Election Day 2022 in Michigan is next week. Here's what you need to know

Detroit Free Press

We are less than a week away from Election Day in Michigan, when voters will get to decide a slew of issues and positions affecting the Great Lakes state.

There's quite a bit on the ballot this year — so here's a quick primer on what you need to know about this year's midterm elections.

When is Election Day?

Election Day in Michigan is Tuesday, Nov. 8. Polls open at 7 a.m. and remain open until 8 p.m. that day.

Can I still register to vote in Michigan?

Yes, you can! Eligible voters can still register to vote at their local clerk’s office until polls close on Election Day.

To be eligible to vote in Michigan, you must be:

18 years old by Election Day
A U.S. citizen
A Michigan resident and a resident of your city or township for at least 30 days by Election Day
Not currently serving a jail or prison sentence

When registering to vote, you must present proof of eligibility and residency. According to the Secretary of State's office, this can be your driver’s license or state identification, a paycheck, a current utility bill, a bank statement or another government form.

To find your local clerk’s office, visit the Michigan Voter Information Center at michigan.gov/vote.

More:Absentee ballots now available in Michigan: Here's how to request, return one

Once registered, voters can either wait to cast their ballots on Election Day or request an absentee ballot from their local clerk.

Applications can be requested online and through the mail up to 5 p.m. the Friday before Election Day through the Michigan Voter Information Center.

Voters can request their application to be mailed to them by their local clerk, but it's important to give yourself enough time to receive the application, fill it out and return it to make sure your vote is counted. This close to Election Day, it’s recommended to return an absentee ballot application in person.

More:Voter guide for Michigan election 2022: Macomb, Oakland, Wayne counties

For voters requesting absentee ballot applications in person at their local clerk's office, they can do so until 4 p.m. the Monday before the election.

Voters in Michigan who experience any issues attempting to cast their ballots can call the nonpartisan Election Protection hotline at 866-OUR-VOTE- (866-687-8683).

Governor race between Whitmer, Dixon, tops ticket

Michigan’s highest elected office, governor, is on the ballot this year. Incumbent Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, a Democrat, is being challenged by Republican nominee Tudor Dixon, a businesswoman from Norton Shores.

Whitmer is focusing on issues like protecting abortion rights in Michigan and points to initiatives enacted during her time in office, like record funding for K-12 education and rebuilding Michigan’s bridges and roads.

Dixon, who was a conservative media commenter before launching her campaign last year, is heavily critical of Whitmer’s stewarding of the economy and her handling of the COVID-19 pandemic. Dixon also has focused on cultural issues affecting K-12 schooling and does not favor abortions except to save the life of the mother.

Michigan’s Secretary of State and Attorney General are also being contested. In both contests, incumbent Democrats are facing challenges from political newcomers who rose to prominence after spreading debunked conspiracy theories about the 2020 election.

Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson is being challenged by Kristina Karamo, a community college instructor from Oak Park. Benson touts changes to customer service at Michigan Secretary of State branch locations and expanding online and mobile service stations throughout the state.

Karamo has focused much of her campaign on Benson’s actions. She has denied the outcome of the 2020 presidential election, and has espoused debunked theories on election fraud and leveled unfounded allegations regarding the vote count in Detroit after serving as an election observer in the city in 2020. Karamo recently filed a lawsuit seeking the invalidation of some absentee ballots submitted in the city of Detroit.

Attorney General Dana Nessel is facing Matthew DePerno, a lawyer who emerged victorious in the Republican nominating process. Polls in the race have had the closest margins of the three statewide races.

Nessel touts her office’s accomplishments in areas like civil rights, consumer protection and public safety. DePerno rose to prominence after filing lawsuits focusing on false claims of voter fraud in the 2020 election, namely a lawsuit focusing on a debunked conspiracy theory in Antrim County.

Three proposals on the Michigan ballot

Voters in Michigan will also get to decide on a trio of ballot proposals, each focused on a different issue in Michigan.

Proposal 1 (it will appear as Proposal 22-1 on your ballot) would change term limits for Michigan lawmakers and require financial disclosures for lawmakers and other elected officials.
Proposal 2 (it will appear as Proposal 22-2 on your ballot) would change or codify election standards in Michigan, including clarifying Michigan’s voter ID laws and creating nine days of “early voting.”
Proposal 3 (it will appear as Proposal 22-3 on your ballot) would enshrine the “right to reproductive freedom” in Michigan, allowing Michiganders to seek abortion access if they choose to.

First election with new congressional, legislative districts

The 2022 midterms will be the first election in Michigan since the state underwent its latest round of redistricting. Voters will be selecting representatives in completely new lines for the U.S. House of Representatives, Michigan House and Michigan Senate.

In 2018, voters passed an amendment to create an independent redistricting commission tasked with drawing fairer lines. The resulting districts may give Michigan Democrats a better chance at taking control of the state Senate for the first time in decades.

More:Where is your congressional district in Michigan? Look it up with this map

More:Handful of marquee matchups highlight Michigan's US House races

Michigan did lose a congressional seat since its population growth lagged behind other states — starting in 2023, the state will only send 13 House representatives to Washington D.C. instead of 14.

Some of the districts are considered reliable for Republicans and Democrats, but others are more competitive. Read about these competitive congressional districts:

And catch up on all the congressional races here.

When will we know Michigan election results?

In 2018, Michigan voters approved a ballot proposal expanding the use of absentee ballots. While absentee ballots can be submitted weeks before Election Day, election workers cannot begin counting them until Election Day itself.

In 2020, Michigan’s statewide results weren’t available on election night — it’s likely that remains the case this year. As of Tuesday, Michigan had already received over 1 million absentee ballots.

Election workers have to pre-process absentee ballots before counting them. Since absentee ballots can be submitted up until 8 p.m. on Election Day, it’s possible election workers in some jurisdictions may not get to start counting some ballots until well after polls close.

Contact Arpan Lobo: alobo@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @arpanlobo.

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