Michigan Voter File
How to get the official Michigan voter list from the state, what it costs, who qualifies, and how to turn the file into a canvass once it arrives.
At a glance
- Estimated fee
- Ask the state
- Who can request
- Any person or organization (public, candidates, parties, committees, residents, etc.) via FOIA
- Activate can request?
- Yes — directly
- Registered voters (estimate)
- About 7.9 million
- Verified against
- michigan.gov — September 25, 2026 · monitored for changes
What is the Michigan voter file?
The Michigan voter file is the official statewide list of registered voters maintained by the state election office. It typically includes voter names, addresses, party registration (where applicable), precinct, district, and voting history. Campaigns use it to organize canvassing and mail programs. The Michigan public voter file doesn't include phone numbers, so to call or text voters you will need a list that has them.
How to request the Michigan voter file
Once you have the file, you can import it into a political canvassing tool like Activate to organize volunteers and track outreach.
- 1Confirm Michigan accepts your requestor type (Any person or organization (public, candidates, parties, committees, residents, etc.) via FOIA).
- 2Visit the official Michigan election office request page.
- 3Submit the official request for the Michigan voter file.
- 4Receive the file and upload it securely to Activate for your campaign.
When the Michigan file arrives, bring it into Activate
If you already have a voter file you are authorized to use, create a campaign and upload it through the campaign's voter import. Review the field mapping and import results before assigning voters to volunteers.
- Upload CSV, Excel, delimited text, or a ZIP containing supported CSV and Excel files.
- The importer detects the delimiter (comma, tab, semicolon or pipe) rather than assuming commas, and reads the UTF-16 exports some state systems still produce.
- Every value is kept as text, so a ZIP of 02134 stays 02134 and a long voter ID stays intact.
- The first 5,000 records in an import are stored free. The cost step shows the record count and the total in Credits before you confirm.
Core canvassing is free, and each import includes the first 5,000 usable records. AI-assisted preparation and additional records use Credits; SMS requires purchased Credits.
This state's voter file is not currently available in Activate. Before ordering, confirm that you qualify to request and use it, and check the election office's current fee and delivery instructions. Permission for Activate to request a file does not mean a file has been ordered or is ready to use.
Eligibility and restrictions
Eligible requestors: Any person or organization (public, candidates, parties, committees, residents, etc.) via FOIA
Legal basis: MCL 168.509gg (exemptions); Michigan FOIA (MCL 15.231 et seq.); MCL 168.509q
Requesting Michigan Qualified Voter File records
Use the Michigan Department of State Qualified Voter File Data Request Form. It lets you specify the entire state, a county, a jurisdiction or a district, and select voter history separately. Submit the request using the email or mailing address on the form.
The current form does not quote a statewide purchase fee. Ask the department for the charge for your request; an older $23 procurement quote is not today's verified price.
The form provides for an encrypted flash drive or an arranged FTP transfer and says electronic files are not emailed. It mentions both CSV and fixed-length ASCII, so confirm the delivery format and obtain the file layout. It lists voter-provided phone numbers and email addresses among the exempt fields.
Ask for the covered geography, file date, delivery format, included fields and terms of use. Those are questions to resolve with the office, rather than promises about the file.
Michigan Qualified Voter File Data Request Form (March 2026) · Official page read October 2, 2026
See the import steps and download a synthetic exampleCost and turnaround
We show a fee only when the state's own official text states it, so ask the Michigan election office for the current cost. Turnaround varies by state and request volume. Delivery may be instant download, email, or physical media depending on the state. Check the official Michigan election office page for the most current timeline.
Frequently asked questions
How much does the Michigan voter file cost?
We show a fee only when the state's own official text states it. Ask the Michigan election office for the current cost; the official link is on this page.
Who can request the Michigan voter file?
Any person or organization (public, candidates, parties, committees, residents, etc.) via FOIA
Can I download the Michigan voter file online?
Some requestors may be able to request or download the file through the official Michigan election office portal.
How long does it take to get the Michigan voter file?
Turnaround varies by state and request volume. Check the official Michigan election office page for current processing times.
What is in the Michigan voter file?
State voter files typically include voter name, address, party registration (where applicable), precinct, district, and voting history fields. Exact fields vary by state and are controlled by state law.
How many voters are in the Michigan voter file?
Our state register estimates about 7.9 million registered voters in Michigan, so a statewide file runs to roughly that many records. A district, county or city list is a fraction of it.
Can I import the Michigan voter file into Activate?
Yes, if you are authorized to use it. Create a campaign and upload the file through the campaign's voter import. Upload CSV, Excel, delimited text, or a ZIP containing supported CSV and Excel files. The importer detects the delimiter (comma, tab, semicolon or pipe) rather than assuming commas, and reads the UTF-16 exports some state systems still produce. Every value is kept as text, so a ZIP of 02134 stays 02134 and a long voter ID stays intact. The first 5,000 records in an import are stored free. The cost step shows the record count and the total in Credits before you confirm.
Field guides
How to Get Your State's Voter File and Put It to Work in the Field
State voter files run from free to $5,000, and the fee has nothing to do with what you get. This walks through which office keeps the list, why almost every published figure is still an estimate, what actually arrives in the file, and what secure handling costs once you import it.
Bring Your Own List: Make a Voter File Import-Ready Before You Upload
A pre-upload readiness pass for a bring-your-own voter list: what a usable file looks like, where to get one when there is none, and the checks for provenance, minimization, normalization, deduplication, suppression, access, validation, and retention that decide whether the canvass built on it holds up.
Ready to use the Michigan voter file?
Canvassing is free on Activate for local campaigns — routes, door logging, and phone banking, plus the first 5,000 records of every import. Import your voter list, invite volunteers, and start reaching voters today.
This page is for informational purposes only and is not legal advice. Voter file access laws and fees change. Confirm the current procedure with the official state election office before submitting a request.