LEO's 2020 Election Season Voter Information

LEO’s SPACE committee (Solidarity, Political Action, and Community Engagement) encourages lecturers on all three campuses to stay informed, get involved, and help others participate in the 2020 elections. Participation can take many forms, so please read on to learn how to maximize your and others’ political engagement this electoral cycle.

UM VOTES!

As in 2018, the UM Administration is encouraging faculty to use class time and our syllabi to encourage our students to register to vote. We think that's an excellent idea. The 2018 effort had a big positive impact on UM student voter turnout, but there is still room to do a lot better. Here are links and information about deadlines that you can share with students, co-workers, and others.

→ Michigan Online Voter Registration https://mvic.sos.state.mi.us/RegisterVoter

→ Absentee or Vote from Home Application information (MI) https://www.michigan.gov/sos/0,4670,7-127-1633_8716-21037--,00.html

→ Register outside of Michigan: go to http://vote.gov

TIMELINE FOR MICHIGAN’S MARCH 10TH PRIMARY

Absentee or early voting reduces long lines at the polls, allows us to volunteer on election day to ensure higher turnout, and is shown to increase voter participation overall. Thanks to Proposal 3 in 2018, we no longer have to give a reason to vote early or absentee. So let’s do it! 

• February 18, 2020 Recommended deadline to request an Absentee Ballot. 

• February 24, 2020 ‘Easy’ Voter Registration Deadline in Michigan. 

• February 25-March 10, 2020 (8pm), you can still register, but only at your city or township clerk’s office with proof of residency. 

• March 6, 2020 at 5 p.m. Deadline for when an absentee ballot application form must be received.  

• March 10, 2020 Presidential Primary in Michigan. Absentee ballots must be received by the clerk’s office by 8pm.  Polls are open from 7am to 8pm. To check your polling location if you are registered to vote in Michigan, go to http://michigan.gov/vote.

• NOW until 4pm on March 9: You can go to your local clerk’s office and request an absentee ballot to vote early in person.

Students who are U.S. citizens may register at either their local addresses or their permanent addresses. It’s your choice. Depending on the state where you want to vote, you can register either online or by paper. 

Check your registration at http://bit.ly/uofmcheckreg or https://mvic.sos.state.mi.us/

For more information on how to register outside of Michigan, go to http://vote.gov

If you have questions, go to https://govote.umich.edu