Michigan Votes in 2020 Voter registration, absentee voting, and - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Michigan Votes in 2020

Voter registration, absentee voting, and Election Day

New Voting Laws

New Michigan Voting Laws

• Prop 3 of 2018 added several voting policies to the Michigan

constitution, including: straight-ticket voting, automatic voter registration when interacting with the Secretary of State, same-day voter registration, and no-excuse absentee voting.

• Online voter registration recently arrived in Michigan, after the state

legislature passed a bill in late 2018. Requires valid driver’s license or state ID.

Registering to vote

15 days prior to election by mail / 14 days prior in person + ON ELECTION DAY (at clerk’s office) Automatic voter registration of eligible persons when getting driver’s license or state ID card, unless the person declines Register online at SOS website (only for persons with Michigan driver’s license

• r state ID)

Prior to 2019 Now

Must register to vote 30 days before election No “motor voter” No online voter registration

Michigan Voter Registration Form: Frequent errors

Michigan Voter Registration Form: Frequent errors

Michigan Voter Registration Form: Frequent errors

Voting Absentee

Voting Absentee

• Prior to 2019: only those 60+ years old; out of town; etc.
• Now: anyone eligible to vote may vote by absentee ballot!
• Download Michigan’s absentee ballot request form at http:bit.ly/mi-

absenteevoting

• Request a ballot starting 45 days prior to election and no later than

4:00pm the day before an election.

• Requests may be returned in person, via postal mail, fax, or email, as

long as a signature is visible.

• Completed ballots must be in the possession of the local Clerk by 8 p.m.
• n Election Day in order to be counted.
• Voters can sign up to have an absentee ballot request form sent to them

before every election.

Michigan Absent Voter Application

Voting at the polls

On Election Day

• If you want to register to vote on Election Day, you must register and

vote at the Clerk’s office.

• To find your voting precinct, go to: www.Michigan.gov/VOTE
• Bring photo ID (e.g., State ID or Driver’s License, student ID, U.S.

passport, Military ID with photo, or Tribal identification card. The ID does not need an address.)

• If you show up without identification, you may sign an affidavit and

still get a ballot and vote.

Challenges for 2020

• Will clerks have difficulty processing a possible new flood of absentee ballots?
• How long will lines at clerks’ offices be for same-day registration?
• How long will lines be on Election Day given the increased polarization of the

electorate?

• Is new voting equipment across the state secure from interference?
• Will clerks be able to tell if their voter rolls or vote tallies have been

compromised?