Election 2026: Know your rights as a Detroit voter

The following information is available on the Michigan Department of Civil Rights page and the Secretary of State’s website.

If you encounter issues on Election Day like DOJ poll watchers, closed locations, denied access, etc., reach out to us at bridgedetroit@bridgedetroit.com.

If you don’t know if you are eligible:

• To register to vote in Michigan you must:
  • Be a U.S. citizen
  • Be a Michigan resident when you register
  • Be a resident of your city or township for at least 30 days by Election Day
  • Be at least 18 years old by Election Day
  • Not currently be serving a sentence in jail or prison

If you don’t have a photo ID:

• If you do not have an acceptable photo ID with you, you can still vote.
• A poll worker will ask you to sign an affidavit stating that you are not in possession of photo identification.
• After signing the form, you can cast your ballot.
• Do not leave the polls simply because you forgot your ID or do not have one. Ask an election worker about your options.

If you haven’t registered to vote:

• Michigan allows eligible residents to register through Election Day.
• If an election is approaching and you discover that you are not registered, or your information needs to be updated, you still have time. As long as you are in line at your clerk’s office by 8:00 p.m. on Election Day, you can still register and cast a ballot.

If you feel like your civil rights are being violated:

• Voters can contact the Michigan Department of Civil Rights if they believe they have been discriminated against during the voting process.
• To file a complaint call 1-800-482-3604 or visit michigan.gov/mdcr/public-portal

If you experience a problem at the polls:

• Do not immediately assume that you cannot vote.
• Ask an election worker for assistance.
• Depending on the issue, you may also be able to contact the Detroit city clerk’s office for help.

If you are a voter with a disability:

• Voters with disabilities who have questions or encounter accessibility barriers can contact: Ombudsperson for Accessible Elections
  • Email: MDOS-ADAVoting@michigan.gov
  • Phone: 517-335-2730
• Everyone has a right to:
  • Accessible voter registration
  • Accessible polling places
  • Policies and procedures that do not discriminate against you based on your disability
  • Accessible, available, and operational voting systems
  • Your service animal to accompany you inside the polling place
  • The right to vote privately and independently or with assistance, if needed
  • Assistance from a person of your choice, who can be a friend, family member, or poll worker (but not your boss, union agent or someone who has authority over you at work)
  • Large-print ballots
• What to expect outside the polling place
  • You have the right to an accessible polling place and an accessible voting machine. During the early voting period or on Election Day, you can send someone into the polling place to request curbside voting on your behalf. The election inspectors will bring a ballot outside so you can vote. Election officials must consider accessibility outside the polling place. You should expect:
    • Unblocked doorways
    • Alternatives to stairs such as ramps or elevators
• What to expect inside the polling place:
  • You have the right to vote independently using an accessible voting machine. If you would like to use an accessible voting machine, tell an election official when you arrive to vote.
  • You have the right to assistance from the election officials. You can ask the election officials for instructions on how to use the voting equipment or assistance at any time, even after you’ve entered the voting booth.
  • If you are blind, disabled, or unable to read or write, you have the right to assistance from anyone you choose. However, the person cannot be:
    • Your employer
    • An agent of your employer
    • An officer or agent of your labor union
• Election officials must consider accessibility inside the polling place. You should find:
  • Adequate lighting and seating
  • At least 1 voting station that can accommodate a person who is seated
  • Access to a Voter Assist Terminal

If you have a language barrier:

• If you are having difficulty casting your ballot because of a language barrier, ask an election worker for assistance and remember that you have the right to:
  • Bring an interpreter to your local clerk’s office
  • Bring an interpreter when voting early
  • Bring an interpreter to your polling place on Election Day
  • Receive assistance if you do not read or write English and a ballot is not available in your language
  • Choose the person who assists or interprets for you, with limited exceptions, You cannot bring:
    • Your employer
    • An agent of your employer
    • An officer or agent of your labor union
  • Access translated election information and forms that are available through the Michigan Department of State. Language resources in Michigan are currently available in multiple languages, including:
    • Amharic
    • Arabic
    • Bengali
    • Chinese
    • Mandarin
    • Dari
    • French
    • Haitian Creole
    • Hindi
    • Japanese
    • Korean
    • Pashto
    • Polish
    • Portuguese
    • Russian
    • Somali
    • Spanish
    • Swahili
    • Ukrainian
    • Vietnamese
• Not every ballot in Michigan is available in every language. If you do not read or write in English and your ballot is not available in your language, you have the right to receive assistance from a person you choose, subject to the previously described restrictions. This means the lack of a translated ballot does not mean you have to vote without language assistance.
• Election Protection Hotlines also provide assistance in multiple languages:
  • English: 866-OUR-VOTE (Phone: 866-687-8683)
  • Spanish: 888-VE-Y-VOTA (Phone: 888-839-8682)
  • Arabic: 844-YALLA-US (Phone: 844-925-5287)
  • Bengali, Cantonese, Hindi, Korean, Mandarin, Tagalog, Urdu, and Vietnamese: 888-API-VOTE (Phone: 888-274-8683)

If you are a returning citizen:

• A criminal record does not automatically mean you cannot vote. In most cases, you can vote if:
  • You have a past felony conviction
  • You have a past misdemeanor conviction
  • You have completed a jail or prison sentence
  • You are on probation
  • You are on parole
  • You have been charged with a crime but have not been convicted
  • You are awaiting arraignment or trial
  • You are waiting to be sentenced
  • You are being held in jail before trial or sentencing
• A felony conviction does not permanently take away your right to vote in Michigan. Once you are no longer serving a sentence in jail or prison, you can register and vote if you meet the other eligibility requirements.
  • You do not have to wait until you complete probation or parole
  • You do not have to wait a certain number of years after your release
  • Your voting rights are not permanently lost because of a felony conviction
  • If you have returned to your community after incarceration, you can register to vote
• Michigan allows eligible citizens who are on probation or parole to register and cast a ballot. Being under supervision in the community does not, by itself, prevent you from voting.
• Being held in jail does not automatically make you ineligible to vote. If you are in jail while awaiting arraignment, awaiting trial, or awaiting sentencing, you can still register and vote if you otherwise meet Michigan’s eligibility requirements. This is different from being incarcerated while serving a sentence.
• You cannot vote if you are currently serving a sentence in jail or prison. If you are currently incarcerated as part of your sentence, you cannot register or vote during that period. Once you are no longer serving that sentence in jail or prison, you can register and vote again if you meet the state’s other eligibility requirements.
• If someone tells you you cannot vote, do not assume that information is correct simply because you have a criminal record. Michigan’s voting rules are different from those in some other states.
• Check your eligibility by using official Michigan election information at (Michigan.gov/Vote) or contact the Detroit city clerk’s office if you have questions about your individual situation.

If you are a college student:

• College and university students attending school in Michigan can choose to register to vote using their permanent home address or campus address. This includes eligible out-of-state students attending a college or university in Michigan.
• Students can choose their permanent home address, but cannot be registered to vote and cast ballots at both addresses. Your choice determines the community where you vote and the local races and proposals that appear on your ballot.
• If you are registered at your permanent Michigan home address, but are living somewhere else for school, you can request an mail-in ballot and have it mailed to you. Every registered Michigan voter has the right to vote using an mail-in ballot. You do not need a reason.
• If you prefer to vote where you attend school, you may instead choose to register using your campus address if you are eligible. The important thing is to make a plan based on where you are registered before you vote.
• Within 14 days of an election and through Election Day, you must register or update your registration in person at your local clerk’s office and provide proof of residency. Proof of residency includes:
  • A valid Michigan driver’s license or state ID
  • A page from your college or university student portal showing your name and campus address
  • Financial aid documents
  • University registration forms
  • A bank or credit card statement
  • A utility bill
  • A lease or rental agreement
• Michigan voters also have the right to vote early and in person in statewide and federal elections. Early voting can be helpful for students who have classes, work, transportation challenges, or other responsibilities that make voting on Election Day difficult.

If you want a picture of your ballot:

• You have the right to take your phone with you into your polling place.
• You have the right to take a photo of your filled-out ballot without anybody, including yourself, in the picture, WHILE you are in the booth.
• You have the right to take photos inside your polling place from designated areas. You cannot photograph anyone in the booths while they are voting. These same rules apply to media organizations.
• You have the right to take a selfie outside of the polling place and show off that awesome “I Voted” sticker.

If something went wrong:

• You can contact the Michigan Secretary of State by filling out an online form and selecting a reason for contact from the list.  
• To speak with the Ombudsperson (person who handles complaints) for voters with disabilities, you can call 517-335-2730.
• You can email the Bureau of Elections at Elections@Michigan.gov if you believe that an election official has violated the Help America Vote Act.
• You can also fill out a Violation of Civil Rights Complaint Form and submit it to the US Department of Justice by one of the following methods:
  • Online, through the form’s submission process – this is the fastest method.
  • By fax at (202) 616-9881. You MUST include “ATTN: Civil Rights and Civil Liberties Complaints” at the top of your fax submission for it to be processed correctly.
  • By mailing your form to: 

                 U.S. Department of Justice
                 Office of the Inspector General Investigations Division
                 ATTN: Civil Rights & Civil Liberties Complaints
                 950 Pennsylvania Ave., NW
                 Washington, DC 20530