided Tuesday. One for a partial, four-year term between incumbent Justice Kyra Harris Bolden, who Democrats have backed to complete the remainder of her term, and Branch County Circuit Judge Patrick William O’Grady, nominated by Republicans. The other Supreme Court race is for a full, eight-year term, between Kimberly Ann Thomas, nominated by Democrats, and state Rep. Andrew Fink, a Republican from Hillsdale. Democrats currently hold a 4-3 edge of nominated justices on the Michigan Supreme Court.
• A bevy of local races, too: Depending on where you live, you’ll get to decide on local races, as well. To see what exactly is on your ballot today, go to michigan.gov/vote and click on “What’s on the ballot” underneath “Your voter information.”

Contact Arpan Lobo: alobo@freepress.com

Looking for more on Michigan’s elections this year? Check out our voter guide, subscribe to our elections newsletter and always feel free to share your thoughts in a letter to the editor.