Michigan: Limits on Voter Eligibility Challenges

Written and published in partnership with All Voting is Local

Michigan, like most states, allows private individuals to challenge another person’s eligibility to vote. This resource details state and federal laws that govern this process and protect challenged voters. Michigan’s strong voter protections include explicit prohibitions against challenges made indiscriminately or without good cause, as well as requirements that pre-election challenges must be written, sworn, and notarized.

Michigan law allows challenges before and during in-person voting, but under limited circumstances.

• Only voters registered in the same municipal jurisdiction as the voter in question can make a pre-election challenge. footnote1_WP0477w-E48aay4YIkusoG9VpjbPnDyfm5z9-G1yY_tUbgAw9bmpC91Mich. Comp. Laws § 168.512.
• During in-person voting, only three groups of people can challenge voters: registered voters from the same precinct, formally appointed and credentialed election challengers, and election inspectors (poll workers). footnote2_9TxgBKL0DSiwAJrqBE36SnbE82cNTX3ucCnuEzuKDg_tdZkCObswrd42Mich. Comp. Laws § 168.727(1); see generally Michigan Bureau of Elections, The Appointment, Rights, and Duties of Election Challengers and Poll Watchers, September 2024, https://www.michigan.gov/sos/-/media/Project/Websites/sos/01vanderroest/SOS_ED_2_CHALLENGERS.pdf?rev=35366ca14b9e45798a3887dea7efa615&hash=61B5E3CB1FE16FA9BB5C67FC4582EB95.
• Voter eligibility challenges are prohibited at absent voter ballot processing facilities.footnote3_iXO1xyIfiPI7mjxVA0EzJ4D7eB2EDep6JOCteM5os_tEaDvSBWVNQ33Michigan Bureau of Elections, The Appointment, Rights, and Duties of Challengers and Poll Watchers, 17.

Michigan law constrains pre-election challenges.

• Pre-election challenges must be submitted in the form of a sworn, notarized statement (an affidavit) specifying the grounds for the challenge. footnote4_1uEqI-o2jdBqFQV3yfdiVxtp86iLkI09uW0hsJiMqGY_lCmjKDYM5Rkn4Mich. Comp. § Laws 168.512.
• Pre-election challenges must be individualized and cannot list more than one voter. footnote5_Kc0Tg0VrzNgWJZHw0g7b91HG3nIbq2Whse9RTxSzdc_a9ZDsvjMI0f75Letter from Jonathan Brater, Director, MI Bureau of Elections, to MI Clerks & Elections Directors, February 12, 2024, https://content.govdelivery.com/attachments/MISOS/2024/02/12/file_attachments/2781012/Letter%20to%20Clerks%2002_12_2024.pdf.
• Pre-election challenges made “indiscriminately and without good cause for the purpose of harassment” are a misdemeanor offense. footnote6_WP0477w-E48aay4YIkusoG9VpjbPnDyfm5z9-G1yY_sG2cyUXHIP3r6Mich. Comp. Laws § 168.512.
• After receiving a written, sworn pre-election registration challenge, the clerk may take steps to verify that information. If the information appears valid, the clerk must mail a notice to the challenged voter, who then has 30 days to contest the challenge either in person or by affidavit. footnote7_QsVqA2fZde6KhvEAA9ysz1X61y-QembHMq4qV6E4aQ_o33CoFFRlX9D7Id.
• For challenges based on an alleged change of address, even if the voter does not respond to the notice, the clerk generally must wait two federal election cycles before cancelling their registration. footnote8_qif3jdibkvu6Ffx34pQOZQDkY3qjDMOAdCuhCvT6wA_asg7QtN6lROP852 U.S.C. §§ 20507(a)(3), (d).
• For valid challenges based on grounds other than a change of address, if the voter fails to appear and swear or file an affidavit of eligibility, the clerk will cancel the voter’s registration. footnote9_WP0477w-E48aay4YIkusoG9VpjbPnDyfm5z9-G1yY_oscJYZlnXBE79Mich. Comp. Laws § 168.512.

• For all challenges, federal law prohibits the systematic removal of voters within 90 days of a federal election. footnote10_a4njQ8-QpxnP718T8O0oO0NcMgLC1pNhAGAIAkR0KrY_jRslo5OShtsy1052 U.S.C. § 20507(c)(2)(a).According to guidance from the U.S. Department of Justice, “This 90-day deadline applies to State list maintenance verification activities such as general mailings and door-to-door canvasses. This deadline also applies to list maintenance programs based on third-party challenges derived from any large, computerized data-matching process.”footnote11_O8WdYBls92WB-kDdtAd7YRwDd1ZBw3pI6O2bik-DFGE_b8ZGMBehDE5G11U.S. Department of Justice, Voter Registration List Maintenance: Guidance under Section 8 of the National Voter Registration Act, 52 U.S.C. § 20507, 4, September 2024, https://www.justice.gov/crt/media/1366561/dl.

  During in-person voting, Michigan law requires a fair and orderly process for the challenged voter.

• Challenges must be based on knowledge or “good reason to suspect” that a voter is not registered or qualified to vote or has already voted. footnote12_8WugrdrfWQ1xEe1RY8mMfM6YN4X4zAukoQwJEeOZM_qJT7FyFriNeO12Mich. Comp. Laws § 168.727(1).Challenges are also impermissible if the challenger fails to explain the reason they believe the voter is ineligible. footnote13_XvEvMees0-aj22K4IERksP4QVbSnk86X0Q1DPIELAI_v4n1uMbTkw5z13Id. 
• Challengers cannot make challenges indiscriminately or without good cause,footnote14_D65N3lwQkhvgzgF4XvGlu6KLxRfPVkA3KUIiUCjdJw_pxY6trZq6IXr14Mich. Comp. Laws § 168.727(3).and challenges made “for the purpose of annoying or delaying voters” are a misdemeanor offense. footnote15_QsVqA2fZde6KhvEAA9ysz1X61y-QembHMq4qV6E4aQ_sfpPB6QEIF7y15Id.
• Challenges cannot be made to intimidate or deter voters from, or interfere with, the exercise of their right to vote. footnote16_gztPBc3P6R5e3cPIKv6ooGh1b4KRF6w9pbz2m62OIE_yyAcexV6DXDE16Mich. Comp. Laws § 168.932(a), (d); Mich. Const. art II, § 2; see also Mich. Comp. Laws §§ 168.733, 168.10;  168.727(1); Order, O’Halloran v. Mich. Secretary of State, (No. 363503), 981 N.W.2d 149, https://www.democracydocket.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/11.3.22-Order-Staying-COC-Order35.pdf;  MI Bureau of Elections, Election Officials’ Manual, Chapter 12, 29, https://www.michigan.gov/sos/-/media/Project/Websites/sos/01mcalpine/Election-Day-and-the-Voting-Process.pdf?rev=bdefb4cc362d4ee38fd9e06d22ff96cb&hash=52D2F8FFBD5AE217C445857514276BAB. (“The challenger must make the challenge in a discrete manner not intended to embarrass the challenged voter, intimidate other voters, or otherwise disrupt the election process.”). This manual is the subject of pending litigation but is currently in effect. If an individual disrupts the voting process while making a challenge, or refuses to follow directions from the election inspector, the inspector can eject them from the polling place. If they refuse to leave, the inspector can ask law enforcement to eject the disruptor from the polling place. footnote17_SmrgvAHIIi4gm6qVAHfBo4YF99DocHdX2zVCEgOQfM_lZ24PFdCviYD17MI Bureau of Elections, Election Officials’ Manual, 35.
• Each voting location must have an election inspector designated as the “challenger liaison” responsible for adjudicating permissible challenges. footnote18_JBmnsSmsBRuJ8w2d4BN0pbKg3CFpKeVibdmiQHzDlk0_oD9llClfMjPJ18MI Bureau of Elections, The Appointment, Rights, and Duties of Challengers and Poll Watchers, 5, 10.Challengers are only permitted to communicate with the challenger liaison (unless otherwise instructed by the liaison or member of a clerk’s staff). footnote19_L9fszkTzb8g16dnw7bErdzkR8wvQ7P79BhgHdvD1o_kpm3Dm8e52aU19Id. at 6.
• If a challenger liaison determines that a challenge is permissible, they must administer an oath to the voter and ask only those questions necessary to confirm the voter’s eligibility. footnote20_dYPE0ViyrglPPZpgfJXoArXEgar2kHZD-cODfTud4cU_leDDs4ToPx1m20Mich. Comp. Laws § 168.729.If the voter confirms they are eligible, the challenge must be rejected and the voter allowed to vote. footnote21_QsVqA2fZde6KhvEAA9ysz1X61y-QembHMq4qV6E4aQ_gI7tz2vWrr7S21Id.

• A separate process exists for voters challenged on the ground they already voted an absentee ballot. If the poll book indicates an absent voter ballot was sent to the voter and the voter is unable to surrender the absent voter ballot at the voting location, the clerk must verify the ballot has not been submitted. The voter then completes an affidavit stating they did not successfully return the absentee ballot, and then can vote using a regular ballot. footnote22_G5ZJI15vwlGFIYlt71HUy7oBX6pFxl7ySjmCwVT51w_aJdF0VVoUFs222MI Bureau of Elections, The Appointment, Rights, and Duties of Challengers and Poll Watchers, 16.

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  Voters in Michigan have the right to vote free from intimidation under federal and state law. Baseless challenges to a voter’s eligibility can harass and intimidate the voter being challenged, as well as other voters waiting to vote at the polls. More information on the federal and state laws that protect Michigan voters from intimidation can be found here.

  If voters discover they’ve been mistakenly removed from the rolls, they can re-register and vote at their township or clerk’s office during early voting and on Election Day. footnote23_GGYYYtAfddMjxg7NyrLlxVo3M7FR-SoCK35qG-KEQVw_w9KM2lpa8m2k23Mich. Comp. Laws § 168.497.More information on same day registration and voting can be found here.