How to research your Michigan ballot
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My three-page ballot. Photo: Joe Guillen/Axios
My absentee ballot just arrived in the mail. All three pages of it.
Zoom in: I've spent plenty of time covering the races for governor and U.S. Senate. But farther down my ballot, I found dozens of candidates for judgeships, school boards and university trustees I knew little or nothing about.
- And I cover politics for a living.
Why it matters: These down-ballot offices make decisions that affect our communities, even if their candidates don't get nearly as much attention.
The good news: With less than two weeks until Nov. 3, there's still time to do some homework — and plenty of free resources to help.
- That's the beauty of voting absentee: I can research my choices and fill out my ballot at my own pace.
Where to start: I spent some time exploring three voter guides that can help make sense of unfamiliar names.
- VOTE411: The League of Women Voters' guide lets you enter your address to see your races and compare candidate backgrounds, qualifications and survey answers. I found useful information about Ferndale school board and judicial candidates, although not everyone responded.
- Planet Detroit: Its statewide guide breaks down campaign contributions, legislative voting records and ballot proposals, with special attention to environmental issues.
- BridgeDetroit: An interactive guide to Detroit's crowded school board race includes candidate backgrounds, endorsements, family connections and links to interviews and videos.
☝️ A reminder: You don't have to vote in every contest. Leaving a race blank won't invalidate the rest of your ballot.
What's next: Return your absentee ballot to your local clerk or an official drop box. The state advises against mailing ballots this close to Election Day.
- Sign and date the return envelope. Your ballot must arrive by 8pm Nov. 3.
- Track your ballot: Check its status and sign up for notifications through the state. I've used the alerts myself and found them reassuring.
Plus, tell us how you're feeling about the election: