Mallory McMorrow and the City of Detroit Don’t Know How Voter Registration Works

Either they don’t know that you don’t need a government ID to vote in Michigan, or they are throwing up a smokescreen to hide a terrible policy

By Anna Hoffman

January 16, 2025

In a Facebook post and email earlier this week, New Jersey native turned Michigan state senator, Mallory McMorrow, encouraged anyone who lives in Detroit (here legally or not) to get a Detroit ID card:

Screenshot reading "Mallory McMorrow
January 8 at 3:30 PM •
The Detroit ID Card Program is back, making it easier for residents to get an official photo ID for just $10! This program is open to everyone in the city, including people who are homeless or returning citizens, helping them access essential services like opening bank accounts, setting up utilities, registering to vote, and getting into city buildings.
With a fresh start and updated features, the program is here to make life a little easier for Detroiters who need it most. For more information, you can read here:
DETROITMI.GOV
Detroit ID Card Program is Back | City of
Detroit
Detroit ID operations will resume at Detroit Health Department's 3rd Annual Block Party Saturday, September 7thNew vendor offering..."

McMorrow was revealing the truth in her since-deleted post.

But when I called out this obvious attempt to get illegal immigrants to vote in Michigan elections on X, the City of Detroit’s X account stated that a Detroit ID can’t be used to vote and referred questions to the Detroit Health Department:

Screenshot reading "This is not true. Detroit ID cannot be used for voting. Read more here: detroitmi.gov/ departments/de...
Contact @DetHealth for additional information.
Anna Hoffman & @shoesonplease • 2d
Michigan Senator and Lizard Mallory McMorrow (D-New Jersey) is encouraging illegal immigrants to get their Detroit ID Card.
Among other perks, a Detroit ID card can be used..."

The City of Detroit has it wrong.

According to the Michigan Secretary of State website, a person can register to vote in person by presenting a photo ID and proof of residency. Acceptable methods of voter ID include, among other things, “other government documents.”

As it turns out, you don’t need an ID at all to vote in the State of Michigan.

If you forget your “other government document,” there’s still a way to vote:

“If you register to vote in person, you will be asked for a photo ID. If you don’t have one, you can sign a simple form called an affidavit and then register to vote.”

The affidavit is a piece of paper with a name, address, and signature line. It’s an honor system.

Form reading "AFFIDAVIT OF VOTER NOT IN POSSESSION OF PICTURE IDENTIFICATION
1,
hereby affirm that I reside at
(Print Name)
(Present Street Address)
I further affirm that I am not in possession of a driver's license, a state-issued personal identification card or any other acceptable form of picture identification and wish to register to vote or vote.
By signing this affidavit, I swear that the statements made above are true.
SIGNATURE OF VOTER: X
Penalty: Making a false statement in this affidavit is perjury, punishable by a fine up to $1,000.00 or imprisonment for up to 5 years, or both.
To be completed by Election Official/Inspector
Sworn and subscribed to before me this
_day of
I certify that the elector named above has completed the above affidavit in my presence.
Signature of Election Official/Inspector
NOTE: This document should be retained with the voter registration form, absent voter ballot application, or application to vote depending on the transaction conducted that required picture identification."

And it gets even worse. Once an ineligible voter has voted, their vote can’t be canceled.

A Chinese national was charged with election fraud when he turned himself in after voting in the 2024 presidential election. If he hadn’t turned himself in, no one would have ever caught him. But his vote counted, because there is no way to retrieve a ballot once the vote was cast.

After being falsely corrected by the City of Detroit, McMorrow backtracked in a new Facebook post:

Screenshot reading "Mallory McMorrow ⅘
19h •
Earlier this week, we shared information about the Detroit Health Department Detroit ID program, making a photo ID easily accessible for all Detroit residents. While Michigan law allows local government-issues IDs to be used to satisfy the ID check requirement for voting in person early or on Election Day, a Detroit ID cannot be used to register to vote. We apologize for the earlier version of our social media post where that distinction was unclear. You can learn more about the Detroit ID program here: https://detroitmi.gov/ departments/detroit-health-department/programs-and-services/detroit-id
Detroit Health Department € • Follow 1d •
Detroit ID is for YOU no matter if you are unhoused, a returning citizen, or an immigrant, Detroit ID is a citywide ID that provides you access to utilize city programs and services like paying your utility bills. Walk-ins are accepted at 100 Mack Ave., Monday through Friday. Visit, https://detroitmi.gov/detroitid to learn more or call (313) 774-5388."

McMorrow and the City of Detroit might want to actually learn about Michigan voting laws, so they stop posting incorrect information. Or maybe they know just how unpopular our voter ID system is in Michigan and are throwing up a smokescreen.

Regardless, Mike Duggan should fire his comms team and take steps to ensure Michigan’s largest city understands the state’s voter registration laws.

Anna Hoffman is a hockey mom of three living in Ann Arbor. Follow her on X @shoesonplease.