Oct. 21 is final day to register online, by mail to vote in Nov. 5 election in Michigan

Today — Monday, Oct. 21 — is the final day eligible Michiganders can register to vote online or through the mail for the Nov. 5 general election. Eligible residents can still register to vote up until polls close at 8 p.m. on Election Day, but after Monday, voters must register in person at their local clerk's office with proof of residency.

Residents can register online by visiting the Michigan Voter Information Center at michigan.gov/vote. At the website, Michiganders can also print out a blank voter registration application, complete it, then scan and send a copy to their local clerk's office.

Voters can also mail a completed application to their local clerk's office, but mailed voter registration applications must be postmarked as sent by Oct. 21 in order to be eligible to vote in the Nov. 5 election.

How to register to vote in person

After Monday, residents have to register at their local clerk's office in person, with proof of residency, to be eligible to vote in the Nov. 5 election. If you're unsure of where your local clerk's office is, that can be found at michigan.gov/vote.

Within 14 days of an election (including on Election Day itself), you must provide proof of residency. This can include:

• Your Michigan driver’s license or state ID

• A current utility bill

• A bank statement

• A paycheck or government check

• Another government document

At your local clerk's office, you can register to vote and request an absentee ballot on Election Day itself. Once again, eligible residents can still register to vote up until polls close at 8 p.m. on Election Day.

Who is eligible to vote in Michigan?

To register to vote in Michigan, you must be:

• A U.S. citizen

• A Michigan resident for at least 30 days by the time you vote

• At least 17.5 years old, and be 18 by Election Day

• Not currently serving a jail or prison sentence

Am I registered to vote in Michigan?

If you're unsure if you're already registered to vote, you can check your registration status online at michigan.gov/vote.

When is the election?

Election Day is Nov. 5, and polls in Michigan are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. In Michigan, registered voters can also take advantage of absentee voting and early, in-person voting.

Key dates for Michigan's 2024 general election

• Now: Absentee ballots are available, and Detroit, East Lansing and Canton Township are holding early in-person voting.

• Monday, Oct. 21: Deadline to register to vote online or by mail and be eligible to vote in the Tuesday, Nov. 5, election.

• Tuesday, Oct. 22: Window for in-person registration at a local clerk's office with proof of residency begins.

• Saturday, Oct. 26: Early voting begins in the rest of the state.

• Friday, Nov. 1, at 5 p.m.: Deadline to request an absentee ballot online or through the mail.

• Sunday, Nov. 3: Last day of early voting.

• Monday, Nov. 4, at 4 p.m.: Deadline to request an absentee ballot in person at a local clerk's office.

• Tuesday, Nov. 5, from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.: Election Day! Polls are open. Voters can also obtain absentee ballots at their local clerk's office until polls close, but only if they are registering to vote or updating their voter registration address.

Contact Arpan Lobo: [email protected]

Looking for more on Michigan’s elections this year? Check out our voter guide, subscribe to our elections newsletter and always feel free to share your thoughts in a letter to the editor.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Registering to vote in Michigan: Deadlines, how to check status