Michigan voters are preparing to choose a U.S. senator, governor, members of Congress and the state Legislature on Nov. 3, 2026, alongside decisions on hundreds of local tax measures and other ballot questions.

Among the races drawing attention are the U.S. Senate contest between Abdul El-Sayed (D) and Mike Rogers (R) to replace retiring Senator Peters, the governor’s race between Jocelyn Benson (D) and John James (R), and competitive congressional contests in Mid-M Michigan, Macomb and Southwest Michigan; control of the Legislature is also in play.

Two statewide proposals are on the ballot: Proposal 1 would convene a constitutional convention, a question voters face every 16 years, while Proposal 2 would prohibit political spending by utilities and state contractors in elections.

Local ballots include more than 500 tax proposals and 44 school bonds, including Dearborn Public Schools’ proposed $1.5 billion bond for construction, safety and modernization.

Early in-person voting began Oct. 24 and continues through Nov. 1, with at least eight hours of voting each day and extended hours in some communities on Nov. 2; about 1.4 million absentee ballots—roughly 19% of active registered voters—had already been returned. On Election Day, in-person polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

About 134,000 people voted in person during early voting’s first 48 hours. Deputy Secretary of State Aghogho Edevbie called the opening weekend “a great success”; this is the first midterm general election with statewide early in-person voting.

By Oct. 27, about 2.15 million voters had requested absentee ballots and 1,176,375 had returned them; more than 2 million of those requesting ballots were on the permanent mail ballot list. Requests had surpassed the 1,899,273 recorded for the November 2022 general election, when 1,126,246 ballots had been returned a week before Election Day.

Absentee ballots must reach local clerks by 8 p.m. on Nov. 3. Voters who have not returned theirs were urged to use a drop box or deliver it directly to a clerk’s office to avoid postal delays.

Voters can confirm their polling location on the Secretary of State’s website and register on Election Day at their local clerk’s office until 8 p.m. with proof of residency; those without voter ID can still vote by signing an affidavit.

To help address transportation barriers, public transit agencies and community groups across Michigan are offering free or discounted rides on Election Day. Voters should check provider service areas, eligibility and deadlines, and verify their polling location before making plans; a separate resource lists rides to early-voting sites.

Statewide options include Rideshare2Vote, which takes requests online or by phone, and Lyft, which offers 50% off rideshare, bikeshare or scooter rides—up to $10—from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. local time with code VOTE26.

In Detroit, Hamtramck and Highland Park, Detroit Bus Company offers rides from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., with group sign-ups due Nov. 2; Warriors on Wheels provides wheelchair-accessible rides for seniors and voters with disabilities from 8 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.