If you’re looking for a way to make an impact this election season, consider holding a voter registration drive. Voter registration drives are exactly what they sound like: An event where you or a group help people in your community who still need to register to vote and fill out their voter application.
These drives play a crucial role in strengthening our communities by helping ensure that every eligible citizen has the opportunity to participate in the electoral process. These drives help close the gap in voter turnout by making registration accessible, especially for underrepresented and marginalized communities.
Ready to get started? Here’s what you need to know.
Voter registration deadlines for Michigan’s 2026 general election
- Oct. 19: This is the last day to register by mail or online.
- Oct. 20-Nov. 3: You can register to vote in person at your city or township clerk’s office with proof of residency Oct. 20 through 8 p.m. on Election Day.
RELATED: 6 key dates to know in Michigan’s 2026 midterm elections
Getting started
Michigan has no registration, training, age, residency, citizenship, or notification requirements for running or assisting with a voter registration drive. This means no prior paperwork or advance notice is needed before starting your drive.
However, there are some rules you need to be aware of.
Per the Michigan Secretary of State:
- Voter registration drives may not compensate individuals registering persons to vote based on the total number of persons registered, or the total number of persons registered to vote in a particular political party. Violation of this provision of Michigan law is a felony.
- Voter registration drives may not compensate individuals or provide any incentive considered “payment” for registering to vote or for voting. Violation of this provision of Michigan law is a felony.
- Individuals registering persons to vote may not fill in any missing or incomplete information on a registration form themselves.
What you’ll need
There are two ways to get people registered at your drive:
Printed voter registration application:
Printed voter registration application forms are available on Michigan’s Secretary of State website, (quickly find it here). Voter registration applications are available in English, Arabic, Bengali, Burmese, Hindi, Korean, Mandarin, and Spanish. The federal mail-in voter registration application may also be used in voter registration drives and must be accepted by the Secretary of State.
To register to vote using a printed voter registration form, you must have one of the following:
- A Michigan driver’s license or ID number
- The last 4 digits of your Social Security number
Online voter registration application:
An online voter registration application is available on our website. Michigan residents can register to vote online 15 or more days prior to Election Day at this site.
To register to vote online, you must have both of the following:
- A Michigan driver’s license or ID number
- The last 4 digits of your Social Security number
Where and how to hold a drive
The best place to hold a voter registration drive is where you’re likely to encounter people walking by.
The League of Women Voters recommends:
- Transit hubs/neighborhood gathering places
- Schools (high schools, colleges, technical schools, vocational/alternative schools)
- Community/sporting events
- Places frequented by recent movers
Once you’ve established a location, be sure to have the following items ready for a successful drive:
- Voter registration forms and clipboards
- Pens for writing
- Equipment for online registration
- Signs telling people they can register to vote there
- Extra forms that people can give to friends and family
Last but not least, make sure to be personable and call out to folks passing by to get their attention by asking if they need to register to vote!
Who is eligible to register
Michigan residents are eligible to vote if they are:
- A Michigan resident (at the time you register) and a resident of your city or township for at least 30 days (when you vote)
- A United States citizen
- Age 18+ by Election Day to vote–eligible 16 and 17-year-olds can pre-register to vote
- Not currently serving a sentence in state or federal prison
After the drive
A completed paper voter registration application returned to a local election clerk by a person other than the individual registering to vote must be submitted to the clerk 15 or more days before Election Day for the registration to take effect for the upcoming election. Completed forms may be mailed or hand-delivered to an election clerk.
To determine which election clerk should receive a form, look up the home address listed on the voter registration application at Michigan.gov/Vote by selecting “Your Clerk.”
Note: Individuals registering 14 or fewer days before Election Day must register to vote in person at their designated election clerk’s office and must provide proof of residency in order to participate in the upcoming election.
Before you head out, make sure your own registration is up to date below.
