Elections 2024: Voting in Detroit and Michigan

• The state's voters will also have a say in which party controls Congress, with an open U.S. Senate seat and hotly contested Congressional races.

Zoom in: Locally voters will also choose state representatives, state and local board of education members, public university board members, county leaders, state and local judges and vote on local ballot proposals.

Voting in Michigan

Voter registration is open through Election Day in person at your local clerk's office, but deadlines to register online or by mail have passed.

To vote absentee, you can request a ballot online until 5pm the Friday before the election. Or you can request a ballot from your local clerk's office by mail, by phone or in person.

• Because the election is less than two weeks out, officials recommend returning your completed ballot to a ballot drop box or to your clerk's office, as opposed to mailing it back.

Early in-person voting starts on Saturday for most municipalities, although Detroit and a few others have already begun.

• Find an early voting site near you at the Secretary of State's voter information center.

U.S. Senate: Elissa Slotkin (D) vs. Mike Rogers (R)

In a battle to fill the seat being vacated by Democratic Sen. Debbie Stabenow, Democratic U.S. Rep. Elissa Slotkin is facing off against former Republican U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers.

• It's a close race drawing national attention — and a top opportunity for Republicans to pick up an extra seat in the narrowly divided U.S. Senate.

Context: Slotkin is a former CIA analyst who grew up on a farm in Holly. She has been in Congress for about six years.

• Rogers is a former Army officer and FBI agent from Livingston County who was a U.S. representative for 14 years before moving to the private sector.

What they're saying: "I'm … running for Senate because I believe in my bones that we need a strong and growing middle class," Slotkin said in a debate earlier this month. "That means jobs with dignity and that means making sure we attack the costs that are eating a hole in your pocket."

• During the same debate, Rogers said: "We have to answer one question, this is the most important question we will ask during this campaign: Are you better off than you were four years ago? … The simple answer is, absolutely not … The policies coming out of Washington, D.C., have been crushing to our families."

13th Congressional District: Shri Thanedar (D) vs. Martell Bivings (R)

In a rematch of the 2022 contest for this seat, Democratic Rep. Shri Thanedar is vying for re-election against Republican challenger Martell Bivings.

• Thanedar won two years ago with 71% of the vote to Bivings' 24%, snapping Detroit's 70-year streak of Black representation in Congress.
• Former Rep. Brenda Lawrence retired in 2022 instead of running in the redrawn 13th District.

In the August primary, Thanedar faced accusations of neglecting the city from challenger and City Council member Mary Waters, who was backed by Mayor Mike Duggan.

• Thanedar, a wealthy businessman, dismissed the criticism as political games and beat Waters handily.
• His priorities include protecting abortion rights and the reinstatement of a ban on civilian assault rifles.

Bivings is a native Detroiter with a background in economic development and public policy.

• He supports immigration reform, tax breaks for homeowners and funding infrastructure in the Jefferson Chalmers neighborhood to prevent flooding.

Libertarian Chris Clark, Chris Dardzinski of the U.S. Taxpayers Party and Simone R. Coleman of the Working Class Party also are on the ballot.

Zoom in: The 13th District includes parts of Detroit and Dearborn Heights, Hamtramck, Highland Park, the Grosse Pointes, Melvindale, Lincoln Park, Romulus, Southgate, Taylor, Wayne, River Rouge and Wyandotte.

Go deeper: Thanedar faces Duggan-backed Waters for Congress seat

12th Congressional District: Rashida Tlaib (D) vs. James D. Hooper (R)

Democratic Rep. Rashida Tlaib is seeking her fourth term in Congress.

• She faces Republican James D. Hooper, who works in the building trades and has a background in local Republican Party politics.
• Green Party candidate Brenda K. Sanders and Gary Walkowicz, of the Working Class Party, also are in the race.

Tlaib, a native Detroiter with Palestinian immigrant parents, serves on the House Committee on Financial Services and the House Committee on Oversight and Accountability.

• The House last year voted to censure her for her criticisms of Israel and defense of a controversial pro-Palestinian chant.

Zoom in: The 12th District includes parts of Detroit, Dearborn, Southfield and many surrounding communities.

Proposals

Detroit voters can expect two education millage-related questions on their ballots.

Detroit school district Proposal S: Operating millage restoration

This tax measure applies to commercial and other non-homestead property owners — meaning homeowners aren't affected.

Why it matters: If approved, Proposal S would reset the operating millage — or, the local property tax that generates funding — that goes to the Detroit Public Schools Community District from 16.6 mills ($16.60 for every $1,000 of taxable value) back up to 18 mills.

• 18 mills is the state standard, but state law requires the rate be pulled back when property values do not keep up with inflation, according to Chalkbeat.

What they're saying: Without the reset up to the full 18 mills, the district is set to lose $10 million in much-needed annual revenue, per a district statement to Axios. The proposal would also help repay the district's legacy debt more quickly.

• "Proposal S restores the Operating Millage to 18 Mills and ensures businesses in Detroit pay their fair share at the same rate that businesses across the state are paying to support local education in their respective communities," the district said in its statement.

Wayne County Regional Enhancement Millage:

This millage up for renewal gives additional funding to Wayne County schools alongside what they get from the state, distributed equally per pupil, according to the intermediate school district agency, Wayne RESA.

The big picture: Voting "yes" on renewal would continue the nearly 2-mill property tax for six more years — not increasing the tax amount, according to Wayne RESA.

• Homeowners would keep paying about $8 per month for a house valued at $100,000.

Between the lines: The money from the millage can be used for "any legal purpose," according to RESA.

• The agency reports that districts have used the money for a range of activities, including hiring teachers, stabilizing budgets, improving career technical programs and maintaining buses.

Flashback: The millage was approved by Wayne County voters in 2016, then renewed, keeping it in place through the 2027-28 fiscal year.

• This renewal would continue the property tax for six years after that end date.

Other races to watch

Expect races on your ballot for the 110-seat Michigan House of Representatives.

The big picture: In 2022, Democrats gained control of both state legislative chambers for the first time in nearly 40 years. They'll be looking to hold onto their narrow majority (56-54) this cycle, as all seats are up for election.

• Read up on all the candidates in the Free Press guide.

To learn about the judicial candidates on your Detroit ballot, check out Outlier Media's guide to the three competitive races.

• Other statewide races to learn about in the Free Press guide before you head to the polls include justices of the state Supreme Court, state Board of Education members, U of M regents and MSU trustees.