GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — A Michigan woman is having issues registering to vote after moving to a new address within the state.
“But I probably spent at this point 30-45 minutes on the web trying to figure it out and just not getting anywhere with it, so at some point you just quit for the day,” said Melissa Dancy.
It’s a frustrating time for a lot of voters like Dancy.
She moved to Michigan in mid-March and was not able to register her car until this summer. That’s when she also signed up to vote but that address was temporary. She says her appointment also did not allow her to do all that and get a driver’s license at the same time.
“And at that time I waited two months to get that appointment so by that point to get an appointment for my driver’s license we’re now looking at January – well after the election,” she said.
After moving from her temporary address, Melissa needed to update her voter registration.
“But if you go to the website to do it every link takes you to a page that requires a Michigan driver’s license which I don’t have and can’t get, so it means I cannot change my address and I can’t vote with my old address because I don’t live there anymore and that’s not a legal registration,” she said.
It’s a problem for a lot of people who are new to the state.
According to the Secretary of State’s website, if you move to a new city or township – you have to re-register to vote. If you move within the city or township, you have to update your address which can be done online.
“Everything led me to ‘you need a Michigan driver’s license’ there was no information about ‘if you don’t have one here’s what you do’ or ‘here’s how you call’. I just didn’t know what to do from there,” said Dancy.
She says she also cannot request an absentee ballot. But good news for Melissa and those in similar situations – you can just go to your local clerk’s office and update your registration in-person.
A spokesperson for the SOS says voters can do two things.
“While she’s at her clerk’s office she can frankly fill out an absentee ballot and submit it right there and be all done with the trip,” said SOS spokesman Jake Rollow. “She could also just update her voter registration and take her absentee ballot home with her or plan to vote on election day at her polling place.”
The department says it’s also offering special appointments so all you have to do is log in on their website. Afternoon appointments for the next day, between 3PM and 5PM are updated daily at noon.
If you have any questions about registering to vote, changing your address, or what to bring with you, just call your local clerk’s office first.
You can find your local clerkby clicking here and submitting your information.
If you have any elections related issues or problems you'd like us to look into, please email problemsolvers@fox17online.com
