Student Voter Guide for Michigan’s 2018 Primary Election
Why primaries matter
Primary elections determine which candidates will appear on the November ballot for each of the two major political parties, and sometimes for third parties. So they’re your prime chance to choose the eventual candidates. Even if your first choice doesn’t win, your votes can also influence the stands of the candidates who do.
Primaries replaced a system where candidates were chosen by party leaders or participants in party caucuses. They more accurately reflect our democracy by letting the general public select the candidates.
The Importance of Mid-Terms
In November 2018, voters will participate in a mid-term election, or one held between presidential-election years. Mid-term elections can be an important opportunity to express support or dissatisfaction with a president’s performance and policies. 2018 primaries will include candidate nominations for 34 U.S. Senate seats, all 435 U.S. Representative seats, plus governors, other statewide officials, and state legislative seats.
Who can vote in a primary election?
- See Type of Primary on the right sidebar of this page for Michigan requirements.
- Use the accompanying Primary Guide for Out-Of-State Students if you choose to register out of state.
Eligibility
You are eligible to vote in Michigan if you are a U.S. citizen, a resident of Michigan (includes out-of-state college students) and are at least 18 years old by election day. Lawful permanent residents, commonly referred to as “green card holders” are not eligible to vote.
ID Requirements for registering – provide one of the following:
- Michigan ID number
- Michigan driver’s license number
- The last four digits of your social security number
- If you are registering for the first time by mail and cannot be identified by the ID information you provide, you will need to provide proof of residence. See election website for acceptable documents for this purpose.
ID requirements for voting
Michigan requires a Michigan driver’s license or Michigan ID to vote. If you do not have either of these, see election website for acceptable alternatives, one of which is a student ID.
How to register
In Michigan you can register by mail or in person at your elections office. See Key Resources for online access to registration forms. You can also update an existing registration at ExpressSOS.
Absentee ballots
Any registered voter can request that an absentee ballot be mailed to you from your local election office or you can complete an online ballot request and follow the instructions for returning it to your local clerk.
Address to use for registering & voting
Per federal election law, college students can register and vote at either their campus address or their permanent home address, which may be out of state. However, voters can only be registered at one address. If you are not going to physically be in the state where you plan to vote, you will need to request an absentee ballot.
It’s your choice where to register, since registering at your campus address will not:
- Affect your federal financial aid
- Prevent your parents from claiming you as a dependent on their taxes
- Cost you any scholarships, unless they’re tied to specific residency requirements
- Or affect your tuition status as an in-state or out-of-state student.
Additional information
For more detailed student voting guides, visit Campus Vote Project
KEY RESOURCES:
- Michigan election website – absentee ballot request, polling location, & other details
- Michigan registration application
- Michigan Voters Guide – see races & candidate stands
- Campus Vote Project – detailed student voting guides by state
- Vote411 – see candidate stands & generate a personalized ballot
- TurboVote or RockTheVote– get voter registration documents & email reminders
IMPORTANT DEADLINES:
- July 9: Registration
- Aug 4: Absentee ballot request received by 2:00 p.m.
- Aug 7: Absentee ballot returned
- Aug 7: Primary Election
TYPE OF PRIMARY:
- Open primary: all registered voters can choose which ballot to complete. This does not register the voter with that party.