ID required to vote Tuesday

LANSING, Mich. – Secretary of State Ruth Johnson is urging Michigan citizens to vote in the general election Tuesday, Nov. 6.

“This election not only will decide our next president, it will also determine state and local issues as well,” said Johnson , Michigan ’s chief elections officer. “ America works when America votes. Please take a few minutes to look over a sample ballot and then vote on Election Day.”

Polls are open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Election Day.

To see a sample ballot, residents may visit the online Michigan Voter Information Center at www.michigan.gov/vote. On the website, residents can confirm their registration status, find their polling location, learn about absentee voting, get information on Michigan ’s voter ID laws and view contact information for their local clerk.

Residents who registered to vote by mail or as part of a voter registration drive and have never voted in Michigan are not eligible to vote by absentee ballot in their first election. They must vote in person at their precinct unless they fill out a duplicate registration form at a Secretary of State office. The in-person voting restriction does not apply to voters who are overseas, disabled or 60 or older. Emergency absentee ballots are available under certain conditions through 4 p.m. on Election Day.

Voters are reminded of Michigan ’s photo identification requirement. They will be asked to present photo ID at the polls, such as a Michigan driver’s license or identification card. Anyone who does not have an acceptable form of photo ID or failed to bring it with them can still vote. If the voter does not have a photo ID, the voter may sign a brief affidavit attesting to their identity. Their ballots will be included with all others and counted on Election Day.

Voters who don’t have a Michigan driver’s license or identification card can show the following forms of photo ID, as long as they are current:

·         Driver’s license or personal identification card issued by another state.

·         Federal or state government-issued photo identification.

·         U.S. passport.

·         Military identification card with photo.

·         Student identification with photo from a high school or an accredited institution of higher education, such as a college or university.

·         Tribal identification card with photo.

A specially equipped voting station called the AutoMARK Voter Assist Terminal is also available at each polling location for use by voters with disabilities.

For more information for voters and other information, visit www.michigan.gov/sos. Sign up for the official Secretary of State Twitter feed at www.twitter.com/michsos and Facebook updates at www.facebook.com/michigansos.