Free public service for Michigan votersNo candidate endorsementsGuide sources checked October 1, 2026General election November 3, 2026
Official voter resources
Make your Michigan voting plan
Use Michigan's official voter portal to register, check your record, find early voting sites, request an absentee ballot, review photo ID rules, and locate your Election Day polling place.
Mail and online registration is available through October 19. From October 20 through Election Day, an eligible resident must register in person at the city or township clerk's office and provide proof of residency.
Every community must offer at least nine consecutive days of early voting from October 24 through November 1. Communities may add days, and beginning in 2026 may optionally offer Monday, November 2. Election Day polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Every registered Michigan voter may vote absentee without an excuse. A mailed or online application must reach the clerk by 5 p.m. on October 30. An in-person application is available through 4 p.m. on November 2. A domestic ballot must reach the clerk by 8 p.m. on Election Day.
October 19mail and online registration deadline
October 24required early voting begins
October 30mail or online absentee application deadline
7 a.m. to 8 p.m.Election Day poll hours
Dated checklist
Election timeline
MOVE ballot deadline
Michigan clerks must transmit requested ballots to military and overseas voters by this federal deadline.
Absentee ballots available
Clerks begin making absentee voter ballots available for the November election.
Mail and online voter registration deadline
Register by mail or online by this date. The clerk must receive a mailed application by the deadline.
In-person registration required
From this date through Election Day, register at the city or township clerk's office and provide proof of residency.
Required statewide early voting begins
The constitutionally required nine-day early voting period starts. Confirm the site and hours for the community.
Mailed or online absentee application deadline
The local clerk must receive a mailed or online absentee ballot application by 5 p.m.
Required statewide early voting period ends
This is the ninth required early voting day. A community may offer additional days and may optionally offer November 2.
In-person absentee application deadline
A voter may request and vote an absentee ballot at the local clerk's office through 4 p.m., subject to the official rules.
General Election Day and domestic ballot receipt deadline
Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Domestic absentee ballots must reach the clerk by 8 p.m. Military and overseas ballots have a separate postmark and six-day receipt rule.
Check the current rule: A Michigan voter is asked to show an acceptable photo ID at the polls, but a voter without photo ID may sign an affidavit and cast a regular ballot. Registration during the final 14 days, including Election Day, requires proof of residency. Confirm current documents and local instructions before traveling.
On the ballot
2 statewide ballot questions
Every Michigan voter will decide one constitutional-convention question and one initiated campaign-finance law on the November 3 ballot.
Proposal 2026-1: Constitutional conventionThe question asks whether a convention of elected delegates should convene in 2027 to draft a general revision of the Michigan Constitution for later voter approval or rejection.
Proposal 2026-2: Utility and contractor contributions and political communicationsThe initiated law would prohibit specified regulated electric and gas utilities, government contractors with more than $250,000 in annual contracts, and substantially connected people or organizations from making campaign contributions to affected officeholders or candidates. It would also extend campaign-finance regulation and disclosure to additional candidate and ballot-question communications, including internet communications.
1 statewide judicial election; no statewide retention question
All Michigan voters will elect two justices of the Michigan Supreme Court from six printed nonpartisan candidates. That election is included in the nine candidate contests in this guide. Michigan's 2026 statewide ballot does not present a separate statewide judicial retention question.
Use the Michigan Voter Information Center for your complete ballot
This statewide guide excludes congressional, legislative, county, municipal, school, lower-court, and local public questions. Use the state voter portal to confirm the complete ballot, early voting site, polling place, and clerk information for your address.
