Dear Neighbor,  

The 2024 Election is here! Voting is one of our most fundamental rights in a functioning democracy. From local school board and city council races to state and federal races, your voice and your vote matter.  

Michigan has consistently ranked high in voter participation in recent cycles, with over 70% of eligible voters casting their ballot in the 2020 Election. This year, with so much at stake, from health care and reproductive rights to education and public safety, it’s more important than ever for everyone to make their voices heard by turning out to vote. 

Get out and vote early! Learn more about how you can cast your ballot here

In recent years, Michigan voters have overwhelmingly supported the adoption of constitutional amendments allowing people to register to vote online, easily obtain an absentee ballot and more. Additionally, since taking office, my colleagues and I have been working to codify these amendments into law and protect your right to vote. These new changes to the voting process ultimately allow eligible voters to enjoy expanded access to the ballot box so they can safely, securely, and conveniently cast their vote without facing unnecessary barriers.  

As we rapidly approach Election Day, learn everything you need to know about voting in this special election edition of our newsletter. And if you’re a go-getter who already cast their ballot, make sure your family and friends are registered and have a plan to vote as well. Democracy is a team sport, and we need all hands on deck to get out the vote!  

As always, please feel free to reach out to my office to share your perspective or seek assistance with any challenges you may be facing with state departments — we are here to serve you. You can reach my office by calling (517) 373-7315 or emailing SenKHertel@senate.michigan.gov. I hope to hear from you soon! 

Sincerely, 

Senator Hertel Signature

Kevin Hertel 
State Senator 
District 12 

If you're in a rush... quick voting resources
  • All-in-one voting resource: Find your polling place, locate your clerk’s office, learn what’s on your ballot, and more at the Michigan Secretary of State’s online Voter Information Center at Michigan.gov/vote. 
  • Election Day is Tuesday, November 5, and polls will be open from 7 a.m. until 8 p.m. Michiganders also have the option to vote absentee or early in-person. Learn about all the ways you can cast your ballot here. 
  • If you have questions or need assistance, please call your local clerk’s office. Find their contact information here 
Registering to vote

Have you recently moved or changed your name since the last election? If so, you’ll need to update your voter registration. You have until Election Day to register by visiting your local city or township clerk’s office. The best part? You can register and vote at the same time, ensuring your voice is counted.  

While it’s encouraged to register as soon as possible, if you wait until Election Day, make sure to visit your clerk’s office by 8:00 p.m. Be sure to check what documents you’ll need to bring when registering between now and Election Day — find more information from the Michigan Secretary of State here. 

How to cast your ballot

Absentee 

All registered voters can vote using an absentee ballot for any reason, no questions asked. If you’ve already requested and received your absentee ballot, ensure it reaches your city or township clerk’s office by 8:00 p.m. on Election Day. To guarantee your ballot is counted, consider dropping it off in person at your clerk’s office or a designated drop box, which are monitored and regularly checked. You can also take your absentee ballot to an early voting site and place it directly in the tabulator yourself. 

Click here to find your clerk’s office or a ballot drop box near you. If you’ve already returned your absentee ballot, you can visit Michigan.gov/vote to find out when your clerk received your ballot. 

 

Early In Person 

Early in-person voting adds important flexibility and convenience to the election process for voters, providing them with additional opportunities to cast their ballot without having to take off work or rearrange their schedules. Currently, early voting is underway and available to all registered voters here in Michigan. 

Look here to see when and where early voting is available near you. Please note that early voting locations may be different than your regular voting site. 

 

In Person on Election Day 

When: Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. If you are in line to vote by 8 p.m., stay in line! You cannot be turned away.  

Where: Simply show up at your assigned polling location on Primary or General Election Day. Find your polling location online here.  

What to bring: When you arrive at your polling place to vote, state law requires you to either show a picture ID or sign an affidavit attesting that you are not in possession of a picture ID.  

You can satisfy the ID requirement by showing a Michigan driver’s license or state ID card. If you do not possess either document, you may show any of the following forms of picture ID if it is current:    

  • A current or expired Michigan driver’s license or Michigan state ID card. 
  • A current driver’s license or personal ID card issued by another state. 
  • A current federal, state, or local government-issued photo ID card. 
  • A current U.S. passport. 
  • A current student ID card issued by an educational institution, so long as the document includes the individual’s photo. 
  • A current military ID card, so long as the card includes the individual’s photo. 
  • A current tribal ID card, so long as the card includes the individual’s photo.  
Combatting Dyslexia and Improving Literacy

Also, before you leave the polls, don’t forget to grab an “I Voted” sticker! If you didn’t happen to catch John Oliver’s segment on Last Week Tonightthis year, our stickers were designed by Michiganders across the state, including Jane Hynous, a student at Brownell Middle School in Grosse Pointe. Learn more about the Secretary of State’s sticker contest here. 

Hertel speaking with Seniors

Voting should be a safe, easy, and straightforward process for every Michigander. If you are a voter with a disability, special accommodations are available upon request.  

If you require voting assistance, ask election workers for help — a reason for assistance does not have to be stated. Michigan offers several accessible registration facilities that provide proper accommodation including seated polling boxes, Voter Assist Terminals and more. If you or someone you know needs special access to the polls, call your clerk’s office ahead of time to make sure your voting site is free of obstructions. If your precinct is not accessible, you’ll be directed to a different accessible site.  

For more information, contact your city or township clerk or click here. Hearing impaired residents may contact the Bureau of Elections through email at elections@michigan.gov  

If you or someone you know encounters accessibility issues at the polls or when applying for an absentee ballot, it’s important they are fixed promptly. Call 1-866-OUR-VOTE to report these problems so the voting process can be improved. 

Last Saturday was a beautiful day to pass out candy at Brandenburg Park in Chesterfield! It was great to see so many families come out to celebrate the season and make memories together while enjoying a view of Lake St. Clair. Don’t worry if you missed Chesterfield’s Boo Bash though — communities across our district still have trunk-or-treats coming up on the calendar: 
  
Harrison Township Hallowpalooza: Saturday, Oct. 19 from 12:00 – 2:00 p.m. at Lobbstael Elementary (Register here) 
Mount Clemens Halloween Spooktacular: Saturday, Oct. 19 from 12:00 – 3:00 p.m. at the Fountain Stage downtown (Register here) 
St. Clair Shores Halloween Fun Fest: Sunday, Oct. 20 from 12:00 – 4:00 p.m. at Veterans Memorial Park (Register here) 
New Baltimore Trick or Treat on Washington Street: Friday, Oct. 25 from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. at Walter and Mary Burke Park (Register here) 
Grosse Pointe Halloween Spooktacular: Sunday, Oct. 27 from 12:00 – 4:00 p.m. at the War Memorial (Register here) 
 
I know I’m looking forward to attending some of these events — I hope to see you there!

It is one of my top goals as your State Senator to have myself and my office be as accessible to you as possible. To share your thoughts on legislation or seek assistance with an issue, please join me at one of our upcoming district events: 

Coffee and Conversation 

WHEN: Friday, November 15 from 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. 
WHERE: District Office, 28800 Harper, Saint Clair Shores, MI 48081 

District Office Hours with Staff 
WHEN: Every Thursday from 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. and by appointment 
WHERE: District Office, 28800 Harper, Saint Clair Shores, MI 48081 

Stay in Touch

If You Need Help: If you have a problem dealing with any department of state government, such as accessing unemployment benefits, my office is available to help resolve it. While we usually cannot assist with local or federal issues, we will always do our best to help direct you to the appropriate person or organization for help.   

You may always feel free to call my office at (517) 373-7315 or email me at SenKHertel@senate.michigan.gov.   

Keep Up to Date: Our bi-weekly newsletters are full of updates on what Team Hertel has been working on both in Lansing and District 12 to deliver results for Michiganders. To keep up to date with what we’ve been up to — sign up here to receive my bi-weekly newsletter, or access previous editions online here.  

For more frequent updates, I also encourage you to follow our team on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.