With the 2026 midterm elections approaching, Michigan State University students have several options to register and cast their ballots ahead of Election Day on Nov. 3.
Midterm elections are held halfway through a U.S. president’s four-year term. Their purpose is to elect members of Congress, as well as state and local officials, allowing voters to influence who represents them during the second half of the presidency.
Jessica Ayoub, the Deputy Political Director at the ACLU of Michigan, has been working with her team to ensure that historically disenfranchised voters, including college students and people under the age of 35, can access the ballot box and feel confident in the election process.
“In an environment where there is so much information swirling about our elections, we want to make sure that as voters are casting their ballots, they feel confident and understand all of the checks and balances that exist in our election system,” Ayoub said.
There are several ways to register to vote in Michigan. Before Oct. 20, 2026, eligible voters can register online through the Michigan Voter Information Center, by completing and mailing a voter registration application to their local clerk’s office or in person at an official registration location, according to Ayoub.
To register to vote in Michigan, students must be at least 18 years old by Election Day, be a U.S. citizen, and have lived in Michigan for at least 30 days before Election Day.
If registered within 14 days of Election Day, from Oct. 20 through Nov. 3, students must register in person and provide proof of residency. Proof of residency is a document that includes both the student’s name and current address, such as a Michigan driver’s license, utility bill, bank statement or other government documents.
Voters registering in person must provide photo identification. However, Ayoub said voters who do not have a photo ID can still register.
“If you don’t have a photo ID, you can sign a form called an affidavit, and then register to vote,” Ayoub said.
In-person registration is available through 8 p.m. on Election Day.
