#FordSchoolVotes

Go Vote. Go Blue. Here, we've gathered election and voting resources for the Ford School community.

Vote early or on election day

In our community dedicated to the public good, we believe that participating in democracy is an irreplaceable way to strengthen it. We welcome everyone in our community into that work, and we strongly encourage all eligible citizens to vote in the upcoming election, and in all elections.

First-time voters

Register and vote—all at once—at UMMA and the Duderstadt Gallery

Brought to you by UMMA and the Creative Campus Voting Project, art installations at UMMA and the Dude actually embed an Ann Arbor City Clerk satellite office into them, providing nonpartisan and process-based guidance that new voters might need, sequenced to each phase of the voting process.

Learn more

Michigan voter checklist and overview

Voting in a state other than Michigan? Keep scrolling for resources on getting registered and involved.

Voting in Ann Arbor

If you're voting in Ann Arbor, the easiest thing to do is to go to the Ann Arbor City Clerk's office—or one of their satellite offices at UMMA and the Dude—where you can register, request a ballot, fill it out, and submit it all at the same time. See election events listed above for information about Ann Arbor City Clerk satellite offices at UMMA and the Duderstadt Gallery.

Registration

You can register to vote in Michigan up to and including election day in person at your local clerk's office with proof of residency. See election events listed above for registration deadlines.

Absentee voting

Requesting your ballot from your local clerk

If you're requesting an absentee/mail-in ballot, do it as soon as you can. You can request one online with a Michigan driver's license, or fill out a form and email it back to your local clerk. If you're mailing in the request, be sure it will be received by the deadline for that election—it is best to request your ballot as early as possible. You can request an absentee ballot in person at your local clerk's office 4:00pm the day before the election. See election events listed above for specific absentee ballot request deadlines.

Returning your absentee ballot

Return your absentee ballot as soon as possible. The easiest thing to do is to drop it off with your local clerk or in an official ballot drop box by 8:00 pm on election day. If you're mailing it in, the Michigan Secretary of State strongly recommends mailing your ballot at least two weeks ahead, and it must be postmarked by the day before the election. See election events listed above for specific absentee ballot return deadlines.

In person at your polling place

The polls are open from 7:00 am to 8:00 pm for all Michigan elections. Vote at your neighborhood polling location or, if you're a new or existing Ann Arbor voter, vote in-person at UMMA or the Duderstadt Gallery. Find your polling location →

Resources for registering and voting

From registration to submitting your vote, knowing the election process in your state and making a specific plan to cast your ballot are important steps that'll make your voice heard. As you look at your voting checklist above, here are the places that'll help you make that happen.

Step 1: Check your registration and/or register to vote

Planning to vote, but not sure if you're actually registered? Or where you're registered? Find out now so that you can make any necessary registration updates prior to election day.

Check your registration

Students may register to vote from their "home" address or their campus address. Michigan offers online voter registration and no-reason absentee voting.

A student stands at a Mac computer in one of U-M's state of the art campus computing centers

Planning to vote in another state? TurboVote and the University of Michigan can help you get registered wherever you call home.

Step 2: Learn about candidates and issues

Review voter guides in your community for information about local candidates and ballot measures, including the 2022 Nonpartisan Michigan College Voter Guide, created by nonpartisan organization TUT (Turn Up Turnout) and students from UM-Ann Arbor, UM-Dearborn, UM-Flint, Michigan State University, and Wayne State University.

Step 3: Vote

Ann Arbor absentee ballot package (no ballot shown)

Learn about voting from home and track the lifecycle of your absentee ballot through the Michigan Voter Information Center.

Request an absentee ballot

At Ann Arbor City Clerk satellite offices, you can register, update your address, request a ballot, vote early, and talk to a real person about voting and registering to vote.

Learn more

Polls in Michigan will be open from 7:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m. on election day. At high-density, high-volume locations, consider wearing a mask and maintaining social distance when possible.

Vote in person

International students

International students, while ineligible to vote in U.S. elections, so enrich our community and contribute to democracy here and abroad. We welcome all our students in efforts to register voters, educate themselves and others on election topics, and advocate for issues that are important to them.

Understanding the U.S. elections as an international student
Tips from the University of Michigan International Center
Enter a Democracy Café, part of the Democracy & Debate theme semester
Serve as a Michigan election worker
Share your election, debate, or democracy-related, socially-distant activities on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram using #fordschoolvotes

Vote-themed Zoom virtual backgrounds

Promote the vote on your Zoom calls. Remind others to cast their ballots and share that you've voted with one (or all!) of our limited-edition, Ford School-branded Zoom virtual backgrounds.

Browse and download

U-M resources

UMich Votes

Voting FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)

Canvas

Democracy Café directory

Speak. Act. Vote.

Democracy & Debate theme semester

Service opportunities

On campus

Sign up to be an election worker at U-M

Michigan

Sign up to be an election worker in Michigan

Other states

Sign up to work elections in other states

“Remember that none of us are more than caretakers of this great country. Remember that the more freedom you give to others, the more you will have for yourself. Remember that without law there can be no liberty. And remember, as well, the rich treasures you brought from whence you came, and let us share your pride in them.”