What to know about voting in Michigan’s primary election

Michigan voters decide key primary races for Senate, governor and Congress
Voters will also decide nearly 300 local tax requests
Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. and voters can still register at the polls.

Michigan voters head to the polls Tuesday to help decide competitive primaries for the US Senate and governor, along with congressional and legislative races, a data center referendum and hundreds of local tax proposals that could shape communities across the state.

The primary will narrow the field in several of Michigan’s most closely watched races ahead of November’s general election that will help determine control of the US Senate and who succeeds Gov. Gretchen Whitmer.

As of Monday morning, more than 1.2 million Michiganders had already cast absentee ballots or voted early in person, according to the state.

Related:

Check out the Bridge Michigan voter guide for more information on candidates, top issues and more. Here’s what else you need to know:

Key information

@bridge.michigan
Waiting on Michigan’s election results? You might be waiting longer than you’d think because of the state’s decentralized voting system. Here’s a breakdown. For more nonpartisan voting information, click the link in our bio.
♬ original sound – Bridge Michigan

When to vote: Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Election Day. Voters in line by 8 p.m. can still cast a ballot. You can find your polling location on the Michigan Secretary of State’s website.

Sample ballot: See what’s on your ballot before you vote by filling out this form.

Voter ID requirements: Bring a photo ID such as a driver’s license, state ID, US passport, military ID, student ID or tribal ID. If you don’t have one, you can still vote by signing an affidavit confirming your identity.

Absentee ballots: It’s too late to mail in your absentee ballot. To ensure it counts, return it to a drop box or your clerk’s office by 8 p.m. Tuesday. Early in-person voting has also ended.

Same-day registration: Eligible residents can register and vote on Election Day at their local clerk’s office until 8 p.m. Bring proof of residency, such as a state ID, utility bill, paycheck or government document.

To register, you must:

Be a US citizen
Be at least 18 years old
Have lived in your city or township for at least 30 days
Not be currently serving a jail or prison sentence

Once your eligibility is verified, you can submit a registration application to the clerk.

Key Races

US Senate: Voters will decide which Democrat will face Republican Mike Rogers in November in one of the nation’s most closely watched US Senate races.

@bridge.michigan
Abdul El-Sayed sat quietly alongside his wife and Black political leaders in a packed Detroit church Sunday morning, clapping as the congregation sang and the pastor preached. Then he stood before the room and asked for their votes. Less than 10 miles away, U.S. Rep. Haley Stevens was making her own appeal at another Black church, where one of the city’s most prominent pastors made the case for her. There were fewer than 48 hours left in Michigan’s fiercely contested Democratic Senate primary. And after more than a year spent preaching starkly different visions for their party — with tens of millions of dollars poured into the race and national attention focused on it — both candidates had come to some of the same places looking for the votes to win it. First, Black churches. Later, union halls. Then rallies surrounded by their core supporters. Read more at the link in our bio. Video by @apnews
♬ original sound – Bridge Michigan

Abdul El-Sayed, former director of Wayne County’s Department of Health, Human and Veterans Services, is facing off against US Rep. Haley Stevens, who has represented her district in Congress since 2019.

Recent polls suggest El-Sayed, a progressive, has an edge over Stevens, a moderate, highlighting a test of the Democratic Party’s divide, with progressives and moderates competing for influence over the party.

Governor: As Whitmer serves the final year of her second and final term, voters will decide which major party candidates will get a chance to replace her by moving on to the November general election.

Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson and Genesee County Sheriff Chris Swanson are competing for the Democratic nomination, while businessman Perry Johnson and US Rep. John James are vying for the Republican nomination.

More: There are also competitive Democratic primaries in Michigan’s 7th and 13th congressional districts, among others. Learn about more top races to watch here.

Key proposals

While Michigan voters will decide several high-profile statewide races, many will also weigh whether to raise their own property taxes to pay for essential local services, from police and fire departments to libraries and parks.

There are nearly 300 local proposals to increase property taxes for things like public safety services, roads, libraries and parks and recreation, according to Gongwer News Service. Education proposals are less common this election than in previous years. Voters will consider nine new school bond proposals and 11 sinking fund millages, with none exceeding $30 million.

In Washtenaw County’s Augusta Township, a referendum on a local zoning ordinance change could allow voters to decide the fate of a hyperscale data center proposal.

Key issues

Bridge has reported extensively on important issues ahead of the election. Read more here, or click the links below to see where governor candidates stand:

Key facts

Bridge has also been vigorously checking the facts of major statewide candidates. Read some of our findings at the links below: