Secretary of State Ruth Johnson is urging Michigan citizens to vote in the primary election Tuesday, Aug. 7.

“Michigan works when Michigan votes,” said Johnson, Michigan’s chief elections officer. “Because your vote is your voice, I encourage all eligible voters to go to the polls and cast their ballots.”

Currently 7,334,233 residents are registered to vote. This compares to the 2008 primary election, in which there were 7,243,261 registered voters.

Because this is a primary, voters are reminded that they can only cast votes within one party. Casting votes in a partisan primary for both Republican and Democratic candidates invalidates the partisan section of the primary ballot. Nonpartisan offices and proposals will appear after the partisan section of the ballot.

The Michigan Voter Information Center can help residents determine whether they’re registered to vote, display a sample ballot, direct them to their polling location and track absentee ballots. The absentee ballot tracking feature notes when an application for an absentee ballot has been received by the local clerk’s office, when the ballot was sent, and when the clerk received the returned ballot. The website is www.Michigan.gov/vote. Polls are open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Election Day.

Emergency absentee ballots are available under certain conditions through 4 p.m. on Election Day.

Residents who registered to vote by mail or as part of a voter registration drive and have never voted in Michigan are not eligible to vote by absentee ballot in their first election. They must vote in person at their precinct. This restriction does not apply to voters who are overseas, disabled or 60 or older.

Voters are reminded of Michigan’s photo identification requirement. They will be asked to present photo ID at the polls, such as a Michigan driver’s license or identification card. Anyone who does not have an acceptable form of photo ID or failed to bring it with them can still vote. If the voter does not have a photo ID, the voter may sign a brief affidavit attesting to their identity. Their ballots will be included with all others and counted on Election Day.

Voters who don’t have a Michigan driver’s license or identification card can show the following forms of photo ID, as long as they are current:

  • Driver’s license or personal identification card issued by another state.
  • Federal or state government-issued photo identification.
  • U.S. passport.
  • Military identification card with photo.
  • Student identification with photo from a high school or an accredited institution of higher education, such as a college or university.
  • Tribal identification card with photo.

A specially equipped voting station called the AutoMARK Voter Assist Terminal is also available at each polling location for use by voters with disabilities.

For more information about office locations and additional services, visit www.michigan.gov/sos. Sign up for the official Secretary of State Twitter feed at www.twitter.com/michsos and Facebook updates at www.facebook.com/michigansos.

Customers also may call the Department of State Information Center to speak to a customer-service representative at 888-SOS-MICH (767-6424).

 

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