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Not registered to vote? It's about time

Date Posted: September 23 2016

Not registered to vote? You have some time, but not much, to do so to have your say in the Tuesday, Nov. 8 general election.

In Michigan, the last day to register to vote for that election is Tuesday, Oct. 11.

According to the Michigan Secretary of State's office, to register to vote you must be all of the following:

*A U.S. citizen

*At least 18 years old by Election Day

*A resident of Michigan

*A resident of the city or township where you are applying to register to vote.

To register, go to your local city or township clerk, who can help with questions about your voter registration and polling place location. Applications can also be obtained at various state agency offices, and online at www.michigan.gov/sos.

If you hand-deliver your application to your clerk, the staff person helping you will take your form and you don't need to do anything else.

If you have never registered to vote in Michigan and choose to mail in your application, you will need to meet an identification requirement. This means you must:

*Enter your driver's license number or personal identification card number where requested on the form. OR

*Send a copy of ONE of the following forms of identification with your application:

*A photocopy of your driver's license or personal ID card, or

*A photocopy of a paycheck stub, utility bill, bank document or government document that lists both your name and your address. Never send an original document!

If you have never voted in Michigan and choose to submit the form by mail or through a third party, such as at a voter registration drive, you must appear in person to vote in the first election in which you wish to participate. This requirement does not apply if (1) you personally hand-deliver the form to your county, city or township clerk's office instead of mailing the form (2) you are 60 years of age or more (3) you are disabled or (4) you are eligible to vote under the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act.

If you want to check to see if you are registered, visit www.Michigan.gov/vote. There you will find information about registering to vote and voting, voting equipment, polling place locations, state and local ballots, the candidates, campaign finance and more.

Michigan law states that the same address must be used for voter registration and driver's license purposes. That means, if the residence address you provide on the application differs from the address shown on a 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 ID card address to match the residence address entered on this form. If a change is made, the Secretary of State will mail you an address update sticker for your driver's license or personal ID card.