Michigan Voters Begin Casting Ballots as Absentee Ballots Are Released

Overview

• Absentee ballots were first made available on Thursday, Sept. 24, and voters have begun returning them by mail or dropping them at clerk offices.
• Michigan’s general election is set for Nov. 3 and the constitutionally mandated early in‑person voting window runs from Oct. 24 through the Sunday before the election with at least nine consecutive days of service for eight hours a day.
• Voters may use no‑reason absentee voting and can request ballots online, but absentee requests cannot be made until 75 days before the election and mailed requests must be received by a local clerk by 5 p.m. the Friday before Election Day.
• The 2026 ballot includes U.S. Senate and House races, governor, secretary of state, attorney general, the state legislature, local and judicial contests, plus two statewide proposals on a constitutional convention and campaign finance limits.
• The state’s voting rules and rollout are drawing national attention on election integrity after a Heritage Foundation report ranked Michigan 30th and raised concerns about citizenship verification, and officials including Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson are pressing Michiganders to register and vote.