Michigan election rules, races and results: 10 things to know about Nov. 3

Michigan’s Nov. 3 midterm election will determine the state’s next governor, US senator and more
Polls will open Tuesday from 7 am to 8 pm. Absentee ballots can still be returned in-person but it’s too late to mail them
Read on to see what’s on your ballot, as well as what you need to bring to the polls on Tuesday

LANSING — Election Day is Tuesday, and Michiganders will have the chance then to decide not just their next US Senator, but who will represent them in the state House, Senate and, in some cases, at the local level.

The general election will also help determine majority control of Congress, as well as who succeeds term-limited Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, a Democrat.

Voters will also weigh in on a ballot proposal aiming to bar political spending in state elections by Michigan’s regulated utilities and large government contractors, and another on whether to hold the state’s first constitutional convention since the 1960s.

Related:

As of 7 a.m. Monday, more than 2.3 million Michiganders had already cast absentee ballots or voted early in person, about 31% of all active registered voters, according to the state. That includes 1.6 million absentee ballots and 743,450 ballots cast during Michigan’s early in-person voting period, which ended Sunday.

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

What’s on my ballot, and where can I vote?

Michiganders will see different candidates and races on the ballot depending on where they live, but all voters will have the chance to vote on a number of statewide positions.

To see what’s on your ballot, click here.
Don’t know your precinct? Click here.

Polls are open from 7 am to 8 pm on Election Day, though voters in line by 8 pm on Tuesday can still cast a ballot.

It’s too late to participate in early in-person voting, which ended Sunday. If you have an absentee ballot, it’s also probably too late to mail it. Instead, return it to a drop box or your local clerk’s office by 8 p.m. Tuesday.

What do I need to bring to vote?

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.

Not registered to vote? Eligible residents can still 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.

Are there accommodations for voters with disabilities?

Michigan requires a number of accommodations for those with disabilities to vote. The state has a separate ombudsman office to ease accessibility during elections.

You can also ask another person to assist you in completing your ballot, though this person cannot be your employer, an agent of your employer or a person associated with your workplace’s labor union, if applicable.

For more information, click here.

Key state-level races

Top statewide offices and all legislative seats are on the ballot this year in Michigan, including:

Governor: Democrat Jocelyn Benson and Republican John James are battling to succeed term-limited Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. Benson is benefiting from backlash against the Trump administration. James, meanwhile, is counting on Michigan voters to oscillate back to the GOP by persuading voters that Whitmer, Benson and other Democrats are to blame for the state’s trajectory.

Legislature: Control of the Michigan Legislature is on the line as both major political parties fight to win majorities. Democrats currently hold a 20-18 seat advantage in the state Senate, while Republicans have a 58-52 edge in the House.

10 races to watch in battle for Michigan Legislature

There are also a number of other consequential races, including:

Attorney General: Doug Lloyd (R) vs. Eli Savit (D)
Secretary of State: Anthony Forlini (R) vs. Garlin Gilchrist II (D)
Michigan Supreme Court: Meet the candidates
State Board of Education: Meet the candidates

Key federal races

Michigan has a number of competitive federal races to watch this cycle, including:

US Senate: The race between Democrat Abdul El-Sayed and Republican Mike Rogers is one of the nation’s most closely watched races — and most expensive — a tossup that could determine which party controls Congress for the last two years of President Donald Trump’s term.

Congress: There are several competitive races for the US House in Michigan that could play a role in whether Republicans keep their majority. Among them:

In Mid-Michigan’s 7th Congressional District, incumbent Republican US Rep. Tom Barrett is challenged by Democrat Will Lawrence, a progressive environmental activist and community organizer
In Macomb County’s 10th Congressional District, Republican US Army Capt. Michael Bouchard and Democratic prosecutor Christina Hines are competing to fill the seat being vacated by James
Southwest Michigan’s 4th US House District, where incumbent GOP US Rep. Bill Huizenga faces a challenge from Democratic state Sen. Sean McCann

What about the statewide ballot questions?

Depending on jurisdiction, Michiganders may have a handful of questions on their individual ballots, but these two will be on all ballots statewide:

Proposal 1 of 2026: This asks voters whether they want to convene a constitutional convention, a question that automatically appears on the ballot every 16 years and has been defeated in prior elections.

Proposal 2 of 2026: This would prohibit direct or indirect contributions to Michigan politicians by DTE Energy, Consumers Energy and companies with more than $250,000 in state government contracts, along with immediate family members and other people with close connections to the companies.

When will we know race results?

It’s difficult to predict. Bridge Michigan doesn’t call races, but instead relies on The Associated Press (AP) to declare winners.

In some races, results may not be known until early Wednesday, Nov. 4. Keep checking in with Bridge on election night for the latest info.

How long does vote counting usually take?

In the 2024 general election, the AP first reported results at 8:06 p.m. ET, or six minutes after polls closed in most of the state. The vote count reached the halfway mark at 12:12 a.m. ET. The last vote update of the night was at 4:40 a.m. ET with about 99% of total votes counted.

The AP does not make projections and will declare a winner only when it’s determined there is no scenario that would allow a trailing candidate to close the gap.

If a race has not been called, Bridge will continue to cover newsworthy developments, such as candidate concessions or declarations of victory. But we’ll make clear the AP has not yet declared a winner and explain why.

When are early and absentee votes released?

Michigan counties vary in how and when they release vote results. The first vote updates of the night across the state are expected to include a mix of results from absentee, early in-person and Election Day voting.

Wayne, Oakland, Macomb, Kent, Genesee and Washtenaw counties tend to release relatively few results in their first vote updates.

What triggers a recount?

Recounts in Michigan are automatic in statewide races if the vote margin is 0.1% or less of the total votes cast.

Under the state’s 2024 recount law, candidates may request and pay for a recount if they have a “good-faith belief” that there’s a “reasonable chance” they would have won if not for a vote-counting error.