MI HB5972

Allows persons aged 16 to 17.5 years old to preregister to vote at the Secretary of State's office if they hold a Michigan graduated driver's license or official state personal identification card and are U.S. citizens.

Preregistered individuals automatically become registered electors at age 17.5 and become eligible to vote at the first election after turning 18 years old.

Secretary of State must transmit preregistration applications to appropriate city/township clerks and the qualified voter file, but applications are held separately and not moved to the master file until the applicant reaches age 17.5.

Preregistered voters' names do not appear on precinct voter lists until after they reach age 18, and address changes on driver licenses or identification cards automatically update preregistration addresses.

When a preregistered person turns 17.5, the Secretary of State notifies the city/township clerk to send a voter identification card and add the person to the master voter file.