On Nov. 4, Detroiters on will select a new mayor, fill two open seats on the Detroit City Council, decide whether to re-elect or replace sitting council members in another pair of competitive district races and the council’s at-large seats and choose members of the Board of Police Commissioners.
The Detroit City Clerk’s office began mailing absentee ballots to voters Sept. 25. Registered voters may mail their ballots or place them in a absentee ballot drop box.
Registered voters can also cast their ballots in person at an early voting site from Oct. 25 to Nov. 2. Check your voter registration or find your polling place on the Michigan Secretary of State website, or search for ballot drop boxes and early voting place at Detroit Votes.
Are you registered?
Check your registration status by entering your information on the Michigan Secretary of State’s website. You can also go to your local clerk’s office, which can be found by entering your address at mvic.sos.state.mi.us/Voter/Index/#yourclerk.
Neal Willis, 61 of Detroit votes in the primary election inside The Matrix Center gymnasium where precincts 46, 49, 77 and 205 are located in Detroit on Tuesday, August 5, 2025.
Same day registration
Michiganders can go to their clerk’s office on Election Day to register ,and then vote at their polling place anytime from 7 a.m. until the polls close at 8 p.m. Registered voters have the right to cast a ballot as long as they are in line at their polling place by 8 p.m. on Election Day.
Vote by mail
All Michigan voters can vote by mail by requesting an absentee ballot from their local clerk online or in person.
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Voters don’t need a reason to request absentee ballots in Michigan.
Online applications may be submitted until 5 p.m. the Friday before Election Day. To ensure enough time to receive and return an absentee ballot, the Secretary of State recommends submitting a request at least 15 days before Election Day.
Voters can track their absentee ballots on the Michigan Secretary of State website.
On Election Day, Detroit absentee ballots may be returned by drop box or directly to the local clerk’s office.
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What to expect at a polling place
Once arriving at a polling place, voters who have not registered to vote can register on-site and voters who already have registered may vote.
State laws require voters to show official photo identification, such as a driver’s license, local government ID or U.S. passport. Voters without a photo ID can still cast a ballot by signing an affidavit stating the voter does not have an ID. Once a voter signs an affidavit, they may cast a ballot.
There may not be campaign materials, including clothing that promotes or disparages any candidate on the ballot within 100 feet of the entrance to polling places.
What’s on the ballot
The Free Press voter guide goes live later today. Check back for a link.
A full list of candidates is also available at the Wayne County Clerk’s website.
Submit a letter to the editor about municipal elections or anything else at freep.com/letters, and we may publish it online and in print.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit mayoral, city council election: How to register and vote