Michigan voters don’t have to wait until Election Day. Ballots are already in play and some of the biggest races in years are on the line.
Voting Starts NOW
⌁ Thursday, September 25, 2025 – You can vote in person with an absentee ballot at your local clerk’s office starting this day. That’s the real beginning of voting in Michigan.
⌁ Ballots also begin being mailed to voters who requested them.
⌁ October 6 – First day that communities may offer in-person early voting at a designated early voting site. Contact your clerk to find out whether and where you can vote early in person for the November 4 General Election.
⌁ October 20 – Last day to register online or by mail. After that, you can still register in person at your clerk’s office with proof of residency.
⌁ October 21 – State recommends mailing back completed ballots by this date to avoid postal delays.
⌁ October 31 – Deadline to apply online or by mail for an absentee ballot.
⌁ November 2 – Last day that communities may offer in-person early voting.
⌁ November 3, 4:00pm – Last chance to vote absentee in person at your clerk’s office.
⌁ November 4, 7:00am to 8:00pm – Election Day. Polls open statewide. All absentee ballots must be returned by 8:00pm sharp.
⌁ If you’re serving in the military or living overseas, your ballot must be postmarked by Election Day (November 4) and received by November 10 to count.
Key Matchups to Watch
DETROIT MAYOR
For the first time in over a decade Detroit will have a new mayor. City Council President Mary Sheffield faces Pastor Solomon Kinloch Jr. Sheffield dominated the primary with more than half the vote, Kinloch came in a distant second. The stakes: leadership on crime, housing, and whether Duggan’s downtown-first legacy continues or shifts.
MICHIGAN GOVERNOR (GENERAL ELECTION HELD NOVEMBER 2026)
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer is term limited, so this election sets the stage for who is the party nominee to replace her in the November 2026 election.
⌁ Republicans: Mike Cox, Aric Nesbitt, John James are jockeying for position.
⌁ Democrats: Jocelyn Benson and Garlin Gilchrist lead the pack.
⌁ Independent: Mike Duggan, exiting Detroit’s mayor office, has thrown his hat in.
This race will dominate Michigan politics into 2026.
U.S. SENATE (OPEN SEAT)
Sen. Gary Peters is retiring, making this one of the hottest Senate races in America.
⌁ Democrats: Haley Stevens, Mallory McMorrow, Abdul El-Sayed are lining up.
⌁ Republicans: Mike Rogers is the early frontrunner.
With Senate control likely to be razor thin, Michigan will be a national battleground.
Michigan State Senate
Every one of the 38 seats is up in 2026. Redistricting and term limits mean plenty of open seats and competitive matchups. Add in a special election already triggered, and the balance of power in Lansing could shift quickly.
