Question 1

Can non-citizens vote in Michigan?

Accepted Answer

No. It's illegal to vote in Michigan in any election if you are not a U.S. citizen. This is also true for federal elections in all 50 states. There is no evidence to support claims that large numbers of noncitizens have voted in past elections or registered to vote in 2026. In fact, the name of everyone who registers or votes in an election is a public record.

Question 2

Does Michigan require Voter ID?

Accepted Answer

Every Michigan voter who votes in person during early voting or on Election Day must comply with the requirement by showing photo identification or signing an affidavit attesting that they are not in possession of photo identification. Voters can satisfy the ID requirement by showing a Michigan driver's license or a Michigan personal identification card.

Question 3

What can a voter expect during the in-person voting process in their hometown?

Accepted Answer

Election Day polling locations are managed by several election workers officially designated as "Election Inspectors", equally representative of both major political parties – and any time a voter is assisted, they are to be assisted by a Republican and a Democrat. Upon arriving at the polling location, the voter's identity is confirmed using photo identification (or an affidavit under the penalty of perjury if the voter is not in possession of photo identification), and the poll book is updated to ensure that voter may only vote once.

Question 4

What is the prevalence of fraud in elections?

Accepted Answer

Voter fraud in Michigan is extremely rare and isolated. Security checks prevent it, and when it does happen, the perpetrators are caught and prosecuted. If you see something you believe to be election fraud, a full description of the matter involving any suspected illegal activity should be reported to the Michigan Department of State Office of Investigative Services.

Question 5

Does the state of Michigan maintain a paper trail of all recorded votes at each polling location?

Accepted Answer

Yes! After the polls close at 8:00 p.m., the precinct tabulators are closed-out by an election inspector so that no more ballots may be accepted once all voters are processed. Three copies of the results tape of every tabulator are printed to maintain a verifiable paper trail.

Question 6

Where can I report perceived instances of election misinformation in Michigan?

Accepted Answer

You can report instances of misinformation to the Secretary of State's office via email at misinformation@michigan.gov. Include as much information as possible in the report, including date, time, example, and any proof or documentation in attachments. The office will investigate the report and follow up when necessary.

Question 7

Does Michigan keep a paper trail of all recorded votes?

Accepted Answer

Yes, Michigan uses all paper ballots and prints paper tallies of the counts. There is always a physical record of all votes. The physical record ensures reporting errors are caught and corrected before or at the county canvass.

Question 8

How does Michigan conduct oversight to ensure that a voter can only vote once?

Accepted Answer

Michigan's Qualified Voter File (QVF) is a secure voter records database that sends and receives regular updates of a voter's ballot activity. If a voter submits an absentee ballot or casts a ballot at an early voting site, that information is updated in the QVF and flagged for election workers to prevent double voting.

Question 9

Who maintains Michigan's voter rolls, ensuring that only qualified voters can cast a ballot?

Accepted Answer

Michigan's voter rolls are regularly maintained in accordance with state and federal law. Michigan's list of registered voters is maintained on the Qualified Voter File (QVF), a database developed by the state of Michigan and maintained by municipal and county clerks and the Bureau of Elections. Roughly 310,000 registrations were canceled in April 2025 because the voter no longer lives at the registration address. These individuals surrendered a Michigan driver's license to another state, registered to vote in another state, had election mail returned undeliverable, or provided other information giving reason to believe the voter had changed their address.

Question 10

What is Michigan's "Home Rule" governing structure, and how does it apply to election processes and administration?

Accepted Answer

To truly understand how our elections are administered in Michigan, you must first understand the state's "Home Rule" governing structure. "Home Rule" means that many government functions are handled at the city or township level rather than centrally at the statewide or county level. Elections are no different, and there are similarities and differences even between jurisdictions within Michigan as to the administration of elections.

Question 11

What steps has Michigan taken to ensure the security of ballot drop boxes?

Accepted Answer

Local clerks are required to maintain the security of the drop boxes and only people authorized by the clerk are allowed to open drop boxes or handle their contents. Both absentee ballot applications and ballots may be returned to a ballot drop box, which must be available 24 hours a day in the 40 days before an election.

Question 12

Who certifies election results in Michigan? Is certification a required course of action?

Accepted Answer

Bipartisan boards of canvassers at the county and state level are required by law to affirm the will of the people by certifying the results of elections. Our legislature has passed, and the Governor has signed, legislation making that law even stronger – up to and including civil or criminal charges for failure to act in accordance with their duties under the law.

Question 13

Has the state of Michigan thoroughly examined allegations of false reporting from Dominion Voting Systems?

Accepted Answer

Elections are administered by certified elections officials and trained election inspectors with the assistance of modernized technology. While the state relies on technology to aid the process, technology does not run the process. Following the November 2020 election, Internet mis/disinformation campaigns accused Dominion Voting Systems tabulators of "switching" or "fractioning" votes. These accusations do not align with the facts as to how the state programs, tests, or utilizes the equipment, and the claims have repeatedly been proven false by state recounts, the canvass, audits, and hand-tallies.

Question 14

What kind of election audits exist in Michigan to ensure the accuracy of the vote count?

Accepted Answer

Post-election audits are important for the transparency of elections, and for local clerks to review past practices and identify opportunities for future improvement. Michigan conducts three types of post-election audits: procedural audits, risk-limiting audits, and absentee counting board audits.

Question 15

Where can I go for more information on Michigan election law, processes and safeguards?

Accepted Answer

For more election-related information, visit www.Michigan.gov/Vote.

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