Voter Information

Who can vote?

You can vote in U.S. federal, state, and local elections if you:

• Are a U.S. citizen (some areas allow non-citizens to vote in local elections only)
• Meet your state’s residency requirements
  
  • You can be experiencing homelessness and still meet these requirements.
• Are 18 years old on or before Election Day
  
  • In almost every state, you can register to vote before you turn 18 if you will be 18 by Election Day. 
  • Some states allow 17-year-olds who will be 18 by Election Day to vote in primaries.
• Are registered to vote by your state's voter registration deadline. North Dakota does not require voter registration.

Who cannot vote?

• Non-citizens, including permanent legal residents, cannot vote in federal, state, and most local elections.
• Some people cannot vote after being convicted of a felony or if they are currently serving time for other types of crimes. Rules are different in each state. Check this guide from the Department of Justice [PDF, 541KB] to understand the laws in your state.
• Some people who have a mental disability may not be able to vote. Learn about your voting rights. Rules vary by state.
• U.S. citizens residing in U.S. territories cannot vote for president in the general election.

Check with your state or local election office for any questions about who can and cannot vote.

If you live in the local area while you attend Michigan Tech, you can register to vote here (at your on-campus or off-campus address) instead of at your permanent address, even if your previous address is out-of-state. It's up to you. The key is entering the address of where you wish to vote on the registration form. You can only vote in one place! Registering at a new address cancels any prior registrations at an old address. In the state of Michigan, the address on your driver’s license must match where you register to vote - if you change one you must change the other. If you choose not to register with your local address, you may be able to vote early or vote absentee depending on your state of residence.  

Are you registered to vote? If you're not sure, you can start by checking your voter registration status online.

• Michigan
• Other States

Each state's policies, procedures, and deadlines for voter registration vary. Many states, including Michigan, Wisconsin, Illinois, and Minnesota, allow you to register online. 

Register to Vote Online

The deadline to register online prior to an upcoming election is often earlier than the final deadline to register. If you are not able to register online, you may need to register in person at your local clerk's office.

Voting in Person

Where will you be on election day? To vote in person, you need to be in the location where you are registered to vote. In person voting times vary by state and location. You will be assigned a specific polling location based on your voter registration. If you are not going to be in that location on election day, consider voting early or voting absentee. 

Early Voting

Are you unable to be at your polling location on election day, but want to vote in-person? Consider voting early! Forty-six states, including Michigan, offer Early In-Person Voting prior to election day. Early voting days, times, and restrictions vary by state. Many include weekend hours to increase accessibility.

Learn more about Early Voting

Voting Absentee

Are you unable to vote in-person for the upcoming election? Absentee voting allows you to vote at your registered address from a temporary location (such as Michigan Tech) by mail. In Michigan, you can do so for any reason, however, each state's policies, procedures, and deadlines for voting absentee varies. 

Absentee Voting Info by State