Can I still register and vote in the 2024 election? Here's what to know

Matt Mencarini, Lansing State Journal
Updated ·2 min read
1

LANSING — Early voting for the 2024 election has ended, but eligible voters who haven't registered or cast a ballot still have time to do both.

However, anyone doing so on Monday or Tuesday must register at their local clerk's office before 8 p.m. on Election Day, the time polls close. They can then cast an absentee ballot at their clerk's office or vote in-person at their polling place on Tuesday. Eligible voters who are in line at their polling place at 8 p.m. must be allowed to cast their ballot.

Early, in-person voting in Michigan ended Sunday.

Residents can contact their local clerk's office for information on locations and polling places, and to make sure they bring the right documentation. The state's voter information website has contact details for all local clerks.

Voters can also check their voter registration status through the state.

Election Day live updates: Results could be available in Michigan by midday Wednesday

What IDs do I need to register to vote?

Proof of eligibility and residency are required to register to vote. Eligible voters must be a U.S. citizen and Michigan resident who has lived in their city or township for at least 30 days when they vote. They must also be at least 18 years old and not currently serving a sentence in jail or prison.

Proof of residency documents include:

  • Michigan driver’s license or state ID

  • Current utility bill

  • Bank statement

  • Paycheck or government check

  • Other government document

More: What's on the ballot in Michigan? Contested races and ballot proposals for Lansing area

When do the election results come out?

Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson told reporters last week that she expected the state's unofficial results to be known on Wednesday, Nov. 6.

But she was optimistic that all votes could be counted with unofficial results released "sooner than the end of the day" on Wednesday. She pointed to the 2020 general election, in which Michigan's unofficial results were available the next day, as the starting point in reaching her forecast.

More: Township clerks run elections for half of Michigan residents. But what if no one wants the job?

"In 2020 we had two-thirds of our citizens voting from home and we know clerks couldn't begin processing those ballots until Election Day," Benson said. "And we also know it was our highest turnout in state history. With all of those factors and a global pandemic we had our results within 24 hours of the polls closing."

Contact reporter Matt Mencarini at mjmencarini@lsj.com.

This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: Can I still register and vote in the 2024 election?