Voter guide 2026: Everything you need to know about voting in Detroit 1%
By Laurén Abdel-Razzaq0%
7/29/2026, 4:20:23 PM
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BridgeDetroit will never tell you who to vote for.
But we do want you to feel informed and empowered to vote.
Use this nonpartisan voter guide to help you prepare.
Detroit Votes and Bridge Michigan partnered with BridgeDetroit in the creation of this guide.
If you have suggestions for election coverage, reach out: info@bridgedetroit.com | (313) 284-6407
Frequently asked questions about voting
How to vote in Michigan’s Primary election
How to be an informed voter and detect misinformation
What happens to ballots in Michigan
Election Protection Hotline: 866-687-8683
Office of Detroit City Clerk Janice Winfrey: 313-224-3270
Office of Wayne County Clerk Cathy Garrett: 313-224-5525
Thursday, June 25: First day for absentee ballot voting in the Primary election.
Monday, July 20: Last day to register to vote online for the Aug.
4, 2026 Primary election.
Saturday, July 25: First day of early in-person voting in Detroit for the Primary election.
Tuesday, Aug.
4: Michigan statewide Primary election — voters will decide major party nominees for governor, the state Legislature, Congress and more
Thursday, Sept.
24: First day for absentee ballot voting in the General election
Monday, Oct.
19: Last day to register to vote online for the Nov.
3, 2026 General election.
Saturday, Oct.
24: First day of early in-person voting in Detroit for the General election.
Tuesday, Nov.
3: Michigan statewide General election — voters will decide the state’s next governor, attorney general, secretary of state, state legislators, members of Congress and more
Who are the statewide candidates?
Full list of candidates for every race
Republicans for governor: Mike Cox , John James , Perry Johnson , Aric Nesbitt, Ralph Rebandt
Democrats for governor: Jocelyn Benson , Chris Swanson
Governor candidate stances on key issues: K-12 schools | Health care | Data centers | Taxes
Attorney General: Doug Lloyd (R) v.
Eli Savit (D)
Secretary of State: Anthony Forlini (R) v.
Garlin Gilchrist II (D)
US Senate: Abdul El-Sayed (D), Mallory McMorrow (D), Haley Stevens (D) vs Mike Rogers (R)
US House: Explore candidates in all 13 districts
Michigan House: Candidates in all 110 districts
Michigan Senate: Candidates in all 38 districts
Who are the countywide candidates?
Sigmunt John Szczepkowski, Jr (D)
Michael A.
Evans (R)
County Commissioner – District 5 (partial term ending Jan.
1, 2028)
Jenell C.
Mansfield (D)
Angelique Peterson-Mayberry (D)
Delegate to County Convention
No Primary because candidates are nonpartisan.
Detroiters can vote on their choices in the General election.
Incumbent – 6-year term (16 positions)
Chandra W.
Baker-Robinson
Christopher M.
Blount
Cylenthia LaToye Miller
Margaret M.
Van Houten
Shannon Nicol Walker
Non-incumbent – 6-year term (1 position)
Shakira Lynn Hawkins
Incumbent – partial term ending 01/01/2031 (1 position)
Non-incumbent – 6-year term (3 positions)
Incumbent – 6-year term (6 positions)
Adrienne Hinnant-Johnson
Millicent D.
Sherman
Incumbent – partial term ending 01/01/2031 (3 positions)
Chastity A.
Youngblood
Wayne County Community College District
Who are the citywide candidates?
Congressional Districts (U.S.
House)
12th District : Covers Western Detroit, along with areas like Dearborn, Redford, and Southfield.
Shanelle Jackson (D)
Read more on the race from the Arab American News .
13th District : Covers Eastern Detroit, along with suburbs like Hamtramck and the Grosse Pointes.
Shri Thanedar (D) – incumbent
Donavan McKinney (D)
Mary Waters (D) – disqualified
John Goci (D) – disqualified and running a write-in campaign
Martell D.
Bivings (R) -disqualified
Raphiel King (R) -disqualified
Read more on the race here .
State Senate district seats
Bobby Christian Sr.
(D) – withdrawn
John Conyers III (D)
Kimberly Hill Knott (D)
Theodore Jones (D) – withdrawn
Rachel Udabe (D) – withdrawn
Rakesh Ramakrishnan (D)
Anthony R.
Paesano (R)
Dean Raymond Wojtowicz (D) – withdrawn
Mark Anthony Murphy Jr.
(D)
Joseph Michael Hunt (D)
Veronica Klinefelt (D)
Johnnie S.
Townsend (R)
Joseph A.
Backus (R)
Patrick Shawn Biange (R)
State House district seats
MORE INFORMATION COMING SOON
Detroit Board of Education
There are five seats up for election on the Detroit Board of Education.
Here’s a full list of candidates, provided by the Detroit clerk’s office:
Theresa Arleen Williams
Michelle Rene’ Broughton
Katrina Lanise Brown
Cidney Julia-Angela Calloway
Nicole Marie Conaway
Vilma Vateria Escamilla-Duran
Daniel Franklin Ferguson, III
Duane Larry Grisby, Jr.
David Dwayne Harris, II
Christopher Allen Hubbard
Ijazz Johnnay Jackson
Shinese DeCarol Johnson
Theodore Rhett Jones
LaMar Demetri Demetri Lemmons
Phillip E.
Lloyd, II
Darious Lamar Morris
Liana Stern Mulholland
Danetta Lynese Simpson
Jameel Montgomery Smith
Calesther J.
Smith-Arnold
Shandria Alise Vaughn
Terry Eugene Whitfield
Elizabeth Ann Williams
Read more information from Chalkbeat Detroit .
You should also read about how Detroit school board’s chair and vice chair will not seek reelection in November .
What are the ballot issues Detroiters can vote on?
Wayne County Transit Authority Wayne County Public Transportation Millage
Read a breakdown of the issue here .
Language on the ballot : A proposal to authorize the Wayne County Transit Authority to levy a millage for the purpose of funding public transportation services in Wayne County, including operating, maintaining, improving, and expanding transit services; creating and expanding new fixed routes for bus service connecting local communities; expanding transportation services for seniors, veterans, people with disabilities, and the general public to access healthcare, education, and other daily needs.
The millage would be levied at a maximum rate of 0.9831 mills (0.98 cents per $1,000 of taxable value) for a period of 10 years beginning with the 2026 tax year levy and ending with the 2035 tax year levy.
This millage would replace an expiring millage levied by the Wayne County Transit Authority supporting the Suburban Mobility Authority for Regional Transportation (“SMART”).
If this new millage is approved and levied, revenue will be distributed to Wayne County, SMART, Detroit Department of Transportation (DDOT), and other community and regional transit providers.
It is estimated that $57,616,329.00 will be collected in the first year.
Should this proposal be adopted?
Proposal S Detroit Public Schools Community District Operating Millage Replacement Proposal
Language on the ballot : If it is determined that the School District of the City of Detroit is no longer authorized to levy an operating millage to retire its legacy debt under State law this proposal would replace that levy by authorizing the Detroit Public Schools Community District to levy the statutory limit of 18 mills on all property, except principal residences (owner occupied homes) and other property exempt by law, for general operating purposes and allow the School District to continue to levy the statutory limit of 18 mills in the event of future Headlee rollbacks of up to 6 mills.
This authorization will allow the School District to receive revenues at the full per pupil foundation allowance permitted by the State.
Shall the limitation on the total amount of taxes which may be assessed against all property, except principal residences and other property exempted by law, situated within the Detroit Public Schools Community District, County of Wayne, Michigan, be increased in the amount of 24 mills with 18 mills being the maximum allowable annual levy ($18.00 on each $1,000 of taxable valuation), for a period of twenty (20) years, 2026 to 2045, inclusive?
This operating millage if approved and levied, would provide estimated revenues to the School District of $112,000,000 during the 2026 calendar year, to be used for general operating purposes.
We want to hear from you!
Bridge Listens is a yearlong listening effort to identify Michigan’s most important issues and ensure politicians address them.
The initiative intends to ground 2026 elections in fact-based journalism and engagement, concluding with an Issues Summit.
Read all about it here .
Check your registration
First, verify if you are already registered by putting your information into https://mvic.sos.state.mi.us/Voter/Index and it will tell you.
You need the following qualifications to vote:
Be at least 17.5 years old and turn 18 before Election Day
Have lived in Detroit for at least 30 days
Are you ready to register to vote?
What you need to do depends on how close to the election it is.
If you aren’t already registered and it’s more than 14 days before the election, you have three options:
You can register to vote at the Detroit City Clerk’s office (2 Woodward Ave.
#200 Detroit, MI 48226) or the Department of Elections (2978 W.
Grand Blvd.
Detroit, MI 48226) Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
You need to prove that you live at your address, so you must bring a printed record of one of the following:
Your Michigan driver’s license or state ID card
A utility bill, bank statement, pay check, government check or any other government document with your name and Detroit address on it.
You can register to vote online if you have a valid Michigan driver’s license or state ID here .
If you don’t have one of those, you need to register in person at the City Clerk’s office.
July 20 is the last day you can register to vote online for the Aug.
4, 2026 Primary election.
Oct. 19 is the last day you can register to vote online for the Nov.
3, 2026 General election.
You can mail a completed voter registration application to the Detroit City Clerk (even if you don’t have a Michigan driver’s license, state ID, or Social Security number).
Your application must be postmarked 14 days before Election Day or sooner.
Download a voter registration application here.
Fill out your application; put your completed application in an envelope addressed to Detroit City Clerk, 2 Woodward Ave.
#200, Detroit, MI 48226; stamp your envelope and put it in the mail.
Your registration application must be postmarked on or before July 20 for the Aug.
4, 2026 Primary election and on or before Oct. 19 for the Nov.
3, 2026 General election.
If it is 14 days or fewer before the election , you must register to vote in person at a Detroit Early Vote Center or the Detroit City Clerk’s office.
Starting on July 21, you’ll need to register in person at the Detroit City Clerk’s office with proof of residency for the Aug.
4, 2026 Primary election.
Starting on Oct. 20, you’ll need to register in person with the Detroit City Clerk’s office with proof of residency for the Nov.
3, 2026 General election.
Want to vote before Election Day?
You can vote in person at the Detroit City Clerk’s office or at an Early Voting Site starting nine days before Election Day.
You can vote using an absentee ballot at the Detroit City Clerk’s office located at 2 Woodward Ave.
#200, Detroit, MI 48226 starting 40 days before Election Day until 4 p.m. the Monday before Election Day.
For the Aug.
4, 2026 Primary Election, you can vote early in person with an absentee ballot at the Detroit City Clerk’s office starting on June 25.
If you are registered to vote at your current address, you can vote at the Clerk’s office until Aug. 3 at 4 p.m.
For the Nov.
3, 2026 General Election, you can vote early in person with an absentee ballot at the Detroit City Clerk’s office starting on Sept.
24.
If you are registered to vote at your current address, you can vote at the Clerk’s office until Nov. 2 at 4 p.m.
You can vote in person at a Detroit Early Voting Site.
When you vote at an Early Voting Site, your voting experience will be similar to that of voting at a polling place on Election Day.
You will complete your ballot, place it in a secrecy sleeve and then deposit it into the voting tabulator.
Early in-person voting centers with dropboxes
City Clerk’s Office, 2 Woodward Ave.
Ste 106 48226
WCCCD Northwest Campus, 8200 W.
Outer Dr.
48219
Northwest Activities Center, 18100 Meyers Rd.
48235
Farwell Recreation Center, 2711 E.
Outer Dr.
48234
WCCCD Eastern Campus, 5901 Conner St.
48213
Department of Elections, 2978 W.
Grand Blvd.
48202
Clark Park, 1130 Clark St.
48209
Adams Butzel Recreation Complex, 10500 Lyndon St.
48238
Drop box only locations
Crowell Community Center, 16630 Lahser Rd.
48219
Rouge Park Golf Course, 11701 Burt Rd.
48228
North Rosedale Park Community House, 18445 Scarsdale St.
48223
Greater Grace Temple, 23500 W.
Seven Mile Rd.
48219
Liberty Temple Baptist Church, 17188 Greenfield Rd.
48235
Greater Emmanuel Institutional COGIC, 19190 Schaefer Hwy.
48235
Tindal Recreation Center, 10301 W.
Seven Mile Rd.
48221
Palmer Park Community Center, 1121 Merrill Plaisance St.
48203
Perfecting Church, 7616 E.
Nevada St.
48234
Faith Temple, 19000 Conant St.
48234
Greater St.
Paul, 15325 Gratiot Ave.
48205
Heilmann Recreation Center, 19601 Crusade St.
48205
Balduck Park, 5271 Canyon St.
48236
Considine Center, 8904 Woodward Ave.
48202
Greater Christ Baptist Church, 3544 Iroquois Ave.
48214
Horatio Williams Foundation, 1010 Antietam Ave.
48207
Renaissance Baptist Church, 1045 E.
Grand Blvd.
48207
Butzel Family Center, 7737 Kercheval Ave.
48214
Detroit Pistons Performance Center, 690 Amsterdam St.
48202
WCCCD Downtown Campus, 1001 W.
Fort St.
48226
Unity Baptist Church, 7500 Tireman Ave.
48204
Kemeny Recreation Center, 2260 S.
Fort St.
48217
Davison Service Yard, 8221 W.
Davison 48238
William S.
Ford Memorial Church, 16400 W.
Warren Ave.
48228
Edison Library, 18400 Joy Rd.
48228
Christ Temple Baptist Church, 10628 Plymouth Rd.
48204
Note: Some drop box locations are at the buildings listed.
Some are located elsewhere in the parks or campuses.
The addreses will take you to the correct locations.
Vote early from home
Prefer to vote from home?
Get your absentee ballot as soon as possible.
Make sure you select the option to sign up for the “permanent mail ballot list” to receive an absentee ballot in the mail before every election.
Request your ballot online here .
Call the Detroit City Clerk’s office at 313-224-3270 and request an application for a ballot be mailed to you.
Once you receive your application, mail it to the Detroit City Clerk’s office.
Download a ballot application form here and mail it to the Detroit City Clerk’s office: Detroit City Clerk, 2 Woodward Ave.
#200, Detroit, MI 48226
Detroit Votes recommends you request your absentee ballot for the Aug.
4, 2026 Primary election by July 14 and for the Nov.
3, 2026 General election by Oct.
13.
You can check to see if the Detroit City Clerk’s office has received your application and if your ballot has been mailed to you by filling out this online form .
Once you receive your absentee ballot, you need to:
Fill out your ballot
Place your ballot in the provided envelope
Sign the outside of the envelope with your official signature that matches your voter registration
Finally, return your absentee ballot by 8 p.m. on Election Day.
Your ballot must be received by the Detroit City Clerk by 8 p.m. on Election Day.
Detroit Votes recommends getting your ballot in the mail at least 2 weeks before Election Day.
For the Aug.
4, 2026 Primary election, that means mailing it in by July 21.
For the Nov.
3, 2026 General election, thatmeans mailing it by Oct.
20.
Alternatively, you could drop your ballot off at the Detroit City Clerk’s office, at an Early Voting Site, or in a secure drop box.
You can also have an immediate family member or someone who lives with you drop your ballot off at the Detroit City Clerk’s office.
Call the Detroit City Clerk at 313-224-3270 before 5 p.m. on the last Friday before Election Day to request that your ballot be picked up.
You can track the status of your absentee ballot here .
Voting on Election Day
If you are registered to vote, you must vote at your assigned polling place.
Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
If you are in line by 8 p.m. at your polling place, you will be able to vote.
You can find your polling place online at the Michigan Voter Information Center or by calling the Detroit City Clerk at (313) 224-3270.
Your polling place will likely be near the address you registered to vote with.
But it may have changed from last year, so verify before you show up to the polling place.
If you are not registered to vote , you can also register to vote on Election Day and vote at the same time, but you will have to go to the right location.
This option is only available at the Detroit City Clerk’s office (2 Woodward Ave.
#200, Detroit, MI 48226) or the Department of Elections (2978 W.
Grand Blvd.
Detroit, MI 48226).
Make sure you bring one type (paper or electronic copy) of “proof of residency” with you.
These include:
Your Michigan driver’s license or state ID cards.
A note about photo ID
You do not need a photo ID to register to vote.
If you register to vote in person, you will be asked to show your photo ID.
If you don’t have your ID, you can sign a form provided by a poll worker and then complete your voter registration.
Bring “proof of residency” with you if you are registering to vote within 14 days of Election Day.
Combatting misinformation
If you encounter what you believe to be misinformation, you can report it to the state by emailing misinformation@michigan.gov .
Read more about how to be an informed voter and detect misinformation .
More from Bridge Michigan
FAQ Squad – Absentee Ballots
FAQ Squad – Perry Johnson
FAQ Squad – State of the State
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Governor race (open)
US Senate race (open)
4th US House District , ( West Michigan , incumbent Bill Huizenga)
7th US House District , ( mid-Michigan , incumbent Tom Barrett)
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Analysis
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