§ 168.497Application for registration; in-person or by mail or online; application; proof of

residency; identification for election purposes; affidavit; execution; notice; exception.
 Sec. 497.
    (1) An individual who is not registered to vote but possesses the qualifications of an elector
 as provided in section 492 may apply for registration to the clerk of the county, township, or
 city in which the individual resides in person, during the clerk's regular business hours, or by
 mail or online until the fifteenth day before an election.
    (2) An individual who is not registered to vote but possesses the qualifications of an elector
 as provided in section 492 or an individual who is not registered to vote in the city or township
 in which the individual is registering to vote may apply for registration in person at the city or
 township clerk's office of the city or township in which the individual resides from the
 fourteenth day before an election and continuing through the day of the election. An individual
 who applies to register to vote under this subsection must provide to the city or township clerk
 proof of residency in that city or township. For purposes of this subsection, "proof of
 residency" includes, subject to subsection (3), any of the following:
    (a) An operator's or chauffeur's license issued under the Michigan vehicle code, 1949 PA
 300, MCL 257.1 to 257.923, or an enhanced driver license issued under the enhanced driver
 license and enhanced official state personal identification card act, 2008 PA 23, MCL 28.301
 to 28.308.
    (b) An official state personal identification card issued under 1972 PA 222, MCL 28.291 to
 28.300, or an enhanced official state personal identification card issued under the enhanced
 driver license and enhanced official state personal identification card act, 2008 PA 23, MCL
 28.301 to 28.308.
    (3) If an applicant for voter registration under subsection (2) does not have proof of
 residency as that term is defined in subsection (2), the applicant may provide as the applicant's
 proof of residency any other form of identification for election purposes as that term is defined
 in section 2 and 1 of the following documents that contains the applicant's name and current
 residence address:
    (a) A current utility bill.
    (b) A current bank statement.


                                                                Michigan Compiled Laws Complete Through PA 9 of 2026
Rendered Thursday, April 30, 2026             Page 170 of 478                           Courtesy of legislature.mi.gov

    (c) A current paycheck, government check, or other government document.
    (4) If an applicant for voter registration under subsection (2) does not have identification for
 election purposes, the applicant may register to vote if the applicant signs an affidavit
 indicating that the applicant does not have identification for election purposes and the
 applicant provides 1 of the following documents that contains the applicant's name and current
 residence address:
    (a) A current utility bill.
    (b) A current bank statement.
    (c) A current paycheck, government check, or other government document.
    (5) Immediately after approving a voter registration application, the city or township clerk
 shall provide to the individual registering to vote a voter registration receipt that is in a form as
 approved by the secretary of state.
    (6) Except as otherwise provided in sections 500a to 500e and 509v, an application for
 registration must not be executed at a place other than the office of the county, township, or
 city clerk or a public place or places designated by the clerk or deputy registrar for receiving
 registrations, but the clerk or deputy registrar may receive an application wherever the clerk or
 deputy registrar may be. If a county, township, or city clerk does not regularly keep the clerk's
 office open daily during certain hours, the clerk is not required to be at the clerk's office for the
 purpose of receiving applications for registration on a particular day nor during specific hours
 of a day, except as provided in section 498. If an individual registers to vote with the secretary
 of state during the 14 days before the day of an election by mail, online, or by automatic voter
 registration, as described in section 493a, the individual must be given a notice on a form
 developed by the secretary of state informing the individual that the individual is not eligible
 to vote in the next election unless the individual applies in person at the individual's city or
 township clerk's office as provided in subsection (2). Except as provided in sections 500a to
 500e, the provisions of this section relating to registration apply.