Voting Registration

How do I register to vote?

To register to vote you must be....

• a U.S. Citizen;
• at least 18 years of age by election day;
• a resident of Michigan and the City of Eaton Rapids.

Where:  You can register to vote for federal, state, and local elections by mail; at your county, city, or township clerk's office; or by visiting any Secretary of State branch office.

In addition, the following state agencies offer voter registration services to their clients:  Department of Human Services, the Department of Community Health and the Department of Career Development.  Military recruitment centers also provide voter registration services.

When:  You must register at least 30 days before the election.  This gives the clerk time to process the forms and send you a Voter Identification Card.  You must also re-register to vote whenever you move to a new city.

How:  If you move within a city, you must update your address.  This can be handled through your local clerk, at a Secretary of State branch office, by mail or at any other location where voter registrations are accepted.  Michigan voters must use the same residential address for voter registration and driver's license purposes.  Consequently, if you submit a driver's license address change, it will be applied to your voter registration.  Similarly, if you submit a voter registration address change, it will be applied to your driver's license.

First-time voter:  If you have never voted in Michigan and register by mail, you must appear in person to vote in the first election in which you wish to participate.  This requirement does not apply if (1) you personally hand deliver the mail registration form to your county, or city clerk's office instead of mailing the form (2) you are 60 years of age or more (3) you are disabled or (4) you are eligible to vote under the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act.

If you have never voted in Michgian and register by mail, you may also be subject to a new identification requirement provided under federal law.  The identification requirement is explained on the mail-in registration form.

Moving:  Whenever you move to a new city, you must re-reigster to vote.  If you move within a city, you must udpate your address.  This can be handled through your local clerk, at a Secretary of State branch office, or by mail.  Michigan voters must use the same residential address for voter registration and driver's license purposes.  Consequently, if you submit a driver's license address change, it will be applied to your voter registration.  Similarly, if you submit a voter registration address change, it will be applied to your driver's license.

Mail-in Forms:  A mail-in voter register form is available at the Secretary of State's web site.  Mail the completed form to the address indicated on the form.  If you register by mail, you must vote in person at your assigned precinct the first time you vote, unless you are:

• disabled as defined by state law
• 60 years of age or older
• temporarily residing overseas.

For more information, contact the City Clerk's Office at 200 S. Main Street, (517) 663-8118.