Michigan elections FAQ: Do you need ID to vote or register to vote?

• Bridge Michigan is answering questions from readers throughout the election season
• One reader from Royal Oak asks: Is ID required to vote in MI? 
• In most cases, voters do need some form of ID but can sign vote without it by signing an affidavit of identity

As the Nov. 5 general election approaches and political debates heat up, Bridge Michigan is inviting readers to ask questions about our purple state as part of our Elections FAQ series, which includes a weekly live video show and written responses. 

Submit your question here. 

Howard from Royal Oak asks: Is ID required to vote in MI?

Because it's National Voter Registration Day, Bridge is expanding this question to include ID rules for registration. Find out if you’re registered here.

Related:

• Michigan primary Election Day: What you need to know 
• GOP targets no-ID ballots to cut fraud. Only 0.2% voted that way in Michigan.

Bottom line: Michigan generally requires a driver's license or other valid photo ID to register to vote or to vote in elections. But in both cases, citizens without ID can sign an affidavit instead.  Lying on an affidavit constitutes perjury, a crime punishable by up to 15 years in prison in Michigan.  

There are 12 states with stricter voter ID rules than Michigan, including neighbors Ohio, Indiana and Wisconsin, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. 

Does Michigan require ID for registration?

Michigan residents can register to vote online, by mail or in person, but within 14 days of an election, you must do so in person. 

• For online, you'll need a valid license or state ID. 
• For mail, you'll be asked for your license/ID number or the last four digits of your Social Security number. If you don't have those, you can still register but have to sign a statement — under penalty of perjury — that you are a U.S. citizen.
• In person, you'll be asked for a photo ID, but if you don't have one, you can sign an affidavit attesting to your citizenship and eligibility. 

"After any type of voter registration, there are multiple checks to identify and correct any accidental registrations," according to the Michigan Secretary of State. Learn more here. 

Does Michigan require ID for voting?

If you’re a Michigan voter, you’ll be asked to show photo ID at the polls. That could be a driver's license, state ID,  concealed pistol license or a Military ID with a photo. Gov. Whitmer signed legislation last year that expanded acceptable forms of photo ID to include student identification with a photo from high school or college, a U.S. passport or a tribal identification card.

If you don’t have a photo ID or forget to bring it to the polls, you’ll be required to sign an affidavit stating that you don’t have your ID. Once signed, you can cast your vote and your ballot will be counted as it typically would. 

Residents who sign an affidavit will be asked to state their name and home address, and are warned that falsehoods would result in perjury. Even if your driver’s license or state ID is expired, you can still vote by signing an affidavit. 

Is voting without an ID common?

The majority of voters typically bring their photo ID to vote in Michigan, but there are exceptions each year.

 In 2020, the last presidential election year, about 11,400 Michiganders signed an affidavit to vote in person during the presidential election. That was a tiny fraction of the nearly 5.6 million voters who cast ballots.

About a quarter of those voters were in Detroit, but all told, voters in 82 out of 83 Michigan counties used the affidavit option four years ago. 

Legislative Republicans proposed eliminating Michigan’s affidavit option in 2021. But in 2022, voters approved a ballot measure that codified existing rules by writing them into the Michigan Constitution.