Michigan 2026 elections

Contests on the board in Michigan

The general-election contests the Ledger tracks in Michigan, each with the raters' current call, the newest public polling and the money reported.

Candidate profiles from Michigan

MI-SEN · Michigan

Mike Rogers

Former FBI agent, seven-term congressman and House Intelligence chairman; the Republican nominee for Michigan's open U.S. Senate seat in 2026.

Read Mike Rogers's recordThe race

MI-7 · Michigan

Tom Barrett

First-term U.S. Representative for Michigan's 7th District, a former Army helicopter pilot and state senator, facing William Lawrence in November.

Read Tom Barrett's recordThe race

Key dates and deadlines

Read from the Michigan Department of State (Secretary of State), Bureau of Elections on Sep 17, 2026. The authority's own page, linked beside each date, is the final word — confirm it before you act.

• Online voter registration deadlineMonday, October 19, 2026 — last day to register online (at Michigan.gov/Vote) and be eligible to vote in the November 3, 2026 general election. After that date, registration is only in person at the local city or township clerk's office, with proof of residency. michigan.gov
• Voter registration by mail deadline (postmarked by)Monday, October 19, 2026 — last day to register by mail and be eligible to vote in the November election. A mailed registration application must be postmarked at least 15 days before Election Day. michigan.gov
• In-person voter registration at the local clerk's officeFrom Tuesday, October 20, 2026 through 8 p.m. on Election Day, Tuesday, November 3, 2026, new voter registrations must be made in person at the local city or township clerk's office, with proof of residency. michigan.gov
• Election Day registrationYes. On Election Day, Tuesday, November 3, 2026, an eligible person may register until 8 p.m., only in person at the local city or township clerk's office and with proof of residency — official documentation, paper or digital, that lists the voter's current name and address. A person in line at the clerk's office by 8 p.m. has the right to register, and is issued a ballot to complete and submit on the spot. The Department of State says registration in that window can also be done at a clerk's satellite office, where the local clerk runs one; look up whether your jurisdiction has one at Michigan.gov/Vote. michigan.gov
• Absentee ballots available to votersThursday, September 24, 2026 — absentee (absent voter) ballots must be available for issuance to voters, 40 days before the election. For military and overseas voters who applied 45 days or more before the election, clerks must send the ballot by Saturday, September 19, 2026. michigan.gov
• Early in-person voting beginsSaturday, October 24, 2026 — first day of the mandatory early in-person voting period for statewide and federal elections (the second Saturday before Election Day). Communities can optionally offer early voting beginning as early as the 29th day before the election; look up your assigned early voting site, its dates and hours at Michigan.gov/Vote. michigan.gov
• Early in-person voting endsSunday, November 1, 2026 — last day of the mandatory early voting period. The state's election calendar adds that early voting optionally may be held on the Monday before Election Day until 4 p.m.; check your early voting site's dates and hours at Michigan.gov/Vote. michigan.gov
• Absentee ballot request deadline (online or by mail: received by)5 p.m. on Friday, October 30, 2026 (the Friday before Election Day) — online applications may be submitted until then, and mailed applications must be received by the local city or township clerk's office by then. In person at the clerk's office, a voter registered at the current address may apply until 4 p.m. on Monday, November 2, 2026. michigan.gov
• Absentee ballot return deadline (received by)8 p.m. on Election Day, Tuesday, November 3, 2026 — the absentee ballot must be received (not just postmarked) by the voter's local clerk's office by then, or inserted into one of the clerk's drop boxes by 8 p.m. Exception: military and overseas ballots must be postmarked by Election Day and received within 6 days after the election (by Monday, November 9, 2026). michigan.gov
• Election DayTuesday, November 3, 2026 — general election. michigan.gov
• Polling place hours on Election Day7 a.m. to 8 p.m. local time on Election Day, Tuesday, November 3, 2026, at the voter's assigned polling place. michigan.gov

Official voting tools

These links go to the state's own tools. The Ledger does not collect registrations or ballots.

Rules to know

• What to bring

  Voters are asked to show photo ID at the polls, but are not required to possess a photo ID to vote in Michigan; by law, a voter who has a photo ID must present it. Acceptable photo ID: a driver's license or state ID card issued by Michigan or another state; a federal, state, county or local government-issued photo ID; a U.S. passport; a military photo ID card; an educational institution ID; a tribal photo ID card; or a concealed pistol license. The ID does not need to show the voter's address. An expired Michigan driver's license or state ID is accepted; any other type of photo ID must be current. A voter who does not have photo ID, or who forgot to bring it, can still cast a ballot by signing an affidavit stating that the voter is not in possession of a valid photo ID. The same applies at early voting sites. Separately, a person who registers within 14 days of the election must bring proof of residency to the local clerk's office. Read from: michigan.gov

• Voting by mail (absentee ballot)

  All registered voters in Michigan have the right to vote by mail using an absentee ballot. Apply online at Michigan.gov/Vote, by mailing a completed application to the local city or township clerk, or in person at the clerk's office. Voters can also decide to be placed on a permanent absentee ballot list; the local clerk then automatically mails them an absentee ballot for all local, state and federal elections. Online applications may be submitted until 5 p.m. the Friday before Election Day, and mailed applications must be received by the clerk by then; a voter registered at the current address may apply in person until 4 p.m. the day before Election Day. Absentee ballots are available beginning 40 days before every election. The completed and signed ballot must be received by the local clerk's office by 8 p.m. on Election Day: by mail in the pre-paid envelope (the state encourages mailing at least two weeks before Election Day), in person at the clerk's office, or in one of the clerk's secure drop boxes in the voter's city or township. Only the voter, a member of the voter's immediate family or a person residing in the voter's household who has been asked to return it, a mail carrier on official duty, or an authorized election official may return the ballot. Military and overseas ballots must be postmarked by Election Day and received within 6 days after the election. Read from: michigan.gov

• Early in-person voting

  Any registered voter in Michigan has the right to vote early in person at an early voting site for statewide and federal elections. For the November 3, 2026 general election the mandatory early voting period runs nine consecutive days, from Saturday, October 24 through Sunday, November 1, 2026; communities may offer additional days, beginning as early as the 29th day before the election. Voters from more than one precinct, city or township may be assigned to a single, shared early voting site, so look up your assigned site, its dates and hours at Michigan.gov/Vote. At the site, voters are issued a ballot and insert it directly into a tabulator. A voter without photo ID, or who forgot to bring it, can still vote after signing an Affidavit of Voter Not in Possession of Picture Identification. Early voting sites do not offer voter registration. Read from: michigan.gov

• Track your absentee ballot

  Voters can track online, at Michigan.gov/Vote (the Michigan Voter Information Center), when the local clerk mails the absentee ballot and when the clerk's office receives it back. The same page shows registration status, polling place location and hours, early voting location and hours, and a sample ballot. Read from: michigan.gov

• If there is a problem with the signature

  Local clerks compare the signature on each absentee ballot return envelope with the voter's signature on record. If the clerk determines that the signature is not valid, the ballot is rejected and the clerk must promptly notify the voter, who is given an opportunity to cure a missing or non-matching signature. For the November 3, 2026 election, the state's election calendar sets 5 p.m. on Friday, November 6, 2026 as the deadline for a voter to cure the signature on the absentee ballot return envelope, so that an otherwise valid ballot is accepted for tabulation. The calendar also sets 4 p.m. on Friday, October 30, 2026 as the deadline to cure a signature deficiency on an absentee ballot application in order to receive the ballot by First Class mail. Read from: michigan.gov

• Voting with a criminal conviction

  According to the Department of State's voter registration page, returning citizens and individuals with a felony or misdemeanor conviction can register to vote in Michigan as long as they are not actively serving a sentence in jail or prison. People detained pretrial or pre-sentencing can also register to vote. Read from: michigan.gov

On the statewide ballot

Offices on the November 3, 2026 statewide ballot, per the Michigan Department of State (Secretary of State), Bureau of Elections:

U.S. Senate · Governor and Lieutenant Governor · Secretary of State · Attorney General · Member of the State Board of Education (2 positions) · Regent of the University of Michigan (2 positions) · Trustee of Michigan State University (2 positions) · Governor of Wayne State University (2 positions) · Justice of the Supreme Court (2 positions)

Questions and answers