Michigan Compiled Laws

Mich. Comp. Laws § 168.523 (2026)

Identification of registered elector; presenting identification for election purposes; execution of application; challenge; affidavit; approval, initial, and notation of application; application as poll list; filing application; notations on cards or lists; record of voting participation.

✓ current as of July 2026

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MICHIGAN ELECTION LAW

Act 116 of 1954

168.523 Identification of registered elector; presenting identification for election purposes; execution of application; challenge; affidavit; approval, initial, and notation of application; application as poll list; filing application; notations on cards or lists; record of voting participation.

Sec. 523.

(1) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (2), at each election, before being given a ballot, each registered elector offering to vote must identify himself or herself by presenting identification for election purposes, and by executing an application, on a form prescribed by the secretary of state, in the presence of an election official that includes all of the following:

(a) The name of the elector.

(b) The elector's address of residence.

(d) An affirmative statement by the elector that is included in the signature statement indicating that he or she is a citizen of the United States.

(e) The elector's signature or mark.

(2) If an elector's signature contained in the qualified voter file is available in the polling place, the election official shall compare the signature upon the application with the digitized signature provided by the qualified voter file. If an elector's signature is not contained in the qualified voter file, the election official shall process the application in the same manner as applications are processed when a voter registration list is used in the polling place. If voter registration lists are used in the precinct, the election inspector shall determine if the name on the application to vote appears on the voter registration list. If the name appears on the voter registration list, the elector shall provide further identification or other information stated upon the voter registration list. If the signature or an item of information does not correspond, the vote of the person must be challenged, and the same procedure must be followed as provided in this act for the challenging of an elector. If the elector does not have identification for election purposes as required under this section, the individual shall sign an affidavit to that effect before an election inspector and be allowed to vote as otherwise provided in this act. However, an elector being allowed to vote without identification for election purposes as required under this section is subject to challenge as provided in section 727.

(3) If, upon a comparison of the signature or other identification as required in this section, it is found that the applicant is entitled to vote, the election officer having charge of the registration list shall approve the application and write his or her initials on the application, after which the number on the ballot issued must be noted on the application. The application serves as 1 of the 2 poll lists required to be kept as a record of a person who has voted. The application must be filed with the township, city, or village clerk. If voter registration cards are used in the precinct, the date of the election must be noted by 1 of the election officials upon the precinct registration card of each elector voting at an election. If voter registration lists are used in the precinct, the election official shall clearly indicate upon the list each elector voting at that election. The clerk of a city, village, or township shall maintain a record of voting participation for each registered elector.

History: 1954, Act 116, Eff. June 1, 1955 ;-- Am. 1955, Act 271, Imd. Eff. June 30, 1955 ;-- Am. 1961, Act 57, Eff. Sept. 8, 1961 ;-- Am. 1963, 2nd Ex. Sess., Act 10, Imd. Eff. Dec. 27, 1963 ;-- Am. 1964, Act 267, Eff. Aug. 28, 1964 ;-- Am. 1978, Act 338, Imd. Eff. July 11, 1978 ;-- Am. 1988, Act 275, Eff. Sept. 1, 1988 ;-- Am. 1995, Act 87, Imd. Eff. June 20, 1995 ;-- Am. 1996, Act 583, Eff. Mar. 31, 1997 ;-- Am. 2005, Act 71, Eff. Jan. 1, 2007 ;-- Am. 2012, Act 523, Eff. Mar. 28, 2013 ;-- Am. 2018, Act 129, Imd. Eff. May 3, 2018

Compiler's Notes:

Enacting section 4 of Act 71 of 2005 provides:

"Enacting section 4. If any portion of this amendatory act or the application of this amendatory act to any person or circumstances is found invalid by a court, the invalidity shall not affect the remaining portions or applications of this amendatory act that can be given effect without the invalid portion or application, if the remaining portions are not determined by the court to be inoperable, and to this end this amendatory act is declared to be severable."

PopularName Notes:

Election Code

Notes of Decisions

Cited in 16 cases (1 in the last 5 years), 1971–2024 · leading case: In Re Request for Advisory Opinion Regarding Constitutionality of 2005 Pa 71, 740 N.W.2d 444 (Mich. 2007).

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In Re Request for Advisory Opinion Regarding Constitutionality of 2005 Pa 71, 740 N.W.2d 444 (Mich. 2007). · cites it 61× “" We granted the House of Representatives' request to opine on the constitutionality of 2005 PA 71 , MCL 168.523. Of concern to the House is the constitutionality of the requirement that voters either present photo identification or sign an affidavit averring that the voter…”

Crawford v. Marion Cnty. Election Bd., 553 U.S. 181 (2008). · cites it 2× “2008); Mich. Comp. Laws Ann. §168.523 (1) (West Supp.”

Milwaukee Branch of the NAACP v. Scott Walker, 2014 WI 98 (Wis. 2014). · cites it 2× “2007) (quoting Mich. Comp. Laws § 168.523 ). 27 No. 2012AP1652 ¶57 Two voters presented non-compliant photo identifications issued by the City of Memphis and cast provisional ballots when their identifications were not accepted.”

In Re Request for Advisory Opinion Regarding Constitutionality of 2005 Pa 71, 712 N.W.2d 450 (Mich. 2006). · cites it 4× “523, on their face, violate either the Michigan Constitution or the United States Constitution? The Attorney General is respectfully requested to, within 84 days of the date of this order, submit separate briefs arguing that the photo identification requirements of 2005 PA 71…”

Wilkins v. Ann Arbor City Clerk, 189 N.W.2d 423 (Mich. 1971). · cites it 4× “Finally, every voter before being given a ballot must execute an application showing his signature and address which is compared to the registration card "and if the same do not correspond the vote of such person shall be challenged.”

Bay Cnty. Democratic Party v. Land, 347 F. Supp. 2d 404 (E.D. Mich. 2004). · cites it 2× “See Mich. Comp. Laws § 168.523 (1). An individual desiring to vote at a polling place is required to complete a ballot application containing his or her signature and address.”

Practical Political Consulting, Inc. v. Sec'y of State, 789 N.W.2d 178 (Mich. Ct. App. 2010). · cites it 2× “No costs, a public question being involved. BORRELLO, P.J., concurred.”

Frank v. Walker, 196 F. Supp. 3d 893 (E.D. Wis. 2016). “§ 18:562; Mich. Comp. Laws § 168.523 (2); N.C. Gen.”

Michigan State UAW Cmty. Action Prog. Council v. Sec'y of State, 198 N.W.2d 385 (Mich. 1972). · cites it 2× “" MCLA 168.523; MSA 6.1523. The cited sections of the Michigan Election Law might in themselves be sufficient to rebut defendant's assertions that MCLA 168.”

Jaffe v. Oakland Cnty. Clerk, 274 N.W.2d 38 (Mich. Ct. App. 1978). “MCL 168.523; MSA 6.1523. That section refers to the initial voting stage and, prior to amendment, stated that before a person offering to vote is handed a ballot the election official "shall compare the signature on such application with the signature on the registration card”.”

Bryanton v. Johnson, 902 F. Supp. 2d 983 (E.D. Mich. 2012). · cites it 7× “” Mich. Comp. Laws § 168.523 (1). In some situations, the voter is also required to fill out his date of birth.”

in Re Advisory Opn on 2018 Pa 368-9 (Senate) (Mich. 2019). · cites it 2× “In 1996, the Legislature had amended MCL 168.523 to require that voters present a photo ID in order to vote.”

Show all 16 citing cases →

— Mich. Comp. Laws § 168.523(1) — 3 cases

In Re Request for Advisory Opinion Regarding Constitutionality of 2005 Pa 71, 740 N.W.2d 444 (Mich. 2007). “" We granted the House of Representatives' request to opine on the constitutionality of 2005 PA 71 , MCL 168.523. Of concern to the House is the constitutionality of the requirement that voters either present photo identification or sign an affidavit averring that the voter…”

Promote the Vote v. Sec'y of State (Mich. Ct. App. 2020).

Bryanton v. Johnson, 902 F. Supp. 2d 983 (E.D. Mich. 2012). “” Mich. Comp. Laws § 168.523 (1). In some situations, the voter is also required to fill out his date of birth.”

— Mich. Comp. Laws § 168.523(3) — 1 case

Practical Political Consulting, Inc. v. Sec'y of State, 789 N.W.2d 178 (Mich. Ct. App. 2010). “No costs, a public question being involved. BORRELLO, P.J., concurred.”

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