How to vote and when to do it: A Michigan primary primer

LANSING, MI — Though Tuesday, Feb. 27, is the official date for Michigan’s presidential primary this year, voters statewide have more options than ever for casting ballots ahead of time.

From who’s on ballot to how to cast one, here’s what you need to know about this month’s election.

What’s this election about?

Michiganders will get a chance to cast their votes in the upcoming presidential primary on Tuesday, Feb. 27.

The primary is a closed one, meaning voters must either opt for a ballot comprising solely Democratic or Republican candidates when either at the polls or voting absentee.

Who’s on my ballot?

On the Democratic side, voters can choose from President Joe Biden and U.S. Rep. Dean Phillips of Minnesota.

Marianne Williamson, an author and speaker, will also appear on Michigan’s Democratic primary ballot despite dropping out of the race Feb. 7.

On the Republican side, there will be a slew of names on the ballot come election day, though only two are actually still in the running: former president Donald Trump and ex-U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley.

As with Williamson, candidates like Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis or entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy will still appear on Michigan’s Republican primary ballot since they dropped out of the race after Michigan’s printing deadline.

So what does that mean for me?

Nothing much will change for Democrats with respect to the primary. That’s to be expected, considering Michigan’s Democratic legislature was the one to push for the new primary date in 2023.

For Republicans, however, the move is a bit more complicated.

When taking to the polls later this month, voters will see little difference from presidential primaries of years past. Behind the scenes, though, the Michigan Republican Party has worked with the Republican National Committee for months to finalize a hybrid caucus and primary plan.

Michigan Republicans’ internal presidential caucus would be tied for fifth in U.S.

A candidate needs to secure at least 1,215 delegates nationally to secure the Republican Party’s nomination. In Michigan, 55 of those delegates are up for grabs.

With the dual system implemented in 2024 – done to avoid Michigan Republicans being penalized for holding a primary prior to March 1, which violates RNC rules –16 of those 55 delegates will be awarded through a proportional system based on the Feb. 27 results. In order to win a delegate in the February election, a candidate will need to win at least 12.5% of the vote.

The remaining 39 delegates would then be allocated in closed caucuses, held in each of Michigan’s 13 congressional district Republican parties. The RNC has reportedly approved a plan where officials in each congressional districts will vote how to award three delegates apiece.

Where can I check if I’m registered to vote?

Michiganders can check online with the Department of State to see a number of things, including:

• Whether they are registered to vote;
• Where their nearest ballot drop boxes are;
• Where their polling place is located, if voting in person, and;
• Where their local clerk’s office is.

How can I vote?

There are several ways Michiganders can cast their ballots later this month.

No reason absentee: Since 2018, Michiganders have been able to vote absentee without needing a reason to do so. Registered voters can request an absentee ballot online through the state’s online absentee voter request form. The last day to do so is prior to 5 p.m. the Friday before an election.

Forms to request an absentee ballot – which must be returned to your local clerk either in person or by mail to get an absentee ballot – are available to download online in English, Arabic, Bengali, Farsi, Spanish and in large print format. You can also call your city or township clerk and ask that an application for an absentee ballot be mailed to you if unable to print one.

For those who have already requested an absentee ballot, the state began mailing out those forms Jan. 18. Should you have already mailed yours back in, and are curious if that’s been received yet, you can check the status of your absentee ballot online.

Voters will have until 5 p.m. Friday, Feb. 16 to spoil an already mailed absentee ballot, but would need to do so via in-person written request in order to receive a new ballot from their clerk’s office.

It’s recommended to turn in absentee ballots by hand to your local clerk’s office if doing so within two weeks of election day.

Early in-person: Effective Saturday, Feb. 17, voters may vote in-person ahead of the actual primary date. The last day to vote early, according to the Department of State, is Sunday, Feb. 25.

To find out where that’s available to you, click here.

On election day: Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. local time. You have the right to vote if you are in line by 8 p.m. Click here to figure out where your polling location is.

Why so many options to vote this year?

In 2022, 60% of voters approved Proposal 2, a constitutional amendment to expand voting rights in the state of Michigan.

As part of that amendment, the move:

• Recognizes the fundamental right to vote without harassing conduct;
• Requires military or overseas ballots to be counted if postmarked by election day;
• Allows voters to verify identity with photo identification or signed statement;
• Provides the right to a single application to vote absentee in all elections.
• Require state-funded absentee-ballot drop boxes, and postage for absentee applications and ballots
• Dictates that only election officials may conduct post-election audits;
• Requires nine days of early in-person voting;
• Allows donations to fund elections, which must be disclosed, and;
• Requires canvass boards to certify election results based only on the official records of votes cast.