Know Your Michigan Ballot

Every race, judge and proposal on your Nov 3, 2026 Michigan ballot, explained before you vote. Free, open source and non-partisan, built on Govbot.

Michigan general election: Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Candidate lists as of 2026-10-25. Confirm your own ballot at Michigan.gov/vote.

Key dates

Mon, Oct 19
Last day to register online or by mail. After this, register in person at your city or township clerk’s office, with proof of where you live, right up to 8pm on Election Day.
Sat, Oct 24
Early voting opens. Nine days, through Sun, Nov 1, at your community’s early voting site. Hours vary: find yours at Michigan.gov/Vote.
Fri, Oct 30
Last day to request an absentee ballot online or by mail. By 5pm. Apply earlier to be safe: the ballot still has to reach you and get back.
Sun, Nov 1
Last day of early voting.
Mon, Nov 2
Last day to request an absentee ballot in person. At your clerk’s office, by 4pm. You can fill it out and hand it in right there.
Tue, Nov 3
Election Day. Polls open 7am–8pm. Absentee ballots must reach your clerk or a drop box by 8pm.

The statewide races in Michigan

Governor and Lieutenant Governor

Runs Michigan’s executive branch: proposes the state budget, signs or vetoes bills, appoints department heads. Governor and lieutenant governor run as one ticket. 4-year term; Gretchen Whitmer is term-limited.

Secretary of State

Runs Michigan’s elections and the voter rolls, plus driver’s licenses, IDs and vehicle registration, and files campaign finance reports. 4-year term.

Attorney General

Michigan’s top lawyer. Represents the state in court and enforces consumer-protection, civil-rights and environmental laws. 4-year term.

United States Senator

One of Michigan’s two U.S. senators; only this seat, the one Gary Peters is leaving, is on the ballot this year, so you pick 1. Votes on federal laws, confirms federal judges and cabinet members, and approves treaties. 6-year term.

Other statewide contests

Member of the State Board of Education

Sets statewide education policy and hires the state superintendent. The board has eight members; two of those seats are on this ballot, so you pick up to 2. 8-year term. 2 seats in your district are on this ballot, so you pick up to 2.

Justice of the Supreme Court

Michigan’s highest court: the final word on state law. Listed without party on the ballot’s nonpartisan section, though parties nominate the candidates. The court has seven justices; two of those seats are on this ballot, so you pick up to 2. 8-year term. 2 seats in your district are on this ballot, so you pick up to 2.

Regent of the University of Michigan

Governs the University of Michigan: its budget, tuition and president. The board has eight regents; two of those seats are on this ballot, so you pick up to 2. 8-year term. 2 seats in your district are on this ballot, so you pick up to 2.

Trustee of Michigan State University

Governs Michigan State University: its budget, tuition and president. The board has eight trustees; two of those seats are on this ballot, so you pick up to 2. 8-year term. 2 seats in your district are on this ballot, so you pick up to 2.

Governor of Wayne State University

Governs Wayne State University in Detroit: its budget, tuition and president. The board has eight governors; two of those seats are on this ballot, so you pick up to 2. 8-year term. 2 seats in your district are on this ballot, so you pick up to 2.

Statewide ballot questions

Proposal 2026-1: Hold a constitutional convention?

A proposal to convene a constitutional convention for the purpose of drafting a general revision of the State Constitution. Shall a convention of elected delegates be convened in 2027 to draft a general revision of the State Constitution for presentation to the state’s voters for their approval or rejection?

Michigan’s constitution requires this question every 16 years (last asked in 2010, when voters said no). A “yes” means electing delegates in 2027 to rewrite the 1963 constitution; whatever they draft would go back to voters for approval. A “no” keeps the current constitution, which can still be amended piece by piece.

Proposal 2026-2: Campaign money from utilities and state contractors

A proposed initiated law to prohibit campaign contributions from certain regulated utilities and government contractors and apply campaign finance laws and regulations to additional types of political communications. The proposal would: prohibit regulated electric and gas utilities, contractors with over $250,000 annually in government contracts, and people and organizations with substantial connections to these utilities/contractors from making direct or indirect campaign contributions to those who run for or hold offices that impact them; expand laws regulating spending on political communications, including those requiring disclosing donor information, to apply to communications clearly identifying candidates or ballot questions, even if they do not expressly advocate voting for/against them; expressly apply the law requiring disclosure of who paid for political communications to internet political communications. Should this proposal be adopted?

A citizen-initiated law (561,000 signatures, certified by the Board of State Canvassers). A “yes” bars regulated electric and gas utilities, big state contractors and people closely tied to them from giving to the campaigns of officials who regulate them, and widens Michigan’s disclosure rules to ads that name a candidate or ballot question without saying “vote for” or “vote against,” including online ads. Backed by Money Out of Politics; opposed by Protect MI Free Speech.

How a Michigan ballot works

Three parts. The partisan section (Congress, governor, Lansing, the school and university boards), the nonpartisan section (judges, plus local offices like city council in many places) and the proposals.

The straight-party box. At the top, one mark votes for every candidate of that party in the partisan section. You can still mark individual races, and those marks win for that race. It never touches the nonpartisan section or the proposals, so look at those either way.

“Vote for not more than 2.” Boards and the Supreme Court elect two seats at once; pick up to two names.

Judges with no opponent. Court of Appeals judges usually run unopposed. Marking them is still a vote; leaving them blank is fine too.

Common questions

When is the Michigan general election in 2026?

Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Polls open 7am–8pm. Absentee ballots must reach your clerk or a drop box by 8pm.

What are the key dates and deadlines for voting in Michigan on November 3, 2026?

Mon, Oct 19: Last day to register online or by mail. After this, register in person at your city or township clerk’s office, with proof of where you live, right up to 8pm on Election Day. Sat, Oct 24: Early voting opens. Nine days, through Sun, Nov 1, at your community’s early voting site. Hours vary: find yours at Michigan.gov/Vote. Fri, Oct 30: Last day to request an absentee ballot online or by mail. By 5pm. Apply earlier to be safe: the ballot still has to reach you and get back. Sun, Nov 1: Last day of early voting. Mon, Nov 2: Last day to request an absentee ballot in person. At your clerk’s office, by 4pm. You can fill it out and hand it in right there. Tue, Nov 3: Election Day. Polls open 7am–8pm. Absentee ballots must reach your clerk or a drop box by 8pm.

What is on the Michigan ballot on November 3, 2026?

Every Michigan voter votes on Governor and Lieutenant Governor, Secretary of State, Attorney General and United States Senator, plus Member of the State Board of Education, Regent of the University of Michigan, Trustee of Michigan State University and Governor of Wayne State University, plus 1 statewide judicial seat. Depending on your address you also vote in your own district's contests (13 U.S. House districts, 38 state Senate districts, 110 state House districts and 4 Court of Appeals districts in the state). There are also 2 statewide ballot questions: Proposal 2026-1: Hold a constitutional convention? and Proposal 2026-2: Campaign money from utilities and state contractors.

Who is running for Governor and Lieutenant Governor in Michigan in 2026?

Jocelyn Benson & Winnie Brinks (Democratic); John James & Jay DeBoyer (Republican); Anthony Hudson & Beau Parmenter (Libertarian); Donna Brandenburg & Robert Donald Cowper II (U.S. Taxpayers); Douglas Campbell & Bobbie Clay (Green). Candidate list as of 2026-10-25. Confirm your own ballot at Michigan.gov/vote.

What does the Governor and Lieutenant Governor do in Michigan?

Runs Michigan’s executive branch: proposes the state budget, signs or vetoes bills, appoints department heads. Governor and lieutenant governor run as one ticket. 4-year term; Gretchen Whitmer is term-limited.

Who is running for Secretary of State in Michigan in 2026?

Garlin Gilchrist II (Democratic); Anthony Forlini (Republican); Christine Sloan (Libertarian); Scott Aughney (U.S. Taxpayers); Eric Borregard (Green). Candidate list as of 2026-10-25. Confirm your own ballot at Michigan.gov/vote.

What does the Secretary of State do in Michigan?

Runs Michigan’s elections and the voter rolls, plus driver’s licenses, IDs and vehicle registration, and files campaign finance reports. 4-year term.

Who is running for Attorney General in Michigan in 2026?

Eli Savit (Democratic); Doug Lloyd (Republican); Jason Dye (Libertarian); John Ludtke (U.S. Taxpayers); Jeff Polonowski (Green); Doug Dern (Natural Law). Candidate list as of 2026-10-25. Confirm your own ballot at Michigan.gov/vote.

What does the Attorney General do in Michigan?

Michigan’s top lawyer. Represents the state in court and enforces consumer-protection, civil-rights and environmental laws. 4-year term.

Who is running for United States Senator in Michigan in 2026?

Abdul El-Sayed (Democratic); Mike Rogers (Republican); Lydia Christensen (Libertarian); Timothy Long (U.S. Taxpayers); Douglas P. Marsh (Green); Walter Kristy (Natural Law). Candidate list as of 2026-10-25. Confirm your own ballot at Michigan.gov/vote.

What does the United States Senator do in Michigan?

One of Michigan’s two U.S. senators; only this seat, the one Gary Peters is leaving, is on the ballot this year, so you pick 1. Votes on federal laws, confirms federal judges and cabinet members, and approves treaties. 6-year term.

How does a Michigan ballot work?

Three parts. The partisan section (Congress, governor, Lansing, the school and university boards), the nonpartisan section (judges, plus local offices like city council in many places) and the proposals. The straight-party box. At the top, one mark votes for every candidate of that party in the partisan section. You can still mark individual races, and those marks win for that race. It never touches the nonpartisan section or the proposals, so look at those either way. “Vote for not more than 2.” Boards and the Supreme Court elect two seats at once; pick up to two names. Judges with no opponent. Court of Appeals judges usually run unopposed. Marking them is still a vote; leaving them blank is fine too.

How do I find my own ballot and polling place in Michigan?

Your exact ballot depends on your address. Enter it on this page to see yours, then confirm your registration, polling place and ballot at Michigan.gov/vote (https://www.michigan.gov/vote).

What is Know Your Ballot?

A free, open-source voter guide for the November 3, 2026 general election in Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin. Enter an address and see your exact ballot: every race, judge and question, what each job does, who is running and who is funding them. It is built on Govbot, Chi Hack Night’s open civic data.

Is Know Your Ballot nonpartisan, and where do its facts come from?

It is nonpartisan: it never recommends or rates a candidate. Every fact names its source next to it: official candidate lists where the state or county publishes one, FEC and state campaign-finance records for money, and Ballotpedia and Wikipedia (CC BY-SA) for profiles and incumbents. A candidate’s own words are quoted verbatim with their date and a link.

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