Does Michigan have same-day voter registration?

On Tuesday, 27 February, voters in Michigan will head to the polls to cast their ballots in the Democratic and Republican primaries. With Donald Trump and Joe Biden expected to secure victories, many voters may sit this primary out. However, there is still a way to vote for those who have yet to register and hope to cast a ballot.

“Michigan citizens can register to vote in person at their clerk’s office with proof of residency now through 8 p.m. on Election Day,” reported the Department of State late last week as early voting got underway. You can use this tool to find the clerk’s office closest to you.

Options when registering to vote

If you won’t make it to a clerk’s office tomorrow, you can register online to ensure you are on the voter rolls for the next election. The easiest way to register is online.

What is an open primary?

States can host open, partially open, closed, or partially closed primaries within the US primary system. Under Michigan law, the party is open with “the nomination of candidates [..].] made by direct vote of each political party’s qualified and registered electors.” This means that voters still need to select a party affiliation when they register to vote, but when casting their ballot, they can do so for any party.

Can a Democrat vote in the Republican Party in Michigan?

According to the Michigan chapter of the League of Women Voters, your ballot will have three columns: Republican candidates, Democratic candidates, and nonpartisan offices up for election. You must only fill in the Republican or Democratic column, as ballots that have “crossover” will be “invalidated.” However, all voters should fill in the third column with the nonpartisan offices.