Many Michigan communities are holding elections for local elected officials on November 4. Turnout in odd-year elections is often low, an unfortunate indicator that many voters do not realize how much is at stake. Local politics matter! The local level is where the decisions are made that most directly affect our families and our neighborhoods. Decisions about how to raise funds–through property taxes and dedicated millages–and how to spend them–on roads, parks, public safety, and water and sewer infrastructure–shape our daily lives. These decisions show up in your tax bills, on your drive to work, at your kids’ soccer games, and in the anxious glance at your basement floor during a heavy Michigan rainstorm.

 Local elections are an opportunity to help shape the future of your community. After almost eight years of serving on my city commission, I am not running for re-election this year, but I am paying close attention to the candidates and their platforms. I encourage you to do the same: talk to your neighbors about what matters most for your community and make a plan to vote on November 4.  

 You can see if your community is having an election on November 4 by visiting mi.gov/vote and clicking on “Your voter information,” where you’ll be able to see other important details like whether you’re registered to vote and if you are on the permanent mail ballot list. You can also find out by contacting your city or township clerk. 

To find the location and hours of your local clerk’s office, you can go to mi.gov/vote and click on “Where are my clerk’s offices.” 

If you encounter any problems or have questions about voting, call the nonpartisan Election Protection Hotline: (866) OUR-VOTE | (866) 687-8683. (For nonpartisan election protection hotlines in other languages, click here.)

Upcoming Key Dates for the November 4 Election:

Now: Request an absentee ballot online or submit a paper application. (If you want to vote from home, we recommend that you request your ballot no later than October 14 to give yourself enough time to receive your ballot, complete it, and return it to your city or township clerk by the deadline.)

September 16: National Voter Registration Day! (Encourage your friends and family to make sure their registrations are up to date and ready for the November 4 Election!)

September 25: First day that you can vote in person, with an absentee ballot, at your city or township clerk’s office.

Upcoming Key Dates for the May 6 Election: 

Now: Vote in person, with an absentee ballot, at your city or township clerk’s office. (At this point, unless absolutely necessary, we no longer recommend requesting a mail ballot.) 

This Weekend (May 3-4): All city and township clerks’ offices must be open for at least eight hours for registration and in-person absentee voting. 

May 4: Last day that communities may offer in-person early voting. A list of communities with early voting can be found here on page 3. 

May 5 at 4 p.m.: Deadline to vote in person, with an absentee ballot, at your city or township clerk’s office if you’re registered to vote where you live. (After today at 4 p.m., you must vote at your polling place on Election Day.)

May 6: Election Day! Polls are open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. local time. If you need to register to vote, you can register and then vote at your city or township clerk’s office until 8 p.m. 

Upcoming Key Dates for the May 6 Election: 

Now: Vote in person, with an absentee ballot, at your city or township clerk’s office. (At this point, unless absolutely necessary, we no longer recommend requesting a mail ballot.) 

This Weekend (May 3-4): All city and township clerks’ offices must be open for at least eight hours for registration and in-person absentee voting. 

May 4: Last day that communities may offer in-person early voting. A list of communities with early voting can be found here on page 3. 

May 5 at 4 p.m.: Deadline to vote in person, with an absentee ballot, at your city or township clerk’s office if you’re registered to vote where you live. (After today at 4 p.m., you must vote at your polling place on Election Day.)

May 6: Election Day! Polls are open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. local time. If you need to register to vote, you can register and then vote at your city or township clerk’s office until 8 p.m.