Pre-18 voter registration in
Michigan
In Michigan 31,460
18-year-olds are not yet registered.
Michiganders can 
pre-register before turning 18.
To register to vote in Michigan, you must be: 16 years old. That means all eligible seniors, juniors and most sophomores in your high school can register to vote today and vote at 18.
Learn more about the voter registration gap in Michigan.
High school students can help one another get ready to vote. 
Next Steps!
How to Register to Vote in Michigan
Upcoming Elections:
- Aug 4th, 2026 - Michigan Primary Election (Register by Jul 20th, 2026)
- Nov 3rd, 2026 - Michigan General Election (Register by Oct 19th, 2026)
Useful Links:
- Registration Form - Download the paper registration form for Michigan.
- Registration Status - Check if you are already registered, your polling place, and more from your state’s voter registration website.
- Fair Elections Center - Learn about conducting a registration drive in Michigan.
- Vote 411 - A nonpartisan resource to help you register, preview your ballot, and find key election information from the League of Women Voters.
- VoteRiders - Find out what forms of ID you can use to register and vote, and get help getting a valid form of ID.
Full Registration Details
By Mail: ID Requirements
Your completed voter registration form must contain your Michigan driver's license number or Michigan-issued personal identification card number. If you do not have a driver's license or state issued personal identification card, you must include the last four digits of your Social Security number. If you do not have a driver's license or a state issued personal identification card or a Social Security number, please write "NONE" on the form. A unique identifying number will be assigned by the State.
By Mail: Eligibility Requirements
To register in Michigan you must:
be a United States citizen
be at least 16 years old (18 when you vote)
be a resident of Michigan when you register
be a resident of your city or township for at least 30 days when you vote
not currently be serving a sentence in jail or prison
By Mail: Citizen Instructions
You are required to use the same address for your voter registration and driver’s license in Michigan. If the residence address you provide on your voter registration form differs from the address shown on your driver's license or personal identification card issued by the State of Michigan, the Secretary of State will automatically change your driver's license or personal identification card address to match the one on your registration. The Secretary of State will mail you an address update sticker for your license or personal identification card if an address change is made.
By Mail: New Voter Instructions
If you are registering to vote for the first time in your jurisdiction and are mailing this registration application, federal law requires you to show proof of identification the first time you vote. Proof of identification includes: current and valid photo identification or current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck or government document that shows your name and address.
More information here.
Online Instructions
You need a Michigan driver's license or state ID and the last four digits of your Social Security number to use Michigan's online voter registration system. If you don’t have a Social Security number or Michigan-issued ID, you can still submit a voter registration application by mail or in person.
More information here.
Michigan High School Educators!!!
Support your students’ voter registration effort with our free toolkit.
Michigan Requirements for High School Voter Registration
The secretary of state and department of education shall annually coordinate a public education and outreach campaign to ensure that 16- and 17-year-olds are informed of their right to preregister to vote.
The department of education shall ensure that materials for voter registration and preregistration to vote are available to pupils in each public high school.
About this information
This page presents a curated compilation of voting and election information, specifically geared toward high school students, their families, and educators.
Information about deadlines and voting laws is retrieved via the Democracy Works Elections API and was last retrieved on Apr 1st, 2026; the API compiles election guidance from official government sources and other vetted data providers, and details may change over time. Information concerning requirements for high schools is based on The Civics Center’s analysis of State Requirements for High School Voter Registration and was last updated on Mar 27th, 2026.
See More
Information about youth turning 18 each year is from the U.S. Census, and information on the number of 18-year-olds who have not yet registered is based on applying TCC’s analysis of Census data and state voter files. We also provide links to trusted resources, including VoteRiders (for voter ID information) and Fair Elections Center (for information about laws governing voter registration drives).
These pages are offered for guidance only and are not intended as legal advice. Please consult state election officials or an attorney if you have questions about any particular situation. We hope you find this useful. To cite our resources and original research, please provide links and/or cite The Civics Center.
© 2026 The Civics Center
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