Today is Election Day! Your voting guide

CENTRAL MICHIGAN (WNEM) – Today is Election Day and voters will decide who will be the 47th President of the United States.

Polling stations open at 7 a.m. and close at 8 p.m.

At last check on Monday, about 44 percent of voters in Michigan had cast ballots. That’s more than three million votes cast, both by absentee and early voting, according to the Michigan Voting Panel.

Here are a few reminders for Election Day:

Michigan voters with a photo ID will need to show it at the ballot box, but it is not required. Photo IDs; your driver’s license, state identification card issued by Michigan or another state, federal, state, county, or local government-issued identification, U.S. passport, military identification card, student identification card from an educational institution, tribal identification card, and concealed handgun permit.

if you DON’T If you have a photo ID or your license has expired, you can still vote, but you must sign an affidavit to declare that you do not have a photo ID.

If you are not registered to vote, under Michigan law, unregistered voters are allowed to register to vote in person at their city or county clerk’s office by 8 p.m. on Election Day.

You can then cast an absentee ballot at the clerk’s office. You must be a Michigan resident and have lived in the city or county where you vote for at least 30 days. You must also be a US citizen, at least 18 years old, and not serving any jail or prison sentence.

If you register today, you will need proof of residence. The documents must include your name and current address. You can show a digital copy of the documents. Acceptable documents include:

Michigan driver’s license or state ID
Current invoice
bank statement
Paycheck or government check
Other government document

Where do you go to vote?

Your local polling place. Election inspectors/polling officers are available at each polling place to assist voters and conduct elections.

Before you go, it is recommended that you check the location of your polling place to make sure it has not changed. Just visit the Secretary of State’s Michigan Voter Information website.

Michigan law prohibits the following when you are within 100 feet of a polling place:

campaigning for a candidate or ballot measure
Wearing or bringing election or campaign-related clothing or accessories
Displaying or installing candidate or election-related signs
Bringing election, campaign or partisan materials to polling places
Requesting or signing petitions
Do not take photographs inside the voting area.

Here are some things you can do:

To do Bring a voter information guide or brochure with you when you vote, but be sure to take it with you when you leave.
To do If assistance is needed to vote in a language other than English, bring an interpreter.
Take a selfie outside the polling area.

Remember to keep your ballot in its confidential case, except when voting and filling it into the tabulator.

Here are a few reminders about what not to do:

Don’t talk to anyone who claims to be a poll watcher or challenger. They are not allowed to talk to voters. Report violations immediately to an election official.
Do not leave the polling place without voting. The law requires that anyone in line by 8 p.m. be allowed to vote.
Don’t let anyone else vote on your behalf. This is your ballot and you must put it in the tabulator.

Report any voter intimidation, harassment, or coercion you witness at your polling place to an election worker or your local clerk. You can also contact the voter protection hotline at:

English: 866-OUR-Vote / (866) 687-8683
Spanish: 888-VE-Y-VOTA / (888) 839-8682
Arabic: 844-YALLA-USA / (844) 925-5287
Bengali, Cantonese, Hindi, Korean, Mandarin, Tagalog, Urdu and Vietnamese: 888-API-VOTE / (888) 274-8683

For more information on what you need to know on Election Day, see: Here.

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