Voting begins in Michigan. Here's what you need to know

[RandySF]

Welcome to the first week of voting in Michigan!

Yes, we may still be a little more than five weeks away from Election Day but absentee ballots are being sent out this week.

Election season has drastically changed in length over recent years with the addition and expansion of no-reason absentee balloting in Michigan and new early in-person voting options… all because Michigan voters approved changes to the state’s constitution in both 2018 and 2022.

So, we figured there wasn’t a better time to do an Absentee Ballot 101 and there wasn’t a better teacher than Chris Thomas. Thomas was Michigan’s long-time Elections Director, holding the role for nearly forty years through both Republican and Democratic administrations. It’s fair to say there are few people in Michigan who know more about the process of voting than him.


https://www.michiganpublic.org/politics-government/2024-09-27/voting-begins-in-michigan-heres-what-you-need-to-know

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

1. That's not quite what I need to know. ...

I need help selecting candidates in the non-partisan portion of the ballot. Is there any clear information about which of these candidates are secret Democrats vs secret Republicans?

Candidates' web sites are not much use. They are usually worded in vague and wonderful terms, without specifics.

[RandySF]

2. Which race?

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

3. Courts of appeals, circuit court, probate court, school board

All in the "non-partisan" portion of the ballot, but I'm sure the candidates are "highly-partisan". I'd like to vote for the ones that are "partisan-like-me".

[RandySF]

4. I know what you mean.

Judicial candidates sought endorsements from both parties when I lived in Michigan. I would say look for those endorsed by the UAW. For school board, watch out for Moms For Liberty types.

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

5. I think I have most of the judicial candidates picked out. School board is still a puzzle.

bluevoterguide.org was helpful, along with a few others. No help yet on school board, none of the candidates' web sites (or, the few that have them) indicate any leanings relative to libraries, inclusion, etc. Just "I live to serve our community" stuff.

Oh well, I have time ...

[llmart]

6. I had a senior neighbor of mine ask me this question and I didn't know the answer

On the front of the Michigan ballot there are three columns. If he chooses a straight Democratic ticket does that apply to all three columns? He's concerned that the votes in the second and third columns won't be counted if he just fills in the straight Democratic circle in column 1.