What Michigan Voters Need to Know Before Polls Open Tuesday

LANSING, Mich. — With early voting finished, Michigan’s Nov. 3 general election comes down to Tuesday at the polls, where voters will pick a new governor and a U.S. senator and settle two statewide ballot proposals.

Polling places are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Anyone already standing in line at 8 p.m. is still allowed to vote.

Michigan law asks voters who have a photo ID to show it, but having one is not a condition of voting. A voter without ID can sign an affidavit at the polling place and receive a ballot.

It is also not too late to register. Within 14 days of an election, including Election Day itself, registration happens only in person at the local city or township clerk’s office or a clerk satellite office, and the voter must bring proof of residency, according to the Michigan Department of State. Registration status and clerk locations can be checked at Michigan.gov/Vote.

Absentee voters should not mail their ballots now. To count, an absentee ballot has to reach the local clerk by 8 p.m. Tuesday, so the safer route is an official drop box or the clerk’s office in person.

In the partisan section, voters may fill in a single party oval, choose candidates one office at a time, or pick a party and then override it in specific races. All three methods are valid. Nonpartisan races and ballot proposals are always marked one by one.

Both top races are open. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer is term-limited, and Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, the Democratic nominee, faces Republican U.S. Rep. John James. Democratic Sen. Gary Peters is retiring, leaving his seat to Democrat Abdul El-Sayed or Republican Mike Rogers. The secretary of state’s office is open too, with Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist II the Democratic candidate.

Proposal 1 asks whether Michigan should call a constitutional convention to start drafting a new state constitution; a no vote keeps the current one. Proposal 2 would bar regulated utilities and government contractors from making political contributions.

Filed under: Lansing MI Politics News