Berrien County - Know Your Voting Rights (Part 2)

Now that we’re through the Primary Election, this second installment of our voting rights series will focus on some basic fundamentals regarding who can vote on Election Day. For many first-time voters, there can often be uncertainty regarding whether or not you qualify to vote, so this post should hopefully help clear up some common misconceptions.

Who can vote?

In the state of Michigan, most people who will be 18 or older on Election Day can vote if they have registered to vote.

You can register to vote in Michigan if:

• You are a U.S. citizen

• You have been a resident of a city or township in Michigan for at least 30 days (or will be by Election Day)

• You are at least 17 and a half years old

• You are NOT currently serving a sentence in jail or prison

People who have a guardian can still register to vote as long as they meet the requirements above.

Can I vote if I’m a student?

Yes, you can!

If you meet the eligibility requirements listed above, students can register to vote even if they’re not from Michigan.

• If you’re a student from Michigan, and you go to school IN Michigan, then to vote in Michigan you can register to vote using your school address OR home address.

• If you’re a student from Michigan, and you go to school OUTSIDE of Michigan, then to vote in Michigan you can register to vote using your home address in Michigan.

• If you’re a student NOT from Michigan, but you go to school IN Michigan, then to vote in Michigan you can register to vote using your school address in Michigan.

Can I vote if I don’t have stable housing?

Yes, you can!

Even if you don’t have a home or a stable address, you can register and vote using any of these as your address:

• A street corner

• A park

• A shelter

• An advocacy or outreach center

• The home of someone else who will accept your mail

• Any other place where you usually stay

Can I vote if I’m in a psychiatric hospital?

Yes, you can!

Psychiatric hospitals must help patients who want to register and vote. You can work with your social worker to register and vote before Election Day by absentee ballot.

Can I vote if I was recently in jail, or I’m in jail now?

Usually, yes, you can!

There are some finer points to this one, so pay close attention: the only time you cannot register and vote is when you are serving a sentence in jail or prison. You can vote even if:

• You have a felony or misdemeanor

• You are on probation, parole, or tether

• You are awaiting arraignment, trial, or sentencing - whether you are in jail or not.

As you can see, most residents of Michigan that are 18 or older are going to qualify to vote, even if you fall into one of the more specific categories we listed above.

If you’re still not sure even after reading this if you can vote, or you’d just like to learn more on your own time outside of this site, there are multiple resources available that we strongly recommend. Some of the best places include (1) the Michigan Voter Information Center on the Michigan Department of State’s website, (2) MichiganVoting.org, and (3) your local city or township clerk’s office.

By Alex Milnikel