Michigan

Michigan is one of the country's most competitive swing states, and it is administering its 2026 elections under rules voters recently rewrote. Michigan has also hosted several closely watched primaries with record turnout this cycle. More than 2.5 million ballots were cast—the most in a Michigan gubernatorial primary in half a century. In this report, we discuss the state's 2026 electoral landscape and provide analysis of its primary elections. 

Michigan publishes its election data through the Department of State's Bureau of Elections, including precinct-level results. In this document, we identify the locations of the data and their dedicated webpages at the state level.

Michigan held its biennial state primary—including contests for Senate, the federal House of Representatives, the state legislature, and local offices—on August 6. Unlike the February 27 presidential preference primary, state primaries were held for both major parties, and nearly two million voters showed up to the polls to make their voices heard. This brief update to our late July report discusses three election administration headlines, explains what the data shows us about turnout in the state primary, and provides an update on Michigan voter registration.

As Americans look to the 2024 general election, trends from the 2024 primary in Michigan, which took place on February 27, 2024, can highlight both strengths in election administration and potential challenges as November approaches.

The 2020 presidential election in Michigan saw record turnout and an increased use of absentee ballots and early voting, a trend seen nationwide as election officials responded to the COVID-19 pandemic. The electoral process proceeded smoothly as voters participated despite unprecedented challenges. This report will look at results from the 2024 presidential primary in the state, recent changes in Michigan election law and administration, and trends in voting behavior. By understanding these trends and changes in election administration, we can anticipate some challenges that may continue in the general election and its effects on election administration in Michigan and nationwide.