As residents return to the polls August 4, here’s how Ypsilanti residents can register and vote.
Registering to vote
First, a person looking to register to vote in Ypsilanti must meet certain criteria. They must be an American citizen, at least 18 years old by election day, a resident of Michigan and City of Ypsilanti or Ypsilanti Township. City residents can register with the city clerk at City Hall and township residents can register with the township clerk at 7200 S. Huron River Drive. Registration can be done at the Washtenaw County Clerk's Office or by mail up to 15 days before the election.
When registering, residents must either present a photo identification or sign the Affidavit of Voter Not in Possession of Picture Identification form at the time of registration. Forms of photo identification include driver’s license or ID from Michigan or another state, passport, military ID, tribal ID, or student ID from a high school or from an accredited institution. An expired ID is acceptable.
Students whose primary address is not in Michigan but wish to vote here can use their university ID to vote in the state of their university.
To register, one must also present something to verify residency; this can be electronic. The item must have the voter’s name and address, such as a driver’s license or ID, bank statement, paycheck, utility bill or other government document.
Residents can visit Michigan Voter Information Center online for more information and to check registration status.
Once registered, Ypsilanti registers may vote at the polls or through absentee ballots.
Absentee voting
Absentee voting runs through the local clerk’s office; it allows you to request a ballot by mail either in person at the clerk’s office or online. The ballot can be filled out at home or at the clerk’s office. It can then be submitted in an envelope by mail, drop box or in-person. Remember to leave enough time for the ballot to be received by the clerk’s before election day.
Voters can apply for absentee ballot through Michigan Voter Information Center. City residents can call the City Clerk’s Office at 734-483-1100. Township residents can contact their clerk at 734-544-4000.
There’s also an option to be put on the Permanent Mail Ballot List; this means residents automatically receive the absentee ballot for every election. The request forms become available 75 days before the election.
Drop box sites for absentee ballot submission in the City of Ypsilanti are located at Parkridge Community Center, the Eastern Michigan University Student Center and at City Hall. Township drop boxes are located at 7200 S. Huron River Drive, 20 S. Hewitt Road, 2025 E. Clark Road and 222 S. Ford Blvd.
Early in-person voting
City of Ypsilanti voters have the opportunity to vote early at the Freighthouse and the Washtenaw County Learning Resource Center. The township offers two locations: Ypsilanti Township Community Center and Ypsilanti Township Civic Center. Early polling location times and dates vary.
Where to vote
Where to vote in-person depends on which ward and precinct a resident is registered in. To find out this information, go to the Michigan Voter Information Center website and select ‘Where is my polling place?’ under ‘Your voting information.’
Both the City of Ypsilanti and Ypsilanti Township have distinct voting precincts, which can be viewed online.
What happens at the polls
Upon entering the location voters will fill out an application to vote and present their photo identification, or an affidavit of identity if they have no photo identification. The election workers hand out the ballots and explain how to fill them out. Voters will proceed to a booth to mark the ballot, then place it into the ballot tabulator.
Accessible voting
Voters with disabilities can vote at the polls with the assistance of the Touch Writer, a device that marks the ballot through a large font screen, foot pedal, braille keypad or audio headset. There’s also magnification and contrast features, as well as the ability to control volume and speed. Once the ballot is filled out, it can be printed.
Primary election voting day is August 4, for more information visit the City of Ypsilanti’s website, the Ypsilanti Township website and Michigan Voter Information Center.
Editor's note: This article has been updated to clarify and differentiate voting information for city and township residents.
