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UMICH Votes

1109 Geddes Avenue

Ann Arbor, MI 48109

Know Your Ballot

Municipali-tea!

Are you looking for the “tea” on candidates and ballot proposals in your local elections? Here are some tips for casting an informed vote!

Not sure where to begin? start with these steps:

  • Use reliable, nonpartisan sources

    Nonpartisan resources can help orient you. You can research things like candidate positions and priorities, state and local proposals, and lobbying groups involved in the election.

    As a start, here are three helpful nonpartisan sites:

  • Identify what you care about (and who you trust)

    Are you passionate about the environment? Affordable housing? Education? Defining your political identity helps you find organizations that reflect your values. Endorsements from these trusted groups can help inform your vote.

    Political parties: Local chapters of national political parties often endorse candidates and issues — even in nonpartisan races.

    • The best way to find these is to search for your town, city, or county + the political party in your preferred search engine or find the local chapter on social media!

    Interest groups: If there is a particular issue you care about or perspective you identify with, look for the positions and candidates endorsed by related interest groups.

    • Examples include: nonprofits, advocacy groups, trade organizations, religious associations, and labor unions.
  • Dig deeper

    Here are some more ways to get to know your ballot:

    Explore campaign websites: Find out where candidates stand on the issues important to you by visiting their websites. Proposal campaigns can have dedicated websites as well!

    Consult local sources: Read interviews, Q&As, and endorsements from local media outlets.

    • Local media outlets can include local newspapers, local television stations, and local radio stations.

    Scroll through candidates' social media: Look at who they're following, who follows them, and what they’re posting.

    Check candidate voting records: If a candidate has held office before, check out their voting record for a sense of their priorities and principles. A great place to start is:

    Follow the money: Check public records to see which individuals or organizations are funding a candidate or proposal campaign. A few great resources include:

    See for yourself: You can also attend, watch, or consult the minutes of public meetings yourself to find out more!

    • To learn how, visit your local government's website.
  • Bring notes!

    You can bring your notes or a sample ballot into the voting booth in Ann Arbor (elsewhere: check local rules!). 

Do I have to vote for everything?

Nope! Leaving a race blank will not impact your other choices.

What's a proposal? An incumbent? A millage?

Great questions! Check out the voting glossary for quick definitions of common voting terms — including ballot proposal, incumbent, and millage.

Can I look things up on my phone?

In some places, such as Ann Arbor, you can use your phone in the voting booth to do research. However, if you bring your phone, you cannot take pictures of the polling place, other people in the polling place, or other people's ballots. Be sure to check the rules with your local election office before you go.

Why is my ballot divided into sections?

In Michigan, the ballot has three sections:

  • Partisan: Includes races for local, state, and national offices, with candidates listed by their party affiliation.
  • Nonpartisan: Here, you’ll vote for state judges and local officials. Candidates in this section do not have their party affiliations listed (although state Supreme Court candidates are nominated by political parties).
  • Proposals: State and local ballot proposals allow you to vote directly on an issue.
Do we vote for judges?

It depends on where you vote. In Michigan, we vote for judges on multiple levels of the court system. Candidates are not listed by their party affiliation. However, Michigan Supreme Court justice candidates are nominated by political parties.

Do we vote for U-M Regents? MSU Trustees? Wayne State Governors?

Yes — every Michigan voter statewide gets to vote for all three. Regents (U-M), Trustees (MSU), and Governors (Wayne State) are members of their respective university's governing boards. These boards make budgeting decisions, appoint faculty (including the university president), and approve campus projects and policies.