LANSING, Mich — Here's everything you need to know before you cast your ballot in the 2024 general election in November.
When is the election?
The general election will take place on Tuesday, Nov. 5. Polls will be open for voters from 7 a.m. until 8 p.m. on Election Day.
Am I registered to vote in Michigan?
In order to vote in the general election, you must be registered to vote in Michigan. If you are not registered to vote, you can register at your local clerk's office on Election Day.
You can determine if you are already registered to vote in Michigan here. You can search for your voter registration information by name and birthday or by drivers license number.
Michiganders have until Monday, Oct. 21 to register to vote online or by mail. From Tuesday, Oct. 22 until Tuesday, Nov. 5, residents can only register to vote in person at your local clerk's office with proof of residency documentation.
How can I vote in the election in Michigan?
In Michigan, there are three ways to vote in any election: Early voting, absentee voting and in-person voting on Election Day.
To vote in an election in Michigan, you must be a United States citizen, at least 18 years old and a resident of Michigan. You are encouraged to bring a photo ID with you to the polls, but are not required to show ID to cast a ballot. If you vote without an ID, you must sign an Affidavit of Voter Not in Possession of Picture Identification.
Early Voting
The mandatory early voting period for the general election begins on Saturday, Oct. 26 and runs through Sunday, Nov. 3. You can find your early voting location here.
You must be registered to vote before going to an early voting location to vote. You cannot register at an early voting location.
Early voting in Michigan is the result of a constitutional amendment passed by voters in November of 2022. The amendment mandates an early voting period leading up to elections.
Absentee Voting
Absentee ballots are available to voters beginning 40 days before the election. You can request an absentee ballot online, by mail or at a clerk's office. Absentee ballots will be available for the November general election on Thursday, Sept. 26.
Absentee ballots can be cast by mail, by drop box, at an early voting site or at a clerk's office.
If you plan on casting an absentee ballot, you should be aware of the following deadlines as listed on the Michigan Government's website:
- By Mail - Mailed absentee ballots must be received by a local clerk by 8 p.m. on Election Day. Ballots not received by this time will not be counted. Voters are encouraged to mail an absentee ballot at least two weeks before Election Day to avoid potential mailing delays. Military and overseas voter absentee ballots must be postmarked by Election Day and received within 6 days after the election.
- By Drop Box - Ballots must be inserted into a drop box by 8 p.m. on Election Day to be counted.
- At An Early Voting Site - Voters may submit an absentee ballot at an early voting site up until the Sunday before Election Day.
- At A Clerk's Office - Absentee ballots must be received at a voter’s local clerk’s office by 8 p.m. on Election Day to be counted.
You can learn more about the absentee voting process, where to find drop boxes here.
In-Person Voting on Election Day
In-Person voting on Election Day takes place between 7 a.m. and 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 5.
You must be registered to vote to cast a ballot on Election Day but if you are not registered, you can do so at your local clerk's office that same day.
Voters will be asked to present a photo ID such as a Michigan driver's license or identification card, but an ID is not a requirement to vote. Anyone without a valid ID, can sign an affidavit confirming their identity.
Where do I vote?
Your polling location depends on how you vote and your home address.
When voting in person on Election Day, you can find your polling location here.
When voting early, you can find your early voting location here.
When voting by absentee ballot at a drop box location, you can find a secure location here.
What is on my ballot?
Your ballot for the general election is available to be viewed before you head to the polls or get your absentee ballot in the mail.
You can learn what is on your ballot here. You will need to know your county, jurisdiction and precinct to get a copy of what is on your ballot. You can find that information by searching for your polling location here.
What are the key races in Michigan?
Michiganders will decide many key races for both federal and state governments in the general election in November. All 13 seats of Michigan's U.S. Congressional Representatives will be up for grabs in the election, along with one of Michigan's two U.S. Senate seats.
At the state level, all 110 of the seats in the Michigan House of Representatives are also up for grabs this election.
Michigan 1st Congressional District
Incumbent Republican U.S. Rep. Jack Bergman faces Democratic challenger Callie Barr in the general election.
Bergman was first elected to the House in 2016 and is running for his fifth term in office. You can visit his campaign website here.
Barr describes herself as a mom, military spouse, teacher and attorney. You can visit her campaign website here.
Michigan 2nd Congressional District
Incumbent Republican U.S. Rep. John Moolenaar faces Democratic challenger Michael Lynch in the general election.
Moolenaar was first elected to the House in 2014 and is running for his sixth term in office. You can visit his campaign website here.
Lynch describes himself as a lifelong advocate for working—and middle—class families. You can visit his campaign website here.
Michigan 3rd Congressional District
Incumbent Democrat U.S. Rep. Hillary Scholten faces Republican challenger Paul Hudson in the general election.
Scholten was first elected to the House in 2022 and is running for her second term in office. You can visit her campaign website here.
Hudson describes himself as an award-winning lawyer, athlete, marathoner, baseball coach, and more. You can visit his campaign website here.
Michigan 4th Congressional District
Incumbent Republican U.S. Rep. Bill Huizenga faces Democratic challenger Jessica Swartz in the general election.
Huizenga was first elected to the House in 2010 and is running for his seventh term in office. You can visit his campaign website here.
Swartz describes herself as a West Michigan mom and a public interest attorney. You can visit her campaign website here.
Michigan’s 5th Congressional District
Incumbent Republican U.S. Rep. Tim Walberg faces Democratic challenger Libbi Urban in the general election.
Walberg was first elected to the House in 2006 where he served a single term. He was elected to the House a second time in 2010 and is now running for his eighth term in office. You can visit his campaign website here.
Urban describes herself as a steelworker, a wife and stepmom who has been living in southern Michigan for 28 years. You can visit her campaign website here.
Michigan 6th Congressional District
Incumbent Democrat U.S. Rep. Debbie Dingell faces Republican challenger Heather Smiley in the general election.
Dingell was first elected to the House in 2014 and is running for her sixth term in office. You can visit her campaign website here.
Smiley describes herself as a life-long problem solver who applies real-world experience to overcome issues. You can visit her campaign website here.
Michigan’s 7th Congressional District
Republican candidate Tom Barrett faces Democratic candidate Curtis Hertel Jr. in the general election. Rep. Elissa Slotkin (D) is the current representative for the district, but she is running for U.S. Senate in the general election.
Barrett describes himself as a veteran of 22 years and a fiscal hawk who served in the Michigan House and currently serves in the Michigan Senate. You can visit his campaign website here.
Hertel Jr. describes himself as a relentless advocate for Mid-Michigan who is Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s Director of Legislative Affairs and currently serves in the Michigan Senate. You can visit his campaign website here.
Michigan’s 8th Congressional District
Democratic candidate Kristen McDonald Rivet faces Republican candidate Paul Junge in the general election. Rep. Dan Kildee (D) is the current representative for the district, but he is retiring at the end of his term.
Rivet describes herself as someone who was raised in a working-class, Catholic household that valued hard work, education and service to others. You can visit her campaign website here.
Junge describes himself as a job creator and criminal prosecutor who worked at U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. You can visit her campaign website here.
Michigan 9th Congressional District
Incumbent Republican Rep. Lisa McClain faces Democratic challenger Clinton St. Mosley in the general election.
McClain was first elected to the House in 2020 and is running for her third term in office. You can visit her campaign website here.
Mosley describes himself as someone who has built opportunities for his family, struggled financially and is looking for reasonable solutions to problems. You can visit his campaign website here.
Michigan 10th Congressional District
Incumbent Republican Rep. John James faces Democratic challenger Carl Marlinga in the general election.
Rep. James was first elected to the House in 2022 and is running for his second term in office. You can visit her campaign website here.
Marlinga describes himself as someone with deep roots in the community who served as the Macomb County Prosecutor for almost 40 years. You can visit his campaign website here.
Michigan 11th Congressional District
Incumbent Democrat Rep. Haley Stevens faces Republican challenger Nick Somberg in the general election.
Stevens was first elected to the House in 2018 and is running for her fourth term in office. You can visit her campaign website here.
Somberg describes himself as a tenacious attorney who is a lifelong entrepreneur with a robust social media following. You can visit his campaign website here.
Michigan 12th Congressional District
Incumbent Democrat Rep. Rashida Tlaib faces Republican challenger James Hooper in the general election.
Tlaib was first elected to the House in 2018 and is running for her fourth term in office. You can visit her campaign website here.
Hooper describes himself as a liberty-minded and blue-collar conservative Republican who currently serves as the Wayne County Chairman. You can visit his campaign website here.
Michigan 13th Congressional District
Incumbent Democrat Rep. Shri Thanedar faces Republican challenger Martell Bivings in the general election.
Thanedar was first elected to the House in 2022 and is running for his second term in office. You can visit his campaign website here.
Bivings describes himself as a believer in individual liberty, economic freedom and efficient taxes. You can visit his campaign website here.
What are the statewide races in Michigan?
U.S. Presidential Race
The biggest statewide race in the 2024 general election is the race for President of the United States. Michiganders will decide between Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris, Republican candidate and former President Donald J. Trump, and other 3rd party candidates. The winner of the race will receive Michigan's 13 Electoral College votes.
U.S. Senate Race
Voters will also decide who will be elected to one of Michigan's two U.S. Senate seats this November. Current Democratic Senator Debbie Stabenow is not running for reelection. Democratic candidate Elissa Slotkin and Republican candidate Mike Rogers are running in an open race to fill the seat in 2025.
Michigan Supreme Court Races
There are two races for seats on Michigan's highest court that will appear on every ballot in the state.
Incumbent Justice Kyra Harris Bolden is facing challenger Patrick William O'Grady in a special election. Harris Bolden was appointed by Whitmer in 2022 after Bridget Mary McCormack announced she was leaving her seat before her term ended in 2028. Harris Bolden and O'Grady will be competing to fill McCormack's seat for the remainder of her term.
Harris Bolden is backed by Democrats and O'Grady is backed by Republicans.
Andrew Fink and Kimberly Thomas will be competing for the other seat on the Michigan Supreme Court. That seat will be vacated by Incumbent David Viviano, a Republican-backed Justice, who is not running for reelection when his term completes at the end of the year.
Fink is backed by Republicans and Thomas is backed by Democrats.
Despite parties nominating and backing candidates for Michigan Supreme Court, it is considered a nonpartisan position.
Statewide Education Races
Michiganders will also decide on two members of the State Board of Education as two of the current members will be completing their 8-year terms. Voters will also be electing members to the governing boards of the University of Michigan, Michigan State University and Wayne State University.
What are some key races in West Michigan?
There are several key races in West Michigan that could have major impacts in federal, state and local government in 2025 and beyond.
Mayor of Grand Rapids
In Kent County, two candidates are running to become the Mayor of Grand Rapids after current Mayor Rosalynn Bliss completes her second and final term at the end of the year.
Voters narrowed down a field of four candidates to two in the race for Grand Rapids mayor during the Aug. 6 primary.
Senita Lenear, Steve Owens, David LaGrand and Hailey Lynch-Bastion all appeared on the ballot for the nonpartisan position of mayor. David LaGrand was the clear frontrunner in the race, taking in nearly 58% of the vote, while Senita Lenear had nearly 20%. Steven Owens wasn't far behind with about 16%.
LaGrand told 13 ON YOUR SIDE at his watch party he's ready to listen and build consensus with voters to find solutions to problems.
"I'm really looking forward to convening more and more people to talk about the big issues in Grand Rapids. Talk about housing. Talk about possible solutions. Talk about justice and policing in town. Talk about clean government work. I'm also really looking forward to starting to have those conversations with other members of the City Commission," LaGrand said.
Lenear shared with 13 ON YOUR SIDE that she was excited to see the results.
"We will continue to do what we're doing, which is engaging the community at the neighborhood level, small business owners, business owners across the city, in finding out what it is that they desire to have in the future for our city. And we will continue to take their voices with us as we're going through the campaign trail. And then as I serve as mayor," Lenear said.
Ottawa County Board of Commissioners
The attention of many Ottawa County voters was pointed at the primary races for seats on the Ottawa County Board of Commissioners during the August primary.
The political action committee (PAC) Ottawa Impact backed nine candidates in the primary and only four won their races. Ottawa Impact-backed candidates held a majority of the eleven-seat county commission beginning in 2022.
Now, four Ottawa Impact-backed candidates are heading to the general election in November.
How can I find unofficial election results by county?
Unofficial election results start to become available when the polls close on Election Day. As votes are tallied, races are updated on county government websites across the state. 13 ON YOUR SIDE will be providing unofficial election results of key races across several counties here.
Here are links to the unofficial election results of different West Michigan counties:
