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1. I am not a registered voter, how do I register?

You can register to vote in person at the Clerk’s Office, located at 6045 Fenton, or by visiting any branch of the Secretary of State’s office. You may also register by mail by completing and sending a registration form to our office. You may also register online from the Michigan Voter Information website.

The requirements to register includes all of the following:

• a U.S. citizen
• at least 18 years old by Election Day
• a resident of Michigan and a resident of the city or township where you are applying to register to vote for at least 30 days before election day
• not serving a sentence in jail or prison

2. What if I am in the military or live overseas?

There is a special website to assist military and overseas civilian voters in participating in elections.  If you are in the military or an overseas civilian eligible to vote in Michigan, information on this process is available at the Federal Voting Assistance Program website.

3. When do I need to register if I want to vote in an upcoming election?

New legislation now allows a voter to register in person, by mail, or online up to 15 days prior to an election and be eligible to vote in that upcoming election. Voters may also register in person with their local Clerk’s office within 14 days of an election, including Election Day, and be eligible to vote on election day, provided that they show proof of residency in addition to proof of identity (or an ID that proves both). Acceptable proofs of residency are documents that include the applicant’s name and current address, and include a current utility bill, bank statement, paycheck, government check, and other government documents. This proof may be in electronic form. 

Please Note: The changes in registration procedures and requirements do not waive the thirty-day requirement of living in the city/township for which one is registering to vote.

4. Now that I am registered, where do I vote? Can I view a Sample Ballot?

After registering to vote you will be sent a Voter Identification Card which will provide you with the name and address of your polling location. Your Voter Identification Card will also indicate your Precinct number, School District, U.S. Congressional District, State Senate District, State Representative District, and your County Commission District. You may also determine if you are registered to vote and where you vote by clicking on the link below. This site will also provide you with a sample ballot when ballots are available for the next upcoming election.

• Visit the Michigan Voter Information website.

5. What do I need to vote at the polls?

When you go to the polls to cast a ballot, you will be asked to produce voter identification. The following types of valid photo IDs are acceptable:

• Michigan Driver’s or State issued ID card
• Driver’s license or ID card issued from another state
• Federal or state government-issued photo ID
• U.S. Passport
• Military ID with photo
• Student ID card with photo from a high school or accredited institution of higher learning
• Tribal identification card with photo

If you do not have a photo ID or do not bring it with you to the polls, you may still vote by signing an affidavit stating you are not in possession of photo identification.

6. Can I vote absentee rather than at the polls?

Absolutely! The proposal passed in the election in November of 2018 has removed all qualifications for absentee voting. The State of Michigan election law provides for no reason absentee voting, therefore any qualified elector may request and receive an absentee ballot.

Please note that requesting a new AV ballot regardless of the reason must be done in writing. Even in a case when the ballot is not delivered by the post office, a request for a replacement ballot cannot be done verbally, it must be done in writing.

7. How can I obtain an absentee ballot application?

You may obtain an absentee ballot application from the City Clerk's Office or access an application online at the Michigan Voter Information website.

Residents who wish to obtain an absentee ballot in person must show a photo I.D.

Photo ID Requirement As a result of legislation enacted in 2012 (PA 523 of 2012), voters who obtain an absent voter ballot in person is also required to comply with the picture identification requirement. If a voter is not in possession of a picture ID, they may sign the same Affidavit of Voter not in Possession of Picture Identification form that is used in the polls on Election Day. AV ballots from voters that obtain a ballot in person and do not provide picture identification and sign the affidavit form must be processed as a challenged ballot on Election Day.

• Dearborn Heights is comprised of 27 distinct polling locations. For a list of polling locations, view the Precinct Locations 2022 (PDF).
• For a map of the Dearborn Heights precincts please view the 2022 Precinct Map (PDF).
• If you are interested in becoming an Election Inspector, please view the Poll Worker Flyer (PDF) for information and the Election Worker Application (PDF) for an application.