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Three proposals could end automatic voter registration in Michigan. Here's what HB 4765 and the ballot measures would actually do.
Table of Contents
Last update: June 30, 2026
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The Current System
- How does Michigan verify citizenship for voter registration today?
- How many non-citizens vote in Michigan?
- What impact will proof-of-citizenship have on voter eligibility?
What's Being Proposed
- What changes to voting are being proposed?
- What are the reasons for and against HB 4765?
- What would HB 4765 do?
- What documents would satisfy HB 4765's citizenship requirement?
- Under HB 4765, could I use my standard driver's license to register to vote?
- What documents do I need to register to vote if I changed my name?
- What is the cost to get the documents I will need if HB 4765 becomes law?
- Where is HB 4765 in the legislative process right now?
Comparing the Proposals
- How does HB 4765 differ from the federal SAVE Act?
- What is the status of HB 4765?
- What is the status of the 2026 ballot measures on voter citizenship requirements?
- What if the Michigan voter citizenship ballot proposals pass?
Getting Ready to Vote
The Current System
Michigan voters are about to hear a lot about "proof of citizenship" — in the Legislature, on petition clipboards outside the grocery store, and probably in your social feed. Three separate efforts are pushing toward the same destination by different roads: a state bill, House Bill 4765, currently sitting in the Senate, and two competing ballot measures collecting signatures right now for the November election. Each would change how — and whether — Michigan confirms a voter's citizenship before they can cast a ballot.
This guide walks through what HB 4765 actually does, how it compares to the federal SAVE Act and the two ballot proposals, what supporters and opponents are arguing, and — most practically — what it would mean for you if you needed to register or re-register under any of these rules. None of this has taken effect yet, so it also covers what the process looks like today, so you know where things currently stand versus where they might be headed.
How does Michigan verify citizenship for voter registration today?
Michigan currently asks voters to attest to U.S. citizenship under penalty of perjury when registering to vote, with identity (not citizenship) verified against state and federal databases. In practical terms, this means a non-citizen who registers or votes anyway is committing a crime, punishable by fines and potential imprisonment, separate from any immigration consequences.
How many non-citizens vote in Michigan?
Documented cases of this happening in Michigan are rare — state election officials flagged just 15 potential noncitizen registrations out of roughly 5.7 million ballots cast in the 2024 general election, with most attributed to clerical error.
What impact will proof-of-citizenship have on voter eligibility?
Estimates of the potential impact vary by source, but a University of Maryland analysis found that roughly 9% of voting-eligible citizens nationally — and, if Michigan's rate is comparable, almost 1 million Michiganders — lack or can't easily access documentary proof of citizenship such as a passport, birth certificate, or naturalization certificate.
Separate Michigan-specific data cited in legislative testimony found that more than 2.2 million married women in the state have a birth certificate that doesn't match their current legal name.
What's Being Proposed
What changes to voting are being proposed?
Three separate proposals — one bill and two ballot measures — would end automatic voter registration as Michigan voters know it today. Instead of being automatically registered when they get or renew a driver's license or state ID, voters would need to provide documentary proof of citizenship, such as a passport, birth certificate (and a marriage license for married women with name changes), or specially marked driver's license, before their registration goes through.
Proposed Proof-of-Citizenship Law
- House Bill 4765 — a state statute that would tie citizenship verification to Michigan's automatic voter registration system run through Secretary of State branch offices.
- H.B. 4765 passed the House along party lines on April 14, 2026, sponsored by Rep. Jason Woolford (R-Howell)
- Not expected to advance in the Senate
- Stalled
Two Ballot Committees
Separately, two citizen-led ballot committees — Committee to Protect Voters' Rights and Americans for Citizen Voting — have been collecting signatures to ask Michigan voters directly to add a proof-of-citizenship and photo-ID requirement to the state Constitution this November. The signature deadline for both is July 6, 2026.
What are the reasons for and against HB 4765?
Supporters say it closes a verification gap; opponents say it creates new barriers for eligible voters, particularly women who've changed their name.
| Voice | Position |
| Rep. Jason Woolford (R-Howell), sponsor | Says the bill "treats eligible citizens fairly while drawing a clear line against ineligible registrations," and that requiring proof of citizenship and ID is "a commonsense safeguard that protects every legal voter." |
| Aghogho Edevbie, Michigan deputy secretary of state | Says the bill is "not about voter ID; it's a way to stop tens of thousands of eligible Michigan voters from casting their ballot," and objects to requiring residents to pay extra fees for an Enhanced Driver's License to prove citizenship. |
This mirrors the broader for/against debate over proof-of-citizenship requirements covered in detail in our federal SAVE Act guide, including the data on how rarely noncitizen voting has been documented in Michigan and nationally.
One Michigan-specific data point came up repeatedly in legislative testimony: a Michigan Department of State review of the 2024 general election flagged 15 potential noncitizen registrations out of roughly 5.7 million ballots cast, with most attributed to clerical error and a smaller number referred for possible prosecution — including a University of Michigan student whose case became a focal point for supporters of stricter verification.
What would HB 4765 do?
HB 4765 amends several sections of the Michigan Election Law (MCL 168.493a, 168.493b, 168.495, 168.509gg, and 168.509ii) and adds a new section, 168.496c. Its central mechanism runs through Michigan's existing automatic voter registration system, under which eligible residents are automatically registered to vote when they apply for or renew a driver's license, state ID card, or Enhanced Driver's License at a Secretary of State branch. Under this bill:
- No documentation, no automatic registration. The Secretary of State would not automatically register someone to vote through that process unless the person has provided documentation demonstrating U.S. citizenship.
- Applications hold until verified. Voter registration applications generally would be required to include a statement that the application won't be processed until the applicant provides "satisfactory evidence" of citizenship.
- Database check comes first. The bill directs the Secretary of State to first attempt to verify citizenship using existing databases maintained by the Michigan Department of State and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, before requiring a document from the applicant.
- Unverified applicants become "federal-only voters." Rather than being turned away, an applicant whose citizenship can't be verified is still placed in the qualified voter file — but flagged as eligible to vote only in federal elections, not state or local ones, until they provide satisfactory proof of citizenship. Once they do, the Secretary of State removes the flag and they become a fully registered elector.
- Monthly public reporting. The bill also requires the Secretary of State to publicly report, on a monthly basis, the number of registrations added under the new verification process.
What documents would satisfy HB 4765's citizenship requirement?
To expedite verification, or where database checks are inconclusive, the bill lists categories of acceptable evidence:
- A Michigan driver's license, state ID card, or out-of-state equivalent on which the issuing agency has indicated the holder provided satisfactory evidence of citizenship (in Michigan, this is the Enhanced Driver's License or Enhanced State ID)
- A certified birth certificate verifying citizenship (for applicants who have changed their name, this may need to be accompanied by a marriage license or other name-change documentation)
- A U.S. passport identifying the applicant by passport number
- Naturalization documents or a certificate of naturalization number
Under HB 4765, could I use my standard driver's license to register to vote?
No. A standard, non-enhanced Michigan driver's license or state ID — the version most residents currently carry — does not indicate citizenship and would not, on its own, satisfy the documentary requirement.
To use a license as stand-alone proof, a resident would need the Enhanced Driver's License or Enhanced State ID, which costs an additional $30–$45 beyond the standard fee. Michigan is one of only five states currently offering this enhanced option.
What documents do I need to register to vote if I changed my name?
Voters whose legal name differs from the one on their birth certificate — commonly the case for married women — may need to provide a certified marriage license, divorce decree, or court order documenting the name change alongside their citizenship document. A valid, unexpired U.S. passport sidesteps this issue entirely, since it reflects both citizenship and current legal name.
What is the cost to get the documents I will need if HB 4765 becomes law?
- Michigan birth certificate: roughly $10–$35, depending on county
- U.S. passport: roughly $165–$183 for a first-time adult applicant
- Michigan Enhanced Driver's License or Enhanced State ID: an additional $30–$45 beyond the standard fee
Research from the Brennan Center for Justice estimates that roughly 11% of U.S. citizens of voting age — about 21 million people nationally — do not currently have a government-issued photo ID, with higher rates among older adults, lower-income residents, and some minority communities.
The Americans for Citizen Voting proposal includes a provision requiring the state to provide free documentation or proof of citizenship for voters who demonstrate financial hardship or whose documents were lost; HB 4765, as currently written, does not include an equivalent hardship provision in the materials reviewed for this guide.
Where is HB 4765 in the legislative process right now?
| Date | Development |
| August 13, 2025 | HB 4765 introduced by Rep. Jason Woolford (R-Howell), proposing citizenship verification through state processes. |
| March 3, 2026 | First hearing before the House Election Integrity Committee. Republicans, including committee chair Rep. Rachelle Smit (R-Martin), voiced support; Democrats, including Reps. Mai Xiong (D-Warren), Matt Koleszar (D-Plymouth), and Stephen Wooden (D-Grand Rapids), raised concerns about access barriers and pointed to similar laws in Kansas and Arizona. |
| March 17, 2026 | Reported out of committee with a substitute version (H-1) reflecting a database-first verification approach; advanced to the House floor. |
| April 14, 2026 | Passed the Michigan House along a party-line vote, with all present Republicans in favor and all present Democrats opposed. |
| Current | Referred to the Senate Committee on Government Operations. The Democratic-controlled Senate is not expected to take up the bill. |
Comparing the Proposals
How does HB 4765 differ from the federal SAVE Act?
HB 4765 only affects Michigan's state and local elections; the federal SAVE Act would set a separate citizenship-documentation requirement for federal elections nationwide. HB 4765 and the federal SAVE Act (covered in our companion federal SAVE Act guide) pursue a similar goal but work differently.
The SAVE Act would set a citizenship-documentation requirement for registering to vote in federal elections nationwide, administered separately from any one state's driver's license process.
HB 4765 is narrower and more specific to Michigan's existing infrastructure: it primarily targets the automatic registration pathway tied to Secretary of State branch transactions, rather than creating a freestanding national registration requirement.
Both share the same underlying idea — that citizenship should be documented rather than self-attested — but they would be implemented through different systems, and a Michigan voter could, in theory, be subject to one, both, or neither, depending on what Congress and Lansing each ultimately pass.
What is the status of HB 4765?
- Senate committee review — the bill remains in the Senate Committee on Government Operations, which controls whether it advances to a floor vote.
- Floor vote — if reported out of committee, the full Senate would need to pass the bill, with Democrats currently holding a majority.
- Reconciliation — if the Senate passed a different version, the House and Senate would need to agree on identical language.
- Governor's action — Gov. Gretchen Whitmer would need to sign or veto any final bill.
Given the Senate's composition, HB 4765 is not currently expected to become law in its present form during this legislative session. Its more direct path to taking effect runs through the ballot measures described below, which would bypass the Legislature entirely if approved by voters.
What is the status of the 2026 ballot measures on voter citizenship requirements?
Separate from the Legislature, two ballot committees have been collecting signatures to place the issue before Michigan voters directly via a constitutional amendment. Both would apply only to Michigan and local elections; federal elections would remain governed by federal law (and, separately, by the SAVE Act if Congress eventually passes it).
Committee to Protect Voters' Rights
https://committeetoprotectvotersrights.com/
This measure grew out of House Joint Resolution B, a legislative proposal from Rep. Bryan Posthumus that failed to reach the two-thirds majority needed to pass the House on a 58–48 vote in 2025. Its backers then organized a citizen petition drive to put substantially the same proposal directly before voters. The Michigan Board of State Canvassers approved its 100-word summary for circulation on April 18, 2025.
Americans for Citizen Voting
A second, separately funded effort led by Republican operatives Paul Jacob and Kurt O'Keefe, backed by the Virginia-based Liberty Initiative Fund, won board approval for its own summary in May 2025 and began collecting signatures that July. Its proposal goes further than the Committee to Protect Voters' Rights measure in a few respects: it spells out in more detail which documents count as proof of citizenship, creates a statewide citizenship-verification and voter-roll-removal program with a 45-day notice period for voters flagged as unconfirmed, and adds new civil and criminal penalties — up to $1,000 in fines and five years in prison — for election officials or individuals who falsify citizenship information.
On March 4, 2026, Americans for Citizen Voting announced it had submitted roughly 750,000 signatures to the Michigan Department of State, well ahead of the 446,198 valid signatures required and the July 6, 2026 deadline. As of this writing, the Board of State Canvassers has not yet completed its random-sample verification of those signatures.
What if the Michigan voter citizenship ballot proposals pass?
If both pass, only the one with more "yes" votes actually amends the Constitution. Because the two proposals are similar but not identical, Michigan law creates an unusual scenario if both gather enough valid signatures: if voters approve both in November, the version that received more yes votes is the one that actually amends the Constitution.
Election law observers have noted that the similarity between the two petitions' summary language could also lead some petition signers to sign one when they intended to support the other.
| Committee to Protect Voters' Rights | Americans for Citizen Voting | |
| Signature deadline | July 6, 2026 | July 6, 2026 |
| Status as of June 30, 2026 | Collecting/verifying signatures | ~750,000 signatures submitted March 4, 2026; verification pending |
| Scope | State and local elections | State and local elections |
| Removal process for unverified voters | Not detailed in available summaries | 45-day notice before removal from rolls |
| New penalties | Not detailed in available summaries | Civil fines up to $1,000; up to 5 years imprisonment for falsification |
The practical impact of these proposals depends heavily on which one(s) ultimately take effect, but the underlying concern voters raise is consistent across HB 4765 and both ballot measures: documentary proof of citizenship is a higher bar than most Michigan voters have ever had to clear, and obtaining the qualifying documents can involve real cost and logistical hurdles.
Getting Ready to Vote
How to make sure you're registered and ready to vote in Michigan
None of the proposals described in this guide have taken effect yet. Under current Michigan law, the rules below apply.
1. Learn the Facts About Michigan Elections
The State of Michigan Secretary of State provides an Election Fact Center with official information on Michigan elections and voting: https://www.michigan.gov/sos/elections/election-fact-center
2. Check Your Voter Registration
Confirm your registration and address before every election through the Michigan Voter Information Center: https://mvic.sos.state.mi.us. This site lets you verify your registration status, confirm your polling location, view your ballot, and track absentee ballot requests. If you are not registered, Michigan allows same-day registration, including on Election Day, at your local city or township clerk's office.
3. Register to Vote
- Online (if you have a Michigan driver's license or state ID): https://mvic.sos.state.mi.us/RegisterVoter
- In person at your local clerk's office
- By mail using a voter registration form
If registering within 14 days of an election, you must register in person at your local clerk's office and provide proof of residency.
4. Understand Michigan's Current Voter ID Rules
Michigan law currently allows voters to cast a ballot even without photo identification at the polling place. If you have a photo ID, you'll be asked to show it; if you don't, you can sign a voter identification affidavit affirming your identity instead. Accepted photo IDs include a Michigan driver's license, Michigan state ID card, U.S. passport, military ID, tribal ID, or student ID from certain institutions.
5. Request an Absentee Ballot
Michigan voters can vote absentee without providing a reason, through the Michigan Voter Information Center: https://mvic.sos.state.mi.us/AVApplication
6. Nonpartisan Voting Information
Vote411, run by the League of Women Voters, offers candidate information, ballot previews, voting deadlines, and election information by address: https://www.vote411.org
Final Tip
Election rules can change, especially with HB 4765 pending in the Senate and two ballot measures still in the signature-verification process. The most reliable way to stay current is to check the Michigan Secretary of State's voter information website periodically and contact your local clerk's office with specific questions.
Content Disclaimer: Our team researches information from official websites, news outlets, and other public resources to make it easier for Michigan residents to stay informed. We strive to provide accurate, balanced, and up-to-date information, but we may occasionally miss updates or changes. Michigan Women is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization and does not support or oppose any political candidate or party. This content is intended solely for civic education and public awareness.
