Early voting ran Oct. 24 through Nov. 1, with two Detroit sites open Nov. 2. More than 2.3 million Michiganders voted before Election Day, and same-day registration drew 15,600 on Nov. 3.
Detroit's nine days of early in-person voting ended Nov. 1 after a record first day: more than 2,300 residents voted on Oct. 24, the city said. Detroit kept two sites open Nov. 2, and City Clerk Janice Winfrey projected 40% to 45% turnout for the Nov. 3 election.
Statewide, 743,450 voters cast ballots at early voting sites, and more than 2.3 million had voted before Election Day, according to the Michigan Secretary of State. On Election Day, more than 15,600 residents registered and voted at their local clerk's office under the state's same-day registration law.
Why it matters
If you are not registered, you can still sign up in person at the clerk's office and vote through Nov. 3.
16 events
Latest: November 3rd, 2026 · 1 week ago
Showing 8 of 16
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November 2026
Election Day
LatestElection
Polls were open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. across Michigan. More than 15,600 residents registered and voted at their local clerk's office, and the Secretary of State reported strong turnout.
Same-day registration draws 15,600 voters
Election
More than 15,600 Michigan residents registered and voted at their local clerk's office on Election Day, the Secretary of State said.
Detroit offers extra early voting day at two sites
Election
Detroit voters could cast ballots from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the City Clerk's Office and the Department of Elections, the day after the main early voting period ended.
More than 2.3 million ballots cast before Election Day
Election
The Secretary of State reported 743,450 early in-person ballots and more than 1.5 million absentee ballots submitted before polls opened.
Early voting ends with 743,450 statewide ballots
Election
The nine-day early voting period closed Nov. 1; 743,450 Michigan voters had cast a ballot at an early voting site, the Secretary of State reported.
October 2026
Detroit projects 40% to 45% turnout
Election
City Clerk Janice Winfrey said Detroit could see 105,000 to 125,000 voters on Election Day. The city set a first-day early voting record of more than 2,300 on Oct. 24.
Statewide ballots top 1.39 million
Election
More than 1.39 million Michigan voters had cast an absentee or early ballot one week before Election Day, including 215,795 at early voting sites.
Early in-person voting begins
Election
Early in-person voting opened at eight Detroit locations and runs through Nov. 1; two sites also open Nov. 2.
Detroit hosts get-out-the-vote block party
Community
The Detroit Department of Elections held a block party from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Northwest Activities Center, 18100 Meyers Road. Actress Kerry Washington visited the site, ClickOnDetroit reported.
Kerry Washington visits Detroit early voting site
Community
Actress Kerry Washington stopped by the Northwest Activities Center, one of Detroit's eight early voting sites, to encourage residents to vote, ClickOnDetroit reported.
BridgeDetroit publishes registration guide
Reporting
BridgeDetroit publishes guide on in-person registration requirement.
Statewide ballot returns top 860,000
Election
By the morning of Oct. 21, more than 860,000 Michigan voters had returned absentee ballots, CBS Detroit reported.
Online and mail registration closes
Deadline
Online and mail voter registration closed 15 days before the election; from Oct. 20, residents could register only in person at their clerk's office.
August 2026
Michigan primary election
Election
Michigan holds its primary election for the 2026 general.
November 2022
Michigan passes Proposal 2
Referendum
Michigan voters pass Proposal 2, adding nine days of early in-person voting.
Discussed by: Detroit City Clerk Janice Winfrey, city election officials
Detroit set a first-day record on Oct. 24 with more than 2,300 early voters. City Clerk Janice Winfrey projected 40% to 45% turnout for the Nov. 3 election, based on turnout data from the past decade.
2
Long lines and confusion at Detroit clerk's office
Deadline passed (Nov 3, 2026)
Discussed by: BridgeDetroit, Detroit Free Press
The in-person registration window concentrates late registrants at the clerk's office. If lines stretch or voters lack proof of residency, some could be turned away.
3
Same-day registration drives Election Day surge
Deadline passed (Nov 4, 2026)
Discussed by: Michigan Secretary of State
Michigan allows same-day registration at the clerk's office on Election Day. A surge of late registrants could extend lines but also boost turnout.
Historical Context
2 moments from history that rhyme with this story — and how they unfolded.
1 of 2
November 2018
Michigan Proposal 3 (2018)
Michigan voters passed Proposal 3, the Promote the Vote amendment, establishing same-day voter registration, no-reason absentee voting, and straight-ticket voting.
Then
Same-day registration took effect immediately, letting voters register and cast a ballot on Election Day.
Now
The amendment remains in the state constitution, guaranteeing the same-day option Detroit voters still have.
Why this matters now
This is why Detroit residents can still register on Nov. 3 even after the Oct. 20 cutoff.
2 of 2
November 2022
Michigan Proposal 2 (2022)
Michigan voters passed Proposal 2, adding nine days of early in-person voting and requiring state funding for election administration.
Then
Early voting centers opened across the state for the 2024 election cycle.
Now
Detroit runs eight early voting sites for the 2026 general election, according to the city's Election Connection newsletter.
Why this matters now
The early voting centers in the article exist because of this 2022 amendment.
