Registering to Vote Instructions for Michigan

From the Red Tape Blog:

Registering to Vote Instructions for Michigan:
Election day is Tuesday November 6, 2012. There are two ways of voting, in-person and by absentee ballot. Here are the steps:



1. You have to register to vote in the place where you are a legal resident.  Under Michigan law, you are considered a resident of the place where you have a regular place of lodging—where you regularly sleep and keep most of your belongings.

2. Not sure if you are already registered? Check here: https://webapps.sos.state.mi.us/mivote/ if Michigan isn’t your state, then I will help you find a similar website for another state.

3. Once you’ve decided on your address, register to vote in that local unit of government. If you have never voted in Michigan and want to register by mail, then you must appear in person to vote in the election (not absentee ballot) UNLESS you personally hand deliver the mail registration form to your county, city or township clerk's office instead of mailing the form. The deadline for registering is October 9, 2012. That is 3 weeks from today.


4. WHERE do you vote on election day? For Michigan, go to that same website to find out if you are registered: https://webapps.sos.state.mi.us/mivote/ fill in your information and it will come back “Yes you are registered!” then will tell you where to vote.

5. You may vote by way of an absentee ballot if you expect to be out of town on election day. Get an absentee ballot sent to you:

a. Download your absent voter ballot application. (This is the Michigan form)

b. Send your absentee ballot request form to your local clerk by Saturday November 3rd though I strongly recommend you do it well before then.

c. Once the ballots are printed (early October, perhaps), they send you the absentee ballot, or if you delivered your application in person they will give you the absentee ballot on the spot and you can fill it out right then. It takes longer than you think it ought to though, so allow several minutes.

d. If you mail in your absentee ballot, make sure it is delivered to the clerk’s office prior to 8pm on election day.

The official Michigan Secretary of State Voter Information website is here: http://www.michigan.gov/sos/0,1607,7-127-1633_11619-123989--,00.html#5

Original post blogged on b2evolution.