Berrien County - Know Your Voting Rights (Part 3)

By Alex Milnikel

Hello again, Berrien County residents! Our next installment of the ‘Know Your Voting Rights’ series will cover how you can get ready to vote. Specifically, we’re going to look at (1) how to find out if you’re registered to vote, and (2) how to register to vote, if you’re not registered already.

How do I find out if I’m registered to vote where I live?

To vote in Michigan, you must be registered at the address where you live. There are a couple of options available for finding out if you’re already registered to vote.

Option 1: Visit mi.gov/vote and click on “Your voter information.”

You’ll need to enter the following information to see if, and where, you are registered to vote:

• Your first and last name

• The month and year you were born

• The ZIP code where you currently live

(NOTE: You can also search using your Michigan driver’s license number and the month and year you were born.)

Option 2: Call your city or township clerk’s office.

They can tell you if, and where, you are registered to vote.

If you’re already registered to vote where you currently live, there’s no need to do anything else besides vote when it’s time!

How do I register to vote?

First and foremost, HOW you register to vote depends on WHEN you register to vote.

If it’s more than 14 days before Election Day, you can register to vote in several different ways.

• You can register to vote in person at any of these places:

  • Any Secretary of State branch office

  • Your city, township, or county clerk’s office

  • Any state agency that provides services to people with disabilities or public assistance

  • Any Armed Forces recruitment office

  • A voter-registration drive

• You can register to vote online at mi.gov/vote. Click on “Register to vote online.” To register online, you must have a valid Michigan driver’s license or state ID.

• You can print an application, complete it, and mail it in. Get an application online at mi.gov/vote. Click on “Voter forms and publications.”

If there are 14 days or less before Election Day (even up to 8 p.m. on Election Day), you can still register to vote in the upcoming election!

For this, you need to visit your city or township clerk’s office, complete a registration application, and provide proof of residency.

Proof of residency is a document with both your name and the address where you currently live. You can use any of the following:

• A Michigan driver’s license or state ID card

• A utility bill

• A bank statement

• A paycheck

• A government check

• Any other government document

If you register to vote fewer than 15 days before Election Day, it’s important that you ask for a registration receipt. Keep this receipt and bring it with you when you go to vote.

If you’re still not sure even after reading this how to register to vote or check if you’re registered to 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.