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Voting & Elections

Wichita Falls ⏤ KFDX/KJTL news segment on the League’s 100th anniversary in the state of Texas

Elections Info

LWV Detroit wants to empower people to voice their opinions by voting, so we strive to provide clear and accurate election information. Our Voting and Elections Info webpage contains the most up-to-date voting information.

Be sure to visit VOTE411 to register to vote, check your voter registration status, find out what’s on your ballot, and more.

Calendar of Election Dates: August-November 2024 Election Dates

For an incredibly detailed piece on elections, visit the June 6, 2024 How to Vote in Detroit article by BridgeDetroit staff.

What you need to know to vote in the August 6 Primary Election

Primary ballots are now available for the August 6 Statewide Primary Election. 

In Michigan’s August 6 Primary Election, you can vote for the candidates you want to be on the ballot in the November 5 General Election. Depending on where you live, you can vote for candidates for offices, including U.S. Senator, U.S. Representative, State Representative, and various county offices. 

Primary ballots have both a Democratic Party section and a Republican Party section. Voters may only vote in one partisan section; otherwise, their ballot will be rejected:

Follow the instructions below on how to fill out your primary ballot:

Remember: If you vote in both the Democratic and the Republican Party sections, your ballot will be rejected. However, you don’t need to vote for a candidate in every office under the partisan section. For example, you can vote for a U.S. Senate candidate but not vote for a candidate for U.S. Representative. 

In addition to the partisan sections, the August primary ballots also have a section for important nonpartisan races for offices like circuit court judges. You can vote for candidates in the nonpartisan section, no matter which partisan section you choose. These races are just as important and consequential as the partisan races, so don’t forget this section. 

Finally, don’t forget to flip your ballots over – there may be important races on the back of the ballot as well. 

Important Dates:

  • JUNE 26: You can request an absentee ballot online or submit a paper application.
  • JUNE 27: We are 40 days out before the August 6 election. Absentee ballots should be available to all voters. Clerks should issue ballots over the counter to any voter who requests an absentee ballot in person and mail absentee ballots to voters who request a ballot by mail. NOTE: This is the first day you can vote in person with an absentee ballot at your local Clerk’s Office. Find your Clerk’s contact information here at VOTE411.
  • JULY 16: If you want to vote from home, we recommend requesting your ballot no later than today to give yourself enough time to receive it, complete it, and return it to your local Clerk by the deadline.
  • JULY 22: This is the last day to register to vote online or by mail. After July 22, the only way to register⏤and be eligible to vote in the August 6 election⏤is in person at your local Clerk’s office with proof of residency. (A voter who registers by mail with a registration form postmarked after July 22 will receive a Secretary of State notice informing them that they need to take additional steps to vote in the upcoming election.)
  • JULY 23: Starting today, you can only register to vote for the August 6 Primary Election by visiting your local Clerk’s Office, completing a registration application, and providing proof of residency. See the list of acceptable documentation below. This is also the last day we recommend dropping your ballot in the mail. Starting today, the League recommends returning your ballot in person to your local Clerk’s Office or satellite office or using a secure drop box in your community. NOTE: If you are serving in the military or living overseas, your ballot must be postmarked by August 6, Election Day, and received in the Clerk’s Office by August 12 to count.
  • JULY 27: This is the first day of the mandatory early voting period. NOTE: Some communities may start earlier. Check VOTE411 for your community’s early voting period, locations, and hours of operation. NOTE: If you have an absentee ballot, bring it to your early voting site and put it through the tabulator.
  • AUGUST 4: This is the last day of the mandatory early voting period.
  • AUGUST 5 at 4 pm: This is the deadline to vote in person with an absentee ballot at your local Clerk’s Office if you’re registered to vote where you live. After today at 4 pm, you must vote at your polling place on Election Day. Find your polling place at VOTE411.
  • AUGUST 6: Election Day! Polls are open from 7 am to 8 pm local time.

You can register to vote on Election Day! If you need to register to vote on Election Day, you can do so at your local Clerk’s Office with proof of residency (see list of acceptable documentation below) and then vote right there until 8 pm. Find your Clerk’s contact information here at VOTE411.

NOTE: Proof of residency must be provided if registering within two weeks of an election. See the list of acceptable documents below. Documents must have your name and current address. Paper or electronic/digital copies of any of the following documents will work as proof of residency.

Acceptable Documentation for Proof of Residency:

  • A Michigan driver’s license or state ID card
  • A utility bill
  • A bank statement
  • A paycheck
  • A government check
  • Any other government document

If you have already returned your absentee ballot but want to change your vote, you can do so by spoiling it; you have until 5pm on Friday, July 26. After that, if you already returned your absentee ballot, you can no longer change your vote. 

Become a Poll Worker with Democracy MVP

What is a poll worker? Why should I sign up?

Poll workers are critical to an election’s success. Having an adequate number of poll workers to staff polling places on and before Election Day can ensure voters receive the assistance they need and help provide a positive and smooth voting experience for all. By signing up to be a poll worker, you can Help America Vote. 

While specific duties and compensation vary depending on location, poll workers are the face of the election office during voting. Most jurisdictions task election workers to set up and prepare the polling location, welcome voters, verify voter registrations, and issue ballots. Poll workers also help ensure voters understand the voting process by demonstrating how to use voting equipment and explaining voting procedures. 

Learn more about serving as a poll worker in Michigan. Watch the Democracy MVP Election Worker Introduction Video to learn about the responsibilities of serving as an election inspector, the eligibility requirements for applying, and your next steps for serving in Michigan.

Democracy MVP

Democracy MVP is the state of Michigan’s award-winning, non-partisan poll worker recruitment program. Sign up with Democracy MVP today to get trained, get paid, and help your community run smooth and secure elections! 

Help Staff Your Local Polling Place

Since 2020, America has faced a record shortage of poll workers. As the nation prepares for upcoming local elections and gears up for 2024, we all must work to recruit poll workers to ensure safe, free, and fair elections for all voters. Our democracy depends on ordinary people who ensure every election runs smoothly and everyone’s vote is counted—people like you.

Go to the new Election Assistance Commission website for more information on National Poll Worker Recruitment Day and Poll Worker Recruitment Lookup Tools.

Because Democracy is Not a Spectator Sport

Being a poll worker is an excellent way to give back to your community. More importantly, poll work gives you a first-hand look at the mechanics of a polling station⏤what goes on behind the scenes⏤and just how secure the election system is. Visit Michigan.gov/PollWorker to learn more and complete the poll worker interest form today!

Being a poll worker helps you understand the importance of having a plan before you vote and the usefulness of the League’s nonpartisan one-stop shop for election-related information: VOTE411.

Michigan Voter Resources

For a non-partisan resource to help Michigan voters navigate up-to-date voting laws, check out https://www.michiganvoting.org. This site also provides information in Spanish, Arabic, and Bengali. 

From the Michigan Department of State, the Michigan Voter Information Center ⏤ or MVIC (pronounced “em vick”) ⏤ contains a wealth of information and resources related to voting and elections in Michigan (michigan.gov/vote or mi.gov/vote):

Woman tracking her ballot on a laptop

If you have submitted your absentee ballot or ballot application, you can track whether your local clerk has received it by visiting MI.gov/VOTE, clicking “Your Voter Information,” and entering the required information. 

If a particular step is complete, for example, if your local clerk has processed your absentee ballot application, MVIC will show the processed date and whether your absentee ballot is in the mail.

Translated Ballots and Ballot Applications

The Arabic, Bengali, Farsi, Spanish, and large-print absentee ballot applications are available here. The accessible absentee ballot application is available here. Note the list of translated ballots in the Detroit area below:

The MI Secretary of State also offers a link to various voting resources and voter education materials, including flyers in Amharic, Arabic, Bengali, Chinese Mandarin, French, Korean, Russian, Somali, Spanish, and Vietnamese, all of which can be shared with family, friends, and neighbors via this link:

https://www. es/initiatives/voter-education

LWV Makes the Mashable List

 Credit: Shutterstock / Lightspring

Although written in September 2020 for the Presidential Election, Mashable’s list of organizations working on getting out the vote is still relevant. The groups highlighted in this article continue to work to ensure everyone’s vote is counted:

Non-partisan Campaigns & Organizations Regarding Voter Rights

The League advocates for legislation to enable local clerks to efficiently and effectively process the significant increase in absentee ballots and to have the flexibility to accommodate changes. We also monitor the Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission to ensure equity and fairness with redistricting maps. Below is a list of our nonpartisan partners in this regard.

Election Protection Hotline

Questions? Looking for more information about voting before Election Day by absentee ballot? Call the nonpartisan Election Protection Hotline at 866-OUR-VOTE (866-687-8683). 

Election Protection Hotline Video

WORKING 365 DAYS TO ADVANCE AND DEFEND YOUR RIGHT TO VOTE

The national, nonpartisan Election Protection Coalition was formed to ensure that all voters have an equal opportunity to participate in the political process. Made up of more than 100 local, state and national partners, Election Protection works year-round to advance and defend the right to vote.

Election Protection Hotline

Problems registering to vote? Have a question about your absentee ballot? Need some expert advice? No problem.

Call the Election Protection Hotline:
866-OUR-VOTE (866-687-8683).
Or click the ELECTION HOTLINE button below:

ELECTION HOTLINE