Our elected officials make decisions that affect our daily lives. Because of this, elections are our chance to stand up for what matters most to us and voice our opinions on issues that affect us, our communities, our families, and our future. Every voter should have the information they need to make an informed decision when they cast their ballot.
The League provides straightforward, nonpartisan information about candidates and ballot issues. Below is the most up-to-date information on Michigan’s new voting rights and laws.
Want information on early voting sites in your community, your polling place on Election Day, and the locations of all secure drop boxes with the city of Detroit? Visit VOTE411.org.
2024 Voting Information
Below is the Michigian LWV updated 2024 Voter Information Brochure that contains information on our new voting rights.
2024VoterinformationBrochure-2Also, read the MichiganVoting.org Know Your Voting Rights Guide, updated for the February 2024 Presidential Primary Election.
Absentee Voting
Voters can apply for an absentee ballot in all the usual ways: online (if they have a current Michigan driver’s license or state ID card), by completing a paper application in person at their city or township clerk’s office, or by mailing a completed paper application to their city or township clerk.
Absentee ballots are available to voters at least one month before an election.
- Apply for your ballot ASAP if you plan to vote from home. Doing so will ensure you have enough time to receive your ballot, complete it, and return it to your city or township clerk by the deadline. If you join the Permanent Mail Ballot List in or after May 2023, you will automatically receive a ballot in the mail.
- Get a paper application from your city or township clerk, or find one online at mi.gov/vote. Voters with a valid Michigan driver’s license or state ID card can also complete the online application. Voters needing an accessible electronic absentee ballot can apply for one online here.
- To vote by absentee ballot in person, visit your clerk’s office, request a ballot, vote it, and return it all in one trip.
Returning your absentee ballot or application by mail is now easier than ever! All absentee ballot envelopes now come with prepaid postage. This means if you’d like to return your absentee ballot by mail, you can drop it in a mailbox ⏤ no stamp is needed.
For more details on how to vote by absentee ballot before Election Day, visit MichiganVoting.org.
NOTE: If you want your absentee ballot to count, sign the ballot envelope with your official signature. (A voter’s “official signature” is used to sign official documents.) In November 2020 alone, more than 3,200 ballots were rejected because of signature issues – either the voter did not sign the ballot envelope or the city or township clerk found that the voter’s signature did not sufficiently match the signature on file. While a voter can correct these issues by visiting their clerk’s office, doing so can often be difficult and time-consuming.
WebPageAnd remember, you can track your ballot AND your application by going to MI.gov/vote and clicking “your voter information” (see below for more info).
Watch this YouTube video on Absentee Voting (produced by Get Out The Vote and the City of Southfield, MI). Never mind the video’s 2020 production date; its absentee voting information is still relevant today.
Also, check out the LWV YouTube video on absentee ballot voting (directly below). To view, click the red Play button.
Absentee Ballot Tracking
Have you ever wondered if your local clerk received your absentee ballot or where your absentee ballot application is in the process? Did you know you can get an answer online?
You can securely track the status of your absentee ballot with the Michigan Voter Information Center or michigan.gov/vote. This online tool also provides vital election information, such as your voter registration status linked with your address, the location of early voting sites and Drop Boxes in your community, and your polling place should you decide to vote in person on Election Day.
To track your absentee ballot or application, go to michigan.gov/vote and click on Your Voter Information. Once you input your name, birthday, and zip code or provide your driver’s license number, you can see the following information:
- Date your clerk received your application for an absentee ballot.
- Date your clerk mailed your absentee ballot to you.
- Date your clerk received your completed absentee ballot.
Voters may also contact their local clerk’s office with questions about the receipt of their application.
From FOX 2 Detroit: Click HERE to watch Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson explain ballot tracking in Michigan.
Early Voting
A bit of background: Thanks to Prop 2 of 2022, Michigan voters now have the right to vote early at an early voting site for at least nine consecutive days before each statewide and federal election. Cities and townships also have the flexibility to offer early voting in additional elections (and to add additional days and hours beyond what the Constitution requires).
We encourage you to watch this video (30 seconds) that explains your new right to vote early!
MDOS_EarlyVotingEarly Voting Sites in Detroit
For a list of Early Voting Centers and Drop Box locations in Detroit, see the flyer below (or click HERE). For example, a registered voter in Warren may use any drop box in Warren, but they may not use a drop box in neighboring Sterling Heights. For more info about drop boxes, please visit MichiganVoting.org.
For the Primary Election, all Early Voting Sites below will be open from 9am to 5pm from July 27 to August 4. For the General Election, all Early Voting Sites will be open from 9am to 5pm from October 24 to November 3. Election Day is Tuesday, November 5.
Early Voting Site Locations:
- Department of Elections, 2978 W. Grand Blvd., Detroit (48202)
- Clark Park, 1130 Clark, Detroit (48209)
- City Clerk Office, 2 Woodward Ave., Suite 106, Detroit (48226
- Christ Temple Baptist Church, 10628 Plymouth Rd., Detroit (48204)
- Butzel Family Center, 7737 Kercheval, Detroit (48214)
- Adams Butzel Recreation Complex, 10500 Lyndon, Detroit (48238)
- Palmer Park Community Center, 1121 Merrill Plaisance St., Detroit (48203)
- WCCCD Eastern Campus, 5901 Conner, Detroit (48213)
- Northwest Activities Center, 18100 Meyers Rd., Detroit (48235)
- Farwell Recreation Center, 2711 E Outer Dr., Detroit (48234)
- WCCCD Northwest, 8200 W. Outer Dr., Detroit (48219)
- Kemeny Recreation Center, 2260 S. Fort St., Detroit (48217)
- Heilmann Recreation Center, 19601 Crusade, Detroit (48205)
- Greater Grace Temple, 23500 W. Seven Mile Rd., Detroit (48219)
Drop Box Locations in Detroit
NOTE: Voters may only use drop boxes in the city/township where they are registered.
Drop box information and locations: Every Michigan municipality must have at least one secure ballot drop box for absentee voters, with an additional drop box for every 15,000 registered voters. You can drop off your absentee ballot at these drop box locations throughout Detroit. All are available 24/7.
- WCCCD Downtown: 1001 W. Fort Street ・at Lafayette ・Detroit (48226)
- Liberty Temple Baptist Church: 17188 Greenfield Road, Detroit (48235)
- North Rosedale Park Community House: 18445 Scarsdale Street, Detroit (48223)
- Pistons Performance Center: 690 Amsterdam Street ・ at Second Avenue ・Detroit (48202)
- WCCCD Northwest Campus: 8200 W. Outer Drive, Detroit (48219)
- Greater Grace Temple: 23500 W. 7 Mile Road, Detroit (48219)
- Northwest Activity Center: 18100 Meyers Road, Detroit (48235)
- Tindal Activity Center: 10301 W. 7 Mile Road, Detroit (48221)
- Farwell Recreation Center: 2711 E. Outer Drive, Detroit (48234)
- Heilmann Community Center: 19601 Crusade, Detroit (48205)
- Renaissance Baptist Church: 1045 E. Grand Blvd., Detroit (48207)
- Rouge Park Golf Course: 11701 Burt Road, Detroit (48228)
- WCCCD Eastern Campus: 5901 Conner, Detroit (48213)
- Butzel Family Recreation Center: 7737 Kercheval, Detroit (48214)
- Department Of Elections: 2978 W. Grand Blvd, Detroit (48202)
- City Clerk’s Office – Coleman A. Young Municipal Ctr, 2 Woodward Ave., Suite 106, Detroit (48226)
- Clark Park: 1130 Clark Street, Detroit (48209)
- Kemeny Recreation Center: 2260 S. Fort Street, Detroit (48217)
- Adams Butzel Recreation Complex: 10500 Lyndon Street, Detroit (48238)
- Crowell Community Center: 16630 Lahser Road, Detroit (48219)
- Palmer Park Community Center: 1121 Merrill Plaisance Street, Detroit (48203)
- Greater Emmanuel Institutional Cogic: 19190 Schaefer Hwy., Detroit (48235)
- Perfecting Church: 7616 E. Nevada Street, Detroit (48234)
- Faith Temple: 19000 Conant, Detroit (48234)
- Greater St. Paul: 15325 Gratiot, Detroit (48205)
- Balduck Park: 5271 Canyon St., Detroit (48236)
- DWSD Eastside Customer Care Center: 13303 E. McNichols Rd., Detroit (48205)
- Considine Center: 8904 Woodward Ave., Detroit (48202)
- Greater Christ Baptist Church: 3544 Iroquois Ave., Detroit (48214)
- Horatio Williams Foundation: 1010 Antietam Ave., Detroit (48207)
- Unity Baptist Church: 7500 Tireman Ave., Detroit (48204)
- Christ Temple Baptist Church: 10628 Plymouth Rd., Detroit (48204)
- Davison Service Yard: 8221 Davison W., Detroit (48238)
- William Ford Memorial Church: 16400 W. Warren Ave., Detroit (48228)
- Edison Library: 18400 Joy Rd., Detroit (48228)
Polling Places in Detroit, MI
Polls and Polling Times for Detroit, MI: 7 am to 8 pm
Click here to find the latest polling places at the Michigan elections site. Note: polling place locations and times are subject to change.
Click here to view our 2024 Detroit, MI Election Guide, which includes information and links about absentee voting, candidates, polling places, registration, and more.
NEW Permanent Mail Ballot List
The Permanent Mail Ballot List is a list of voters who have signed up to automatically receive a ballot by mail before each election. Previously, Michigan voters could sign up to receive an absentee ballot application before each election. The new Permanent Mail Ballot List allows voters to sign up to receive a ballot before every election, eliminating the need to submit a new application each time.
You can request an absent ballot by visiting michigan.gov/vote and clicking “Vote at Home—Absentee.”Voters can sign up for the NEW Permanent Mail Ballot List by checking the relevant box on the Absentee Ballot Application:
Any Michigan voter can join the Permanent Mail Ballot List. However, the list is best suited for voters who wish to vote from home in every election and who generally receive their mail ballot at the same address for each election. Voters who want to vote from home in every election but who may not be at the same address for each election–snowbirds, for example–can also join the list, but they must remember to update their mailing address with their local clerk.
Remember: Voters on the old application list will NOT automatically be moved to the new Permanent Mail Ballot List. If you’d like to join the new Permanent Mail Ballot List, you must affirmatively sign up.
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Early Voting vs Absentee Voting?
Early-Voting-vs.-Absentee-Voting-Two-PagerProof of Residency
Proof of residency is required to register to vote.
Proof of residency is a document with your name and current address in your city or township. Paper or electronic copies of any of the following documents will work:
- A Michigan driver’s license or state ID card.
- A utility bill.
- A bank statement.
- A paycheck.
- A government check.
- Any other government document.
Voters who are “housing insecure” often have difficulty providing documents that match their voter registration address and can serve as proof of residency. Housing insecure voters can register and vote using any of these as their address:
- A street corner.
- A park.
- A shelter.
- An advocacy or outreach center.
- The home of someone who will accept their mail.
- Any other place where they usually stay.
Elected Officials Guide
While VOTE411.org offers information on current election candidates and proposals, the Elected Officials Guide lists elected officials and their contact information.
If you have questions, concerns, or suggestions about what’s happening in your neighborhood or city, use this guide to find elected government officials and their contact information. Your representatives do read their mail, phone messages, and emails!
2022-Elected-Officials-Guide-1Election Security
From the U.S. Election Assistance Commission (EAC): The security of voting systems is essential to a trustworthy election. Every state and local jurisdiction utilizes common-sense procedures and tools to safeguard the voting process. Common best practices include using locks, tamper-evident seals, security cameras, system testing before and after elections, audits, and physical and cybersecurity access controls.
The EAC guide outlines the many best practices local election officials follow to secure voting systems through an election cycle. It’s important to note this is a broad list of common security measures and procedures to protect the integrity of an election. Security measures may vary based on the voting systems used in state and local jurisdictions.
Following are sources and links further explaining election security practices:
● The MI Vote Counts webinar breaks down Michigan’s election security procedures, including what happens to ballots after polls close, the canvassing and certification process, election audits, and election records security. CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE RECORDING OF THIS EVENT. The following are handouts relevant to this session:
● Read this Detroit Free Press op-ed piece (October 18, 2022) from a metro area city clerk ⏤ Opinion: I’m a clerk. This is what you should know about election security.
● MI Vote Counts hosted a webinar (September 20, 2022) on Absentee Voting Security, breaking down the security practices of Michigan’s elections and absentee voting, including how ballots are returned by mail or drop box, the signature verification process, and how we make sure nobody can vote twice. Watch the recording HERE. Included below are session handouts:
● Three Detroit-area election clerks discuss Michigan Election laws and safety measures local clerks take to ensure your ballot and vote are safe and secure before election day. Learn about registering to vote, different methods of voting in Michigan, and where to go for information:
1. Adam Wit, Harrison Township Clerk ⏤ https://youtu.be/7WW-Zb9oqqk
2. Kim Meltzer, Clinton Township Clerk ⏤ https://youtu.be/1fjsrozEg_0
3. Melanie Ryska, Sterling Heights Clerk ⏤ https://youtu.be/CsWmKkZT2FY
VERIFYIT! Online Game
VERIFYIT! is a free online educational game offering practice in examining news articles, current questions about voting, and facts about our government. Explore VerifyIt! at https://verifyit.buzz
Misunderstanding voting rules and online misinformation/disinformation makes it particularly difficult for young and first-time voters. The League’s inability to speak with them and interact directly during the pandemic has created a real challenge for our youth outreach programs.
The League of Women Voters of Alameda has addressed this challenge with the development of an online game to meet young voters in their online learning environment.
LWV of Alameda is making this game available to sister leagues to support League efforts to educate and motivate young people to participate in their democracy.
Explore VerifyIt! at https://verifyit.buzz