Don’t forget to vote in the 2026 General Election

Release Date

Monday, October 12, 2026

Election Day is Tuesday, November 3, 2026. U.S. citizens age 18 or older may vote early or vote on that day.

Your vote is your voice in our democratic process. Please do not forget to vote in the general election!

You still have plenty of time to research the candidates and the issues on your ballot, and vote.

Voting eligibility requirements

To vote in the state of Michigan, you must be:

A citizen of the United States of America.
A resident of Michigan and the city/township where you are applying to register to vote for at least 30 days prior to Election Day.
At least 18 years old by Election Day.
Not serving a felony sentence.

If you’re not sure whether you are registered to vote or you want to check your polling place, visit the Michigan Voter Information Center. Your local clerk can also answer any questions about voter registration, polling place location(s), and working at the polls (a paid role) on Election Day.

Helpful tips for voting

Check your registration and find your polling place at Michigan.gov/Vote.
If your registration is not up to date, you can update your registration online if you have a valid Michigan driver’s license or state ID. Otherwise, you can bring an alternative proof of residency (accepted documents are listed here in person to your local city clerk’s office to update your registration.
Bring photo identification showing your current address with you to the polls. If you do not have photo ID, you can still vote. You will need to sign an affidavit before voting. You can request this form when you go to the polls.
Request use of the Voter Assist Terminal if you have a disability or would prefer to use it.
Maintain the secrecy of your ballot. Keep your ballot in its secrecy sleeve, except when voting, and then up until the time you feed it into the tabulation machine.
Do not speak to anyone who says they are a poll watcher or challenger. These individuals are not allowed to speak to voters. They must maintain their distance and not interfere with voting. Report violations to an election worker immediately.
Do not leave the polling place without voting. The law requires that anyone who is in line by 8:00 p.m. on Election Day must be allowed to vote.
Do not allow anyone else to cast your ballot for you or show it to anyone. You must personally place your private ballot into the tabulation machine.
Report any voter intimidation, harassment, or coercion that you see. Notify an election worker or contact the nonpartisan election protection hotline at 866-OUR-VOTE.

Absentee voting in Michigan

All registered voters in Michigan have the right to vote by mail, or drop-off, using an absentee ballot delivered to their home. Voters can also request an absentee ballot directly from their local clerk’s office. Absentee ballots are available now.

Michigan voters can now join the permanent absentee ballot list by checking a box on the application to automatically receive an absentee ballot for every election.

Learn more about absentee voting:

What is on the ballot in Michigan?

The following are up for election this year.

At the federal level:

U.S. Senator: The U.S. Senate is one of two chambers of the federal legislature. Senators are responsible for writing and passing legislation, approving presidential appointments, and ratifying treaties with foreign countries.
U.S. Representative: The U.S. House of Representatives is one of two chambers of the federal legislature. Representatives begin the legislation process, offer amendments, and serve on committees.

At the state level:

Michigan Governor: The Governor is the chief executive officer of a state and responsible for implementing state laws and overseeing the operation of the state executive branch. The Governor oversees legislative proposals and votes, executive budgets, and implements executive orders.
Michigan Secretary of State: The Secretary of State oversees elections and administers motor vehicle services. As the state's chief elections officer, the Secretary of State manages voter registration, maintains the statewide voter file, and certifies election results. As a motor vehicle administrator, the Secretary of State issues driver's licenses, state IDs, vehicle registrations, and titles.
State Senator: State Senators are members of the state’s upper chamber and are responsible for voting on bills for public policy matters, levels for state spending, raises or decreases in taxes, and whether to uphold or override gubernatorial vetoes
Michigan State Representative: State Representatives are members of the state’s lower chamber and are responsible for voting on bills pertaining to public policy matters, levels for state spending, raises or decreases in taxes, and whether to uphold or override gubernatorial vetoes

Voting safety and security

Elections in the U.S. are among the world's safest and most secure. Your personal safety and security is also very important as you vote.

Please be aware of your rights. If you are a U.S. citizen over 18 years of age and not serving a felony sentence, you have a right to vote, and you have a right to an intimidation-free environment at the polls. Federal law enforcement, including ICE, is not permitted to be present at the polls.

Michigan.gov information about legal rights regarding elections:

Michigan law prohibits the following within 100 feet of a polling place:

Campaigning for a candidate or ballot measure
Wearing or bringing election- or campaign-related clothing or accessories
Displaying or wearing candidate or election-related signage
Bringing election, campaign, or partisan materials into a polling place
Requesting signatures for or signing petitions

Michigan has prohibited displaying election-related materials at the polls for decades. This includes clothing and buttons as well as materials such as pamphlets, fliers, and stickers. If you go to the polls with a shirt or button bearing election-related images or slogans, you will be asked to cover or remove it.

What if someone is trying to intimidate or harass me when I go to vote?

Follow these steps if anyone tries to intimidate or harass you:

Step 1. Tell a poll worker immediately.
Step 2. If the poll worker doesn't help you, or if the poll worker is the person trying to intimidate or harass you, call your city or township clerk.
Step 3. If the city or township clerk doesn’t address the problem, call the nonpartisan Election Protection Hotline at (866) OUR-VOTE | (866) 687-8683.

What if someone challenges my right to vote?

If someone challenges your right to vote, follow these steps:

Step 1. Ask to be sworn in by a poll worker.
Step 2. Answer the questions necessary to establish your eligibility to vote.
Step 3. Vote.

ID for registering and voting

If you're registering to vote in person, you will be asked for a photo ID. If you don’t have one, you can sign a simple form (called an affidavit) and then register to vote. If you are registering to vote starting 14 days before Election Day, you will also need proof of residency.

When you to go vote, you have the right to vote in Michigan even if you don’t have a photo ID. You will need to sign an affidavit. However, if you do have a photo ID, we strongly encourage you to bring it with you to make the process go faster.

If you're registering to vote through the mail, and you have a Michigan driver’s license, Michigan state ID card, or Social Security number, enter those numbers on your voter registration application. If you don’t have any of those things, check the box that says, “I don’t have a valid Michigan-issued driver’s license or Michigan-issued state ID card, or a Social Security number” located under the space for writing in numbers.

More information

For more individualized voting information, visit Michigan.gov/Vote.

Follow-up questions about the voting process or need additional resources? Contact Student Activities at 313-845-9865 or studentactivities@hfcc.edu.

Henry Ford College and Student Activities are committed to providing non-partisan voter information to all students and community members, regardless of political affiliation. HFC does not endorse candidates, political parties, or political positions.