Michigan begins mailing absentee ballots for Nov 3 election
Rule Changes Grand Rapids, MI localMore than 2.3 million voted early or absentee; certification due by Nov. 23
Overview
Absentee ballots began going out Sept. 24, after the Supreme Court blocked a Postal Service rule that would have restricted mail delivery. Several clerks missed the state's 40-day mailing deadline, and some voters in Antrim and Presque Isle counties were still waiting on Sept. 29.
More than 2.3 million people voted absentee or early before Election Day, and officials reported strong turnout on Nov. 3. As of 10:30 p.m. that night, 1,852,455 absentee ballots had been returned, over 84% of those requested. County canvassers must certify results by Nov. 17, and the state Board of State Canvassers by Nov. 23.
Why it matters
More than 2.3 million Michiganders voted early or absentee, and how officials count those ballots now decides close races.
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Timeline
August 2026 November 2026
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Polls close with strong turnout and scattered tabulator problems
Latest ElectionDeputy Secretary of State Aghogho Edevbie reported strong turnout and fast-moving lines. More than 15,600 residents registered and voted the same day. Tabulators malfunctioned in Madison Heights, Redford and Shelby Township; the department said Department of Justice monitors acted within agreed rules.
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Detroit tabs about 68,000 absentee ballots
DataDetroit's clerk said about 68,000 absentee ballots had been tabulated and up to 80,000 were expected. All 402 city precincts opened, according to FOX 2.
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Ballots cast before Election Day top 2.3 million
DataState figures showed 2,313,165 ballots cast, 31.2% of active registered voters. That included 743,450 early in-person votes and 1,569,715 returned absentee ballots.
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Michigan Supreme Court rejects absentee-ballot challenge
LegalThe court declined to hear a Republican lawsuit that sought to require rejection of absentee ballots returned with a missing or mismatched stub. Six justices rejected the appeal; Justice Brian Zahra dissented.
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State reports 1.39 million ballots cast one week before Election Day
DataThe Secretary of State said 1,176,375 absentee ballots had been returned and 215,795 people had voted early in person. The state had received 2,154,870 absentee ballot requests.
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Washtenaw County passes 45,000 returned absentee ballots
DataMichigan's Department of State reported 45,000 absentee ballots returned in Washtenaw County, over 11,000 more than in the 2022 midterm. Officials urged residents to deliver ballots in person rather than by mail.
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Genesee County reports 4,773 early votes in first weekend
DataThe Genesee County clerk said 4,773 people voted early over the first weekend. More than half of the county's mail ballots had been returned by Sunday.
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Statewide ballots cast top 1 million
DataSecretary of State data cited by CNN showed more than 1 million ballots cast as of Sunday morning. NBC's tracker listed 1,141,300, including 81,407 early in-person votes.
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Statewide early in-person voting opens
ProcessEarly voting sites opened statewide and must stay open at least eight hours a day through Nov. 1. Voters can cast ballots in person and return mail ballots at the site.
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Detroit records early-voting high
Data2,300 Detroit residents voted on the first day of early voting, above the 1,800 on the first day for the 2024 presidential election.
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Ballots cast top 920,000 as early voting nears
DataState figures cited by MLive put turnout at 920,762, mostly absentee ballots, with statewide early in-person voting set to open Oct. 24. Clerks again stressed signature checks and drop box security.
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State reports 789,572 ballots cast two weeks before Election Day
DataThe Secretary of State reported 2,121,458 absentee ballots requested and 789,572 cast, 10.7% of active registered voters. East Lansing and Grand Rapids were already running early voting sites ahead of the statewide Oct. 24 start.
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Voters in two counties still waiting for absentee ballots
ProcessClerks in several Michigan communities missed the Sept. 24 deadline to mail absentee ballots. Voters in Antrim and Presque Isle counties were still waiting on Sept. 29, and Farmington Hills, Commerce Township, Chocolay Township and Klacking Township began mailing that week; clerks blamed printers and a short order window.
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Michigan clerks urge confidence in election security
Public statementAs absentee ballots reached voters, clerks and election advocates across Michigan urged residents to trust the security of the state's mail voting system. The push responds to misinformation about mail ballots.
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Lansing mails about 23,000 absentee ballots
ProcessLansing sent its initial batch of absentee ballots on Sept. 24. City Clerk Chris Swope urged voters returning ballots by mail to allow at least two weeks for delivery; ballots must reach local clerks by 8 p.m. on Election Day.
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Supreme Court blocks USPS mail ballot restrictions
LegalThe court left in place an injunction blocking a Postal Service rule that would have restricted mail ballot delivery for the November election. Michigan joined a multistate lawsuit to stop the rule, which required states to enroll mail voters with USPS and adopt new ballot envelope designs.
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USPS publishes mail ballot rule
RegulatoryThe Postal Service published a rule requiring states to enroll mail voters with USPS and imposing new design standards for ballot envelopes. It took effect immediately, 69 days before the election.
Scenarios
USPS mail ballot rule returns for a future election
Discussed by: Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson; federal courts
The Sept. 14 Supreme Court order only keeps the Postal Service rule blocked for the November 2026 election. The lawsuit continues. If the rule survives, states would have to enroll mail voters with USPS and adopt new ballot envelope designs for later elections.
Michigan certifies the Nov. 3 general election by Nov. 23
Discussed by: Michigan Department of State
County boards of canvassers review results and must certify by Nov. 17. The state Board of State Canvassers then reviews the process and must vote by Nov. 23; after that, results are final.