100 Feet: The No-Campaign Zone for Michigan Midterm Voters
With polls open Tuesday from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m., state rules dictate exactly what voters can bring inside and where they must stand to show their support.
By Nikolai Patterson ·
100 feet is the distance voters in Michigan must keep between their campaign materials and the entrance of their polling place on Tuesday, Nov. 3. State election officials have set the stage for the 2026 midterm, requiring voters to check the Michigan Voter Information Center to confirm their assigned location before heading out.
The polling doors open at 7 a.m. and close at 8 p.m. on Election Day. During that 13 hour window, election inspectors at each site are tasked with running the process and assisting voters. Because a voter's specific polling place is tied directly to their home address and registration status, officials urge citizens to verify their location online to ensure it has not moved.
Photo identification remains optional for Michigan voters. Those who arrive without a valid ID may sign an affidavit and still receive a ballot. For those who do bring identification, acceptable forms range from driver's licenses and state ID cards issued by Michigan or other states to U.S. passports and military photo ID cards. The list also includes educational institution IDs, tribal photo ID cards, and concealed pistol licenses.
Language access is another key component of the Tuesday process. Voters may bring an interpreter to assist with languages other than English. However, there is a strict boundary on who can serve in that role. The interpreter cannot be the voter's employer, an agent of that employer, or an officer or agent of the voter's labor union.
Visual cues of political preference are restricted inside the voting area. Voters are asked to avoid wearing campaign clothes or accessories and to leave campaign flyers at home. A voter information guide or pamphlet is permitted. Photography rules are equally specific: voters cannot take photos inside the voting area, though they are allowed to take a selfie outside the designated zone.
