Michigan

Your rights at the polls guide

Your Rights Under Federal Law

  • All voters have the right not to be discriminated against on the basis of race, national origin, or disability.
  • All voters have the right to vote free of intimidation.
  • All voters who need assistance by reason of disability or inability to read and write in the language of the ballot may choose someone to assist them to vote, as long as the person is not an agent/representative of the voter’s employer or union.

Your Rights When You
Check-In To Vote

You can be challenged as to the following four things:
  • Your residence
  • Your voter registration status
  • Whether you are 18 years old
  • Whether you are a citizen

An election challenger, election inspector, or a voter who is registered in your precinct can challenge your right to vote. A poll watcher who is not a lawfully appointed challenger from a political party or organization CANNOT challenge a voter.

A challenger must make their challenge to the challenger liaison.

A challenger MUST explain why they believe you should be challenged based on one of the four reasons above.

Challenges CANNOT be based on:
  • Race, ethnicity, or national origin
  • Appearance
  • Sexual orientation or gender identity
  • Language
  • Physical or mental disability
  • Support or opposition to a candidate, party, or ballot question
  • Any other characteristics not relevant to the qualifications to vote.
After a challenge:
  • You will be sworn in and answer questions from the election inspectors. The inspectors’ questions MUST be relevant to the 4 bases for a challenge listed above.
  • If your answers show that you are qualified to vote, you have the right to vote a “challenged ballot.”
  • Your challenged ballot will be counted like a normal ballot.

Q&A: Your rights inside the polling place

01. What can poll workers ask me?
If an election inspector has doubts about your ID, they CAN ask for an explanation of why your photo does not match your appearance, or to see another photo ID. An election inspector CANNOT question your ID if your address on your ID does not match the address on your voter registration.
02. Who can I speak to if I am having any issues or problems with a poll worker?
You can speak to the election inspector or precinct chairperson, or your city or township clerk. If that does not resolve the issue, call Election Protection.
03. I notice some poll watchers are taking photographs inside the polling place. Is that allowed?
No, poll watchers may not take photographs or videos. This is an example of voter intimidation.
04. Who gets to decide who is inside the polling place?

Michigan polling places have a “public area” and a “voting area.” Poll watchers and media representatives must stay in the “public area” of the polling place.

Children under 18 can accompany voters into the voting area.

City or township clerks have the power to prevent election inspectors from reporting to political parties.

05. Who can I talk to if someone is trying to get in the way of me completing my ballot?

Talk to the precinct inspectors. If this does not resolve the issue, call Election Protection.

Challengers CANNOT speak to voters.

06. What are my rights if I need help voting?

Voters are entitled to assistance. If a voter has a disability that requires assistance to vote, the voter may bring a person of their choice to help them vote. The person providing assistance may not be the voter’s union representative or employer. A voter also has the right to designate a member of their household or immediate family to return their absentee ballot for them.

Any voter has the right to ask the precinct board for voting assistance. You do not need to provide a reason for needing assistance, and one precinct inspector from each of the two major political parties must assist you.

Fair Elections Center and Campus Vote Project intend the information contained herein to be used only as a general guide. This document should not be used as a substitute for consultation with a licensed Michigan legal professional. Updated August 2024. Contact Fair Elections Center at
info@fairelection.codpixels.com

If you have questions or are experiencing problems voting, call the Election Protection Hotline and speak with a volunteer to get help.
  • Call in English: 866-OUR-VOTE
  • CALL in Spanish: 888-VE-Y-VOTA
  • Call in Asian Languages: 888-API-VOTE
  • CALL in Arabic: 844-YALLA-US

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