If you have suggestions for election coverage, reach out: info@bridgedetroit.com | (313) 284-6407

BridgeDetroit will never tell you who to vote for. But we do want youyou to feel informed and empowered to vote. Use this nonpartisan voter guide to help you prepare. Detroit Votes partnered with BridgeDetroit in the creation of this guide. 

• Frequently asked questions about voting

Nonprofit Detroit Votes partnered with BridgeDetroit in the creation of this guide. 

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Check your registration

First, verify if you are already registered by putting your information into https://mvic.sos.state.mi.us/Voter/Index and it will tell you. 

You need the following qualifications to vote:

1. Be a U.S. citizen
2. Be at least 17.5 years old and turn 18 before Election Day
3. Have lived in Detroit for at least 30 days

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Registering to vote

Are you ready to register to vote? What you need to do depends on how close to the election it is. 

If you aren’t already registered and it’s more than 14 days before the election, you have three options:

• You can register to vote at the Detroit City Clerk’s office (2 Woodward Ave. #200 Detroit, MI 48226) or the Department of Elections (2978 W. Grand Blvd. Detroit, MI 48226) Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. You need to prove that you live at your address, so you must bring a printed record of one of the following: 
  • Your Michigan driver’s license or state ID card
  • A utility bill, bank statement, pay check, government check or any other government document with your name and Detroit address on it. 
• You can register to vote online if you have a valid Michigan driver’s license or state ID here. If you don’t have one of those, you need to register in person at the City Clerk’s office. 
  • July 20 is the last day you can register to vote online for the Aug. 4, 2026 Primary election.
  • Oct. 19 is the last day you can register to vote online for the Nov. 3, 2026 General election.
• You can mail a completed voter registration application to the Detroit City Clerk (even if you don’t have a Michigan driver’s license, state ID, or Social Security number). Your application must be postmarked 14 days before Election Day or sooner. Download a voter registration application here. Fill out your application; put your completed application in an envelope addressed to Detroit City Clerk, 2 Woodward Ave. #200, Detroit, MI 48226; stamp your envelope and put it in the mail.
  • Your registration application must be postmarked on or before July 20 for the Aug. 4, 2026 Primary election and on or before Oct. 19 for the Nov. 3, 2026 General election.

If it is 14 days or fewer before the election, you must register to vote in person at a Detroit Early Vote Center or the Detroit City Clerk’s office.

• Starting on July 21, you’ll need to register in person at the Detroit City Clerk’s office with proof of residency for the Aug. 4, 2026 Primary election.
• Starting on Oct. 20, you’ll need to register in person with the Detroit City Clerk’s office with proof of residency for the Nov. 3, 2026 General election.

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Early voting 

Want to vote before Election Day? You can vote in person at the Detroit City Clerk’s office or at an Early Voting Site starting nine days before Election Day.

• You can vote using an absentee ballot at the Detroit City Clerk’s office located at 2 Woodward Ave. #200, Detroit, MI 48226 starting 40 days before Election Day until 4 p.m. the Monday before Election Day.
• For the Aug. 4, 2026 Primary Election, you can vote early in person with an absentee ballot at the Detroit City Clerk’s office starting on June 25. If you are registered to vote at your current address, you can vote at the Clerk’s office until Aug. 3 at 4 p.m.
• For the Nov. 3, 2026 General Election, you can vote early in person with an absentee ballot at the Detroit City Clerk’s office starting on Sept. 24. If you are registered to vote at your current address, you can vote at the Clerk’s office until Nov. 2 at 4 p.m.
• You can vote in person at a Detroit Early Voting Site. When you vote at an Early Voting Site, your voting experience will be similar to that of voting at a polling place on Election Day. You will complete your ballot, place it in a secrecy sleeve and then deposit it into the voting tabulator.

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Vote early from home

Prefer to vote from home? Get your absentee ballot as soon as possible. Make sure you select the option to sign up for the “permanent mail ballot list” to receive an absentee ballot in the mail before every election. Request your ballot online here.

Call the Detroit City Clerk’s office at 313-224-3270 and request an application for a ballot be mailed to you. Once you receive your application, mail it to the Detroit City Clerk’s office.

Download a ballot application form here and mail it to the Detroit City Clerk’s office: Detroit City Clerk, 2 Woodward Ave. #200, Detroit, MI 48226

Detroit Votes recommends you request your absentee ballot for the Aug. 4, 2026 Primary election by July 14 and for the Nov. 3, 2026 General election by Oct. 13.

You can check to see if the Detroit City Clerk’s office has received your application and if your ballot has been mailed to you by filling out this online form.

Once you receive your absentee ballot, you need to:

1. Fill out your ballot
2. Place your ballot in the provided envelope
3. Sign the outside of the envelope with your official signature that matches your voter registration

Finally, return your absentee ballot by 8 p.m. on Election Day.

Your ballot must be received by the Detroit City Clerk by 8 p.m. on Election Day.

Detroit Votes recommends getting your ballot in the mail at least 2 weeks before Election Day. For the Aug. 4, 2026 Primary election, that means mailing it in by July 21. For the Nov. 3, 2026 General election, thatmeans mailing it by Oct. 20.

Alternatively, you could drop your ballot off at the Detroit City Clerk’s office, at an Early Voting Site, or in a secure drop box. You can also have an immediate family member or someone who lives with you drop your ballot off at the Detroit City Clerk’s office.

Call the Detroit City Clerk at 313-224-3270 before 5 p.m. on the last Friday before Election Day to request that your ballot be picked up.

You can track the status of your absentee ballot here.

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Voting on Election Day

If you are registered to vote, you must vote at your assigned polling place. Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. If you are in line by 8 p.m. at your polling place, you will be able to vote.

You can find your polling place online at the Michigan Voter Information Center or by calling the Detroit City Clerk at (313) 224-3270.

Your polling place will likely be near the address you registered to vote with. But it may have changed from last year, so verify before you show up to the polling place. 

If you are not registered to vote, you can also register to vote on Election Day and vote at the same time, but you will have to go to the right location. 

This option is only available at the Detroit City Clerk’s office (2 Woodward Ave. #200, Detroit, MI 48226) or the Department of Elections (2978 W. Grand Blvd. Detroit, MI 48226). Make sure you bring one type (paper or electronic copy) of “proof of residency” with you. These include: 

• Your Michigan driver’s license or state ID cards.
• A utility bill, bank statement, pay check, government check or any other government document with your name and Detroit address on it. 

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A note about photo ID

You do not need a photo ID to register to vote. If you register to vote in person, you will be asked to show your photo ID. If you don’t have your ID, you can sign a form provided by a poll worker and then complete your voter registration. Bring “proof of residency” with you if you are registering to vote within 14 days of Election Day.

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Combatting misinformation

If you encounter what you believe to be misinformation, you can report it to the state by emailing misinformation@michigan.gov. Read more about how to be an informed voter and detect misinformation.