Supporting Michigan Voters Who Are Houseless In Accessing Their Right To Vote

On Election Day make sure you are prepared to support Michigan voters who are houseless in accessing their right to vote.

The Quick Checklist:

✅ Yes, someone can vote if they do not have a permanent address!

✅ Yes, someone can register and vote without showing an ID!

✅ Yes, someone with a criminal history can vote!

✅ Yes, someone can get a ride to the polls!

✅ Yes, someone can bring someone to translate and help complete their ballot!

✅ Yes, someone who is disabled has the right to bring someone to assist them with voting!

Michigan polling locations will be open from 7 am to 8 pm on Election Day (Tuesday, November 5th). Remember: as long as a voter is in line by 8 pm, they cannot be turned away from voting! Find more information about voting in-person here.

If someone is not registered to vote yet, they can still register in-person on Election Day at the election clerk’s office. Find more information about voter registration here. Examples of what someone can bring to show proof of residency includes providing a letter from a church, shelter, or public assistance agency listing that person's name and address.

If English is not a voter’s first language, they are allowed to bring someone to translate and help complete their ballot (anyone except their employer or union). Find Michigan voting resources in non-English languages here.

If a voter is blind, disabled, or unable to read or write, they have the right to bring someone to assist with voting (anyone except their employer or union). Find out more information about accessible voting here.

The best news of all!! A voter can get a ride to their polling place! To connect with free rides offered in our community visit https://www.michiganvoting.org/rides. To request a ride in Ann Arbor or Ypsilanti call or text (313) 258-2762 or (313) 680-0827 or schedule a ride online.

If a voter has trouble voting or experiences any voter intimidation, do not hesitate! Call or text 866-OUR-VOTE (866-687-8683) to speak with a trained Election Protection volunteer.

For voter support in Arabic call 844-YALLA-US (844-925-5287).

For help in Spanish call 888-VE-Y-VOTA (888-839-8682).

For assistance in Bengali, Cantonese, Hindi, Korean, Mandarin, Tagalog, Urdu or Vietnamese call 888-API-VOTE (888-274-8683).

Still have questions? Check out Michigan Coalition Against Homelessness’s quick reference guide answering nine Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) (linked here) about voting while experiencing homelessness.

Providers encouraging their clients to vote and helping to remove obstacles in their clients’ way can follow some easy steps outlined by National Alliance to End Homelessness (linked here).