Metro Detroit 2023 Election Guide: Everything You Need To Know

METRO DETROIT — Although it's a smaller election this year, it's still an important one with lots of cities and towns in metro Detroit holding elections for local office and local proposals.

Some highlights in this year's elections include mayoral races in Eastpointe, Rochester Hills, Royal Oak, Warren and Westland. Other key races include city council positions in Rochester, Rochester Hills, Troy and commission seats in Plymouth.

To see what other races are happening in your specific community, view a sample of your ballot on the state’s website here.

Michigan voters can vote in person at their local precinct anytime from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 7.

Register To Vote

You have until Oct. 23 to register to vote online or by mail in the general election. You can register to vote in person anytime before the election or even on Election Day.

If you have a valid Michigan driver’s license or state ID you can use the online form to register to vote, or update your voter registration address in Michigan.

Once you’re officially registered to vote in Michigan, you will be assigned a physical polling location at which you can vote on Election Day.

Absentee Voting

Those who want to vote absentee must request ballots by Nov. 3 by mail and by Nov. 6 in person. Ballots will then arrive in the mail. You can request a ballot by calling your city or township clerk and ask that an application be mailed to you You can also download an application to return by mail or in person to your local clerk or township.

Local clerks must mail absentee ballots by Nov. 3, one week before the election, though they are often mailed sooner.

Early Voting

Absentee early voting began on Sept. 28 and voters have until Nov. 6 to vote. All absentee ballots must be returned by Nov. 7 at 8 p.m. You can submit them by mail, or by hand-delivering the ballot to your clerk’s office or their drop box. If you are returning your ballot within two weeks of election day, consider hand-delivering your ballot to avoid possible postal delays.

All registered voters can track their ballot by looking up their information in the voter information section of this website.

Change Absentee Ballot

If you already voted absentee and want to change your vote, you can spoil the ballot by submitting a written request to their city or township clerk. If your ballot has been received by the clerk's office, you will have until 5 p.m. on Nov. 3 to make the request. If your ballot has not been received but the clerk's office, you'll have until Oct. 30 to spoil it.