Opinion: Voting is the first step 

By Sommer Foster and Micheal Davis Jr.

When you vote, you are choosing the team that you want to fight for you, your family, and your community. Like with any of life’s important decisions, you wouldn’t want someone else making them for you, so don’t. Make a plan to vote. 

Ballots are already available for the Nov. 3 General Election; that means that people are already deciding who will work on behalf of Michiganders for the next several years. We are here to make sure you have what you need to vote.

First, check your voter registration. This takes about two minutes — the same amount of time it takes to brush your teeth. Go to mi.gov/vote and select “Your voter information.” Enter your information and see if you’re registered to vote at your current address. If you aren’t, you can register online or by mail at mi.gov/vote until Monday, Oct. 19. Starting Oct. 20, you must register in person at your city or township clerk’s office with proof of residency. You can register and vote until 8 p.m. on Nov. 3.

Second, learn what’s on your ballot. Ballot Builder or Vote411.org are nonpartisan resources that explain what and who is on your ballot. 

Third, plan how you want to vote. You can vote remotely with an absentee ballot. You can request an absentee ballot at mi.gov/vote or by contacting your local clerk. You can also sign up for the permanent absentee ballot list and automatically receive a mail ballot for all future elections. 

You have options for returning your ballot, too! You can put it in the mail (we recommend mailing by Oct. 20 to ensure it arrives in time), or you can return your ballot by putting it in a secure drop box in the city or township where you live (be sure to sign the outer envelope first).  

You can take it to an early voting site in your community or (if you live anywhere other than Detroit) to your polling place on Election Day and put it through a tabulator. It’s the comfort of voting at home combined with the thrill of voting in person. Your ballot must be received by 8 p.m. on Election Day in order to count, unless you are serving in the military or living overseas, in which case your ballot must be postmarked by Nov. 3 and received by Nov. 9. Make sure to track your ballot at mi.gov/vote. 

You can vote early at an early voting site. Statewide early voting starts Saturday, Oct. 24, and runs through Sunday, Nov. 1, for at least eight hours a day. Some communities may offer additional days and hours. Check with your local clerk for their early voting sites and times.

You can vote on Election Day at your polling location. Polls are open 7 a.m.-8 p.m. local time. If you’re in line by 8 p.m., stay in line — the polls must remain open until everyone in line has voted. Make sure to check your polling location before you go to vote (these occasionally change). 

Still have questions or need to report a problem voting? Call 866-OUR-VOTE or 866-687-8683.

Take control of shaping the future you want, and vote on or before Tuesday, Nov. 3.

— Sommer Foster is the executive director of Michigan Voices. Micheal Davis Jr. is the executive director of Promote the Vote Fund.