Michigan’s Aug. 4 primary election is quickly approaching, and more than 572,000 voters have already cast absentee ballots, according to recent data from the Michigan Voting Dashboard.
For those who prefer to vote in-person, early voting sites are set to open statewide on Saturday, July 25, and will remain open at least eight hours a day through Sunday, Aug. 2.
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Early voting has been available in Michigan since the presidential primary of 2024, with sites required to open the second Saturday prior to Election Day, until the Sunday before the election.
Here’s everything you need to know if you’re planning on voting early in the Aug. 4 primary:
- What is early voting? Early voting allows a voter to cast a ballot in-person before Election Day, just as they would at their polling place on Election Day.
- Am I eligible to vote early? Yes! All Michigan voters are eligible to vote early and in-person at designated early voting sites (which may be in a different location than your regular polling place)
- Do other states allow early voting? Yes! Many states have some form of early voting, including Delaware, North Dakota, West Virginia, Florida, Illinois, New York and Texas.
- Can I register to vote at an early voting site? No, early voting sites do not offer voter registration. Though if an early voting site is located at a clerk’s office or satellite office, voters may register to vote on site at the clerk’s office, and cast a ballot at the early voting site.
- Do I need a photo ID to vote early? No, a photo ID is recommended but not required to cast a ballot. Voters without a photo ID can still cast their ballot after signing an Affidavit of Voter Not in Possession of Picture Identification.
- Where is my early voting site? Voters can look up their assigned early voting site(s) at Michigan.gov/Vote. Some voters may only have one assigned early voting site, while others may have several to choose from.
- Can I change my vote after voting early and in-person? No, once your ballot has been inserted into a tabulator it can’t be changed. However, absentee voters who’ve already submitted their ballot can “spoil” it and request a new one.
- Is early voting secure? Yes, just like on Election Day, there are multiple security reviews and checks and balances in the early voting process.
To avoid postal delays, voters with a mail ballot should hand deliver it in its signed and sealed envelope to their local clerk’s office or secure ballot drop box.
Voters can also bring their ballot to an early voting site before Election Day. Ballots must be received by clerks no later than 8 p.m. on Election Day to be counted.
For more information about early voting in the August primary, visit mi.gov/earlyvoting.