More than 780,000 Michigan voters have cast their ballot two weeks before Election Day; active registered voter turnout reaches 10.7%

Voters should hand-deliver mail ballot to avoid postal delays

LANSING, Mich. - Two weeks ahead of Election Day, Nov. 3, more than 780,000 Michigan voters have returned their absentee (mail) ballot or voted at an early voting site, bringing the active registered voter turnout rate to 10.7%. Voters have requested more than 2.1 million ballots - a 17% increase from two weeks before the 2022 midterm election.

Voters who have not yet returned their ballot should hand-deliver it in its signed and sealed envelope as soon as possible to their clerk's office or assigned ballot drop box to avoid postal delays. Voters can also return their ballot to their early voting site or polling place on Election Day.

"With Election Day only two weeks away, now is the time to return your mail ballot if you have not already done so," said Deputy Secretary of State Aghogho Edevbie. "Voters should avoid putting their ballot in the mail and instead hand-deliver it to your assigned drop box, clerk's office, or put it into the machine yourself at an early voting site or at a polling location on Election Day. Clerks must have your ballot by 8 p.m. on Election Day for it to be counted. Don't wait to ensure your voice will be heard this November."

As of 7 a.m. today, Oct. 20, a total of 2,121,458 voters have requested a mail (absentee) ballot for the General Election, including 2,001,574 on the permanent mail ballot list, and 789,476 voters have returned their completed ballot by mail, drop box, or to their clerk's office. A total of 789,572 voters have cast their ballot, including 96 votes at an early voting site, 10.7% of Michigan's active registered voters.

Early voting sites open statewide Saturday, Oct. 24, and will be open at least eight hours every day through Sunday, Nov. 1. Some jurisdictions, including East Lansing and Grand Rapids, are offering extra early voting days and opened early voting sites this week. As of 7 a.m. today, 96 voters have cast their ballot at an early voting site. Look up your early voting sites and times at mi.gov/earlyvoting.

The Michigan Voting Dashboard shows 2026 county and municipal ballot request and return data. The dashboard will be updated daily with mail ballot and early voting totals between now and the Monday before Election Day. A breakdown of 2022 mail ballot numbers by jurisdiction can be downloaded online.

Michigan provides online ballot tracking and the option to receive ballot notifications via email at mi.gov/trackballot. Voters can also contact their city or township election clerk to track the status of their mail ballot. If you requested a mail (absentee) ballot but have not received it, contact your clerk right away.

Eligible Michiganders who still need to register to vote in the General Election must now do so in person at their local clerk's office with proof of residency. Under Michigan law, online and mail registration are not permitted within 14 days of an election. Visit mi.gov/myclerk to look up your clerk's office location and hours.

Visit mi.gov/vote to check your voter registration, find your early voting site and drop box, or to learn more about Michigan's elections.

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