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The midterms are approaching, which means as you are navigating through everything that comes with being a freshman, you must decide: vote in Michigan, or vote back home? You might be registered at your parents’ house, or not registered at all. Now that you’re in Ann Arbor, your options have changed.
Voting rights for college students have faced real and deliberate challenges over the years, with efforts designed to make the process feel confusing, inaccessible or not worth the trouble. Except, it is worth the trouble. Our guide breaks down all the information you need to feel confident at the polls come Election Day.
Where to vote
Students attending college — out-of-state or out-of-city — have the opportunity to register with either their hometown or campus address, providing the complicated privilege of choice for many students. To be eligible to vote in Ann Arbor, you must be 18 by Nov. 3, a U.S. citizen and living at your Ann Arbor address for at least 30 days by Election day.
There is no “wrong” choice: By choosing to vote in Ann Arbor, you take on the responsibility of selecting government officials who will shape the future of the state and city — political terms that could last longer than your intended stay in the city. With this in mind, it is always important to take the time and thoroughly educate yourself on each name on the ballot.
What to expect on Ann Arbor’s ballot
The 2026 midterms are looking to be a competitive election cycle, with races for prominent positions such as governor, attorney general, secretary of state and numerous congressional seats. Republican candidates were nominated at the MIGOP Endorsement Convention in March, and Democratic candidates were nominated at the Democratic Party’s 2026 State Endorsement Convention in April. Additionally, various elected positions on the governing boards of in-state public universities are on November’s ballot, such as Democratic and Republican candidates for the University of Michigan’s Board of Regents. Michigan voters will have the opportunity to vote for gubernatorial and senator candidates Aug. 4 during the statewide primary election.
The Ann Arbor ballot will also include candidates for the Ann Arbor City Council, Michigan Supreme Court, State Board of Education and more. The election also comes amid scrutiny of Michigan’s election systems by the U.S. Department of Justice, met by resistance from current Michigan officials.
Voting in Michigan: Navigating the registration process
The decision to vote in Michigan means it’s time to register. First, you should know how Michigan’s three registering windows work. Each window has different requirements depending on when you register.
The first window, which is open now, runs until 15 days before Election Day. As the largest time period, it is highly recommended you register to vote during this window. Residents have the option of registering in person, online or by mail.
In-person
In-person voter registration takes place at the local clerk’s office. For most students living on or near campus, this will be the City of Ann Arbor City Clerk’s Office. Once you walk in, you can request a voter registration form and either fill it out on site or complete it at home and return it in person. Photo identification is required, or can be bypassed by signing an affidavit.
Online
Go to the Michigan Online Voter Registration System and input your information. Your registration will automatically submit for approval once you complete the online survey. A Michigan driver’s license or Michigan state ID number are required, in addition to the last four digits of your Social Security number.
By mail
Fill out a voter registration application form, available online or at your local clerk’s office. Once completed, physically mail or scan your form to your local clerk. Your application must be postmarked at least 15 days in advance, so it is recommended to mail it at least a few days sooner than the cut off. A Michigan driver’s license or Michigan state ID number; last four digits of your SSN; copy of a valid photo ID or any official document listing your name and address are required.
Window two is the 14 days leading up to Election Day. Within 14 days of an election, voters who wish to cast a ballot in the upcoming election must register in person and present proof of residence at their local clerk’s office. University students can use the Campus Personal Information page on Wolverine Access to provide digital proof of residency.
Window three is on Election Day, when you are required to register in person the day of. Although it is strongly recommended to plan ahead, your first semester on campus is busy and many students may miss the first two windows. Fortunately, Michigan has same-day voter registration, so you can head on over to the City Clerk’s office to both register and vote until 8:00 p.m. Nov. 3.
To vote in the Michigan statewide primary election, you must complete your online registration or postmark your mail-in ballot by July 20. You can register in person at the clerk’s office or a satellite office up until Aug. 4, the day of the primary election.
To vote in the general election, you must complete your online registration or postmark your mail-in ballot by Oct. 19. You can register in person at the clerk’s office or a satellite office up until Nov. 3, the Michigan statewide general election.
Your registration should process within a few weeks, and you will be mailed a voter registration card. Voter status can also be viewed in real time by signing into the Michigan Voter Information Center website with your identifying information.
If you’ve moved or changed your address from the last time you voted, you will need to update your registration to ensure you vote in the right district.
Voting out-of-state
Every state has a slightly different voter registration system. While we’ve walked through Michigan’s voting process, there’s still the option to vote at home. Choosing to vote in a different state often means navigating a completely different set of steps, websites or locations. To find out how to register in your home state, visit vote.gov to find state-specific information.
How to vote
In addition to registering, you must also know where to cast your ballot. You can find your polling location using the MCIV site. Polling locations are open from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Election Day, but you can vote as long as you are in line by the 8:00 p.m. cutoff.
You can also request an absentee ballot online; for Michigan, it will be sent to you 40 days in advance and must be submitted at least 15 days before Election day. If you decide to vote in your hometown and will not be home on Election Day, you will need to request, fill out and mail in an absentee ballot ahead of time. Once you submit your ballot, you can monitor the status using Vote.org’s Mail-in and Provisional Ballot Tracker.
Before casting your vote, make sure you are familiar with voting terminology and conduct unbiased research on the candidates and ballot proposals. UMICH Votes, a nonpartisan campus coalition dedicated to increasing voting accessibility, provides educational resources to guide your research and ensure you are fully informed before stepping into the voting booth. Turn Up Turnout, a nonpartisan student organization working to increase voter participation across all three U-M campuses, also hosts voter education events for students throughout the year. If you have a party affiliation, you can also check out the College Democrats and College Republicans at the University.
More information for Ann Arbor residents will be updated and shared as it becomes available on the City of Ann Arbor’s Elections page.
Your vote matters
Whether on campus or back at home, there are numerous ways to vote. As we approach the midterm election season, it is important to remember your right to vote. Where, how and why you choose to do so is entirely up to you. Regardless, your vote matters. Voters ages 18-29 have had a historically low voter turnout, especially during midterm elections. We hope this guide simplifies the process and motivates you to make it to the polls this Election Day.
Managing News Editor Aanya Panyadahundi can be reached at [email protected]. Summer News Editor Zahra Kagal can be reached at [email protected].
