Election Day is quickly approaching and now is the perfect time to make a voting plan. VOTE411.org and michigan.gov/Vote have the election information you need to create a plan before you vote.  

Step 1: Check your voter registration or register to vote.  Finding out if you are registered to vote takes approximately two minutes and you can get started using VOTE411’s easy online tool.  Registering or preregistering to vote is also an easy process. You must be a U.S. citizen and at least 17.5 years of age to register, and at least 16 years of age to preregister. Everyone must be 18 years of age to vote in Michigan.

If you have a Michigan driver’s license or state ID, you can register/preregister to vote online. Use the VOTE411 online tool, or go directly to michigan.gov/Vote. 

You may also register/preregister to vote by filling out a paper copy of Michigan’s Voter Registration Application or Michigan’s Preregistration Application and mailing it to your local city or township clerk’s office. If mailing a form, it must be postmarked at least 15 days before Election Day.  

You can register/preregister to vote through Election Day by going directly to your city or township clerk’s office. Not sure where your clerk’s office is located? Head over to michigan.gov/Vote and you’ll find this information is readily available.  

Step 2: Learn about early voting and absentee voting options. Michigan now offers several options for voting. Early voting is the opportunity to cast a ballot in person at an early voting site (EVS) before Election Day.  

You can vote early at an EVS that serves your community. You will be able to vote early in every statewide and federal election for at least nine consecutive days, ending on the Sunday before Election Day, for at least eight  hours each day. 

You can vote early by going to an EVS that serves your community and filling out an “application to vote,” just like you do at an Election Day polling place.  

There will be two EVS locations in Lenawee County. Lenawee County residents (except those residing in Fairfield Township) can vote early at the Lenawee County Human Services Building, located at 1040 S. Winter St., Adrian. Early voting will take place Oct. 26 through Nov. 3 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Fairfield Township residents can vote early at the Fairfield Township Hall. Contact the Fairfield Township Clerk for details. 

Voting by absentee ballot is the process of requesting a ballot from your city or  township clerk, receiving and filling out the ballot, and then returning the ballot to  your city or township clerk either in-person, by mail, or in a secure ballot drop box.  A drop box is a secure, locked structure that voters may use for the return of  completed absentee ballot applications and absentee ballots. All cities and townships in Michigan are required to have at least one drop box. Larger communities must have at least one drop box for each 15,000 residents Voters can check where their drop boxes are located by going to michigan.gov/ Vote.  Voters may only use drop boxes that are located in their jurisdiction of residence. 

Absentee ballots must be made available to voters in every election starting 40  days before Election Day. Your ballot must be received by your city or township clerk by 8 p.m. on Election Day. If you’re overseas or serving in the military, your  ballot must be postmarked by Election Day and received within six days. 

To vote by absentee ballot, you must first request a ballot. You do so by email, mail,  fax, or in-person. You can also submit an application to join the “Permanent Mail Ballot List.” If you join that list, you will receive a ballot by mail before each election without having to submit a new application each time. 

Step 3. Explore your day-of voting options. Find out where you can vote and what you need to bring with you on Election Day.  

You can look up your clerk’s office and your polling place in the voter information section of the michigan.gov/Vote website.  

Polls will be open on Nov. 5, 2024, from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m., local time. You have the right to vote if you are in line by 8 p.m.  

You will be asked to provide a photo ID when you arrive to vote, be it your clerk’s  office, by absentee ballot, at an early voting site, or at your polling location on Election Day. If you have an acceptable photo ID, you must show it when asked. But,  if you do not have an acceptable photo ID, you can sign the Affidavit of Voter Not in Possession of Picture Identification. Your ballot will be included with all others and  counted.  

Acceptable types of ID include: 

• 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. 

Step 4: Find out what’s on your ballot and where candidates stand on issues. VOTE411.org has nonpartisan election information that can help you decide how you will cast your  ballot. See the races you’ll be voting on, read candidate responses, and learn more  about proposals that may impact your community. You even have the option of printing off your ballot selections, a handy tool to have when you cast your ballot on Election Day. 

5. VOTE!  

See you at the polls! 

This information has been provided by The League of Women Voters of Lenawee County. The League of Women Voters is a nonpartisan, grassroots organization dedicated to empowering voters and defending democracy.