2026 General Election Voter Guide
Tuesday, November 3, 2026 • Polls open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
How to use: Statewide races and U.S. House MI-6 appear on every Washtenaw ballot. Senate, House, city, township, school, and local proposals vary by address. Recommended names and votes are in red bold. Data from the county unofficial list dated Aug. 24, 2026. Judges, school boards, and local proposals have no party label — that is where this page is meant to help most. Use the print button at the top or bottom of this page for the short booth card.
Find your districts
| If you live in… | Senate | House |
|---|---|---|
| Salem Twp | 14 | 23 |
| Superior Twp | 15 | 23 or 32 (split) |
| Ann Arbor City | 14 or 15 (split) | 23, 33, 47, or 48 (split) |
| Ann Arbor Twp | 14 | 23, 47, or 48 (split) |
| Ypsilanti City / Ypsilanti Twp | 15 | 32 |
| Pittsfield Twp | 15 | 32 or 33 (split) |
| Saline City & Twp / Lodi / Bridgewater | 15 | 33 |
| York Twp | 15 | 31 or 33 (split) |
| Augusta Twp / Milan (Washtenaw part) | 15 | 31 |
| Chelsea | 14 | 46 |
| Dexter City / Lima / Manchester City & Twp | 14 | 47 |
| Dexter Twp / Northfield / Webster | 14 | 48 |
| Scio Twp | 14 | 33, 47, or 48 (split) |
| Freedom Twp | 14 | 33 or 47 (split) |
| Sharon Twp | 14 | 46 or 47 (split) |
| Sylvan Twp | 14 | 46, 47, or 48 (split) |
| Lyndon Twp | 14 | 46 or 48 (split) |
Senate 14 = Chelsea, Dexter, Scio, Salem, Northfield, Webster, western townships, northern Ann Arbor, into Jackson. Senate 15 = Ypsilanti, Superior, Pittsfield, Saline, York, Manchester, southern Ann Arbor, into Lenawee/Monroe. Lodi and Ann Arbor City are split.
Statewide — every voter
| Office | Vote | Recommended | Democrat |
|---|---|---|---|
| Governor / Lt. Governor | 1 | John James / Jay DeBoyer | Jocelyn Benson / Winnie Brinks |
| U.S. Senate | 1 | Mike Rogers | Abdul El-Sayed |
| U.S. House — District 6 | 1 | Heather Smiley | Debbie Dingell (D, incumbent) |
| Secretary of State | 1 | Anthony Forlini | Garlin Gilchrist |
| Attorney General | 1 | Doug Lloyd | Eli Savit |
| State Board of Education | 2 | Terence Collins · Bree Moeggenberg | Judith Pritchett · Tiffany Tilley |
| U-M Regents | 2 | Lena Epstein · Michael Schostak | Paul Brown · Amir Makled |
| MSU Trustees | 2 | Julie Maday · Roger Victory | Brianna Scott · Kelly Tebay Zemke |
| Wayne State Governors | 2 | Andy Anuzis · Christa Murphy | Richard Mack · Shereef Akeel |
State House
| Dist. | Washtenaw area | Recommended | Democrat |
|---|---|---|---|
| 23 | Salem; part of Ann Arbor City/Twp; part of Superior | Miriam Corvino | Jason Morgan (incumbent) |
| 31 | Augusta; Milan (Washtenaw); part of York | Laura M. Perry | Shannon Dare Wayne |
| 32 | Ypsilanti City & Twp; part of Superior; part of Pittsfield | Mike Eller | Jimmie Wilson Jr. |
| 33 | Saline City & Twp; Lodi; Bridgewater; most of Pittsfield; S. Ann Arbor | Catherine Rogers | Morgan Foreman |
| 46 | Chelsea; part of Sylvan / Lyndon / Sharon | Kathy Schmaltz (incumbent) | Jan Maino |
| 47 | Dexter City; Lima; Manchester; part of Scio / W. Ann Arbor | Justin Griffis | Carrie A. Rheingans (incumbent) |
| 48 | Dexter Twp; Northfield; Webster; N. Ann Arbor / Ann Arbor Twp | Brian Ignatowski | Jennifer A. Conlin (incumbent) |
State Senate
| Dist. | Washtenaw area | Recommended | Democrat |
|---|---|---|---|
| 14 | Chelsea, Dexter, Scio, Salem, Northfield, Webster, western townships, N. Ann Arbor | Tawn Shawnelle Beliger | Sue Shink (incumbent) |
| 15 | Ypsilanti City & Twp, Superior, Pittsfield, Saline, York, Manchester, S. Ann Arbor | Jason Rogers | Felicia Brabec |
Judges — why this section matters more than the partisan races
Michigan prints judges with no party label. Parties still pick the Supreme Court nominees at convention. The current Michigan Supreme Court is a 6-1 Democratic-nominated majority (Brian Zahra is the only Republican-nominated justice). That court has already decided abortion-initiative certification and the 2018 “adopt-and-amend” minimum-wage / sick-leave fight. Two seats are on this ballot. That is the highest-leverage judicial vote a Washtenaw conservative will cast this year.
| Court | Vote | Conservative read |
|---|---|---|
| Michigan Supreme Court 8-year · statewide · vote 2 |
2 |
Vote for Michael D. Warren Jr. and Casandra Morse-Bills. Both nominated at the Aug. 22 Republican convention. Warren also took the Libertarian nomination — unusual, and a signal to limited-government voters. Warren — Oakland County Circuit judge since 2002; 375+ jury trials; taught constitutional and business law at Wayne State; former Michigan State Board of Education member; author of a book on the Declaration of Independence. Campaign pitch: experience plus text-of-the-law judging, not “fairness” as a substitute for the statute. Morse-Bills — Presiding judge, 23rd Circuit (Alcona, Arenac, Iosco, Oscoda). Has sat in probate, district, and circuit court in the same rural circuit. Campaign line is judicial restraint / originalism: apply the law as written, do not legislate from the bench. Chamber of Commerce has also backed her. FYI... Cavanagh — Democratic-nominated since 2018; chosen chief justice in 2025. Joined the 4-3 majority in Mothering Justice (2024) that struck down the Legislature's same-session amendment of the 2018 wage and sick-leave initiatives and put the original (costlier) versions on a delayed effective date. That case is the template conservatives cite when they say this court treats the constitution as a policy tool. She was also in the majority that kept the 2022 abortion initiative on the ballot. Hood — Whitmer appointee (April 2025) to finish Republican Elizabeth Clement's term after Clement resigned. Prior Whitmer appointments: Wayne Circuit (2019), Court of Appeals (2022). He has almost no independent electoral record on the high court. A vote for Hood is a vote to ratify a Whitmer seat. Thomas W. Howe and Jody White also appear with no party label. They are not the Republican convention ticket. Skip them. |
| Court of Appeals 3rd District covers Washtenaw · vote 2 |
2 |
Vote for Mark T. Boonstra. Leave Daniel S. Korobkin unmarked. Boonstra — Appointed by Gov. Snyder in 2012; elected 2012, 2014, 2020. Longest-serving judge in this pairing. Reputation in the defense / business bar is textualist and incrementalist, not ACLU-adjacent. Korobkin — Whitmer appointee (2025) to an unexpired COA term. Before the robe he spent 16+ years at the ACLU of Michigan, including five as Legal Director. Lives in Ann Arbor. Conservatives who care about Second Amendment cases, election rules, religious-liberty disputes, and criminal procedure should treat this as an ideological seat. Two seats are on the ballot; you are not required to use both marks. |
| 22nd Circuit (Washtenaw Trial Court) vote 2 |
2 |
Vote for Patrick J. Conlin Jr. Second mark: recommend to leave blank. Two incumbents, two seats — nobody is getting “voted off” if both are marked. Conlin — Elected 2014; now chief judge. Family-law / PPO / juvenile backup docket. Third-generation Washtenaw judge. Institutional, local, not a movement conservative — ICLE bio also lists Michigan Association for Justice and the Ann Arbor NAACP — but he is the traditionalist option and the administrative head of the court. Tracy E. Van den Bergh — Elected 2020. Master's in social work (NYU) before law school; legal aid and AG Health / Education / Family Services work. Current docket includes child-protective proceedings. Process flag: the Ann Arbor Independent reported that in 2023 she asked the sheriff to look into a litigant's social-media posts while that person had a matter in her court. |
| 14A / 14B / 15th District Courts | 1 each |
Incumbents Anna Maria Frushour (14A), Erane Washington (14B), and Tamara Garwood (15th) are unopposed. There is no conservative nominee. |
| Washtenaw Probate open seat · 6 years · vote 1 |
1 |
Judge Julia Owdziej is retiring. Stakes: family authority vs. the state, guardianship, capacity orders. Alethia Jean Battles — attorney and licensed clinical social worker; UM / Michigan Medicine counsel. Non-Dem-endorsed option. Jennifer Lawrence — local probate practice. Sole endorsement of the Washtenaw County Democratic Party. There is no conservative nominee. |
School boards — the races with no (R) and the most homework
Washtenaw GOP endorses George Elder for Milan Area Schools. There is no countywide slate for AAPS, Chelsea, Dexter, Saline, Ypsilanti, Lincoln, or Manchester.
- reading / math / phonics
- enrollment and budget honesty
- parental notice on sex / gender / mental-health policy
- phones, screens, and ed-tech addiction in K-8
- millage skepticism — sinking funds and bonds are not free
Ann Arbor Public Schools — vote 4 (four-year) + vote 1 (partial term)
AAPS lost more than 1,100 students over five years while adding staff, then faced a ~$25 million structural gap. The board approved $20.4 million in cuts (about 141 positions) on a 6-1 vote in May 2026. President Torchio Feaster is not running again. Incumbent Rima Mohammad is.
| Name | Our Take |
|---|---|
| Kelley Ellis | An independent-minded AAPS parent who will not rubber-stamp the administration. |
| Jennifer Oldham | Clearest public critic of district ed-tech / addictive software. Caltech background; three kids in AAPS. Parental-rights / anti-screen lane. |
| Andrew Spencer | Wants AAPS finances simple, public, and balanced so teachers and students are not paying for sloppy books. |
|
Rima Mohammad (incumbent)
OPPOSE
|
On the board since 2023; continuity candidate for the board that hired the current superintendent and owned the deficit years. |
| Lyndon Dibble · Becca Hogan · Aaron Puno · Carolyn Siebers · Brandon Smith | Thin public conservative paper trail. Do not complete four marks just because there are four seats. |
| Partial term (vote 1) — John Benson · Kevin Hudson · Don Wilkerson. Leave blank unless researched. | |
Chelsea School District — vote 2 (six-year) + vote 1 (partial term)
Six-year: Sara Tracy, Eric Wilkinson, Heather Scott. Wilkinson cast the lone no on a WISD career-tech millage. Recommended: Eric Wilkinson. Partial: Nicolia Heineman vs. Jake Steinhauer. No recommendation for the partial term.
Lincoln Consolidated — vote 3 (six-year)
Only two names for three seats: JaVon Jason and Jennifer LaBombarbe. No recommendation.
Milan Area Schools — vote 3 (six-year) + vote 1 (partial term)
Six-year field: Thomas Faro, Gabe Burdette, Angela Chidester, George M. Elder IV. Michelle Heikka unopposed on the partial. Elder is a Marine veteran, Milan parent, and small-business owner. Recommended: George Elder.
Dexter / Saline / YCS / Manchester
Dexter (vote 3): Elise Bruderly, David Pisano, Heidi Patel. No slate.
Saline (vote 3 + 1 partial): Afifa Corrigan, Christy Lillie, Andrea S. Roe, Matt Shoemaker, Carl Spina; partial Timothy Austin, Deandre J. Calvert, Charlie Hirst. No slate.
Ypsilanti Community (vote 2): Yvonne M. Fields, KJ Pedri, Jason Sprague. No slate.
Manchester (vote 3 + 1 partial): Sandra Wiitala, Christine Deacons, Christopher M. Caron, Michelle Champagne, James Tobias, Joseph Walsh; partial Logan Caszatt, Celia Creger, Chelsea Kapuniai, Heather Ramsey. No slate.
Clinton, Grass Lake, and Whitmore Lake appear only on edge precincts. Confirm on MVIC.
Washtenaw Community College — vote 3 (six-year)
David A. DeVarti, Christina Fleming, Ruth Hatcher, Daniel J. Katanski. No slate. WCC already levies 3.3280 mills. You are not required to use all three marks.
Libraries and city nonpartisan seats
Ann Arbor District Library — vote 3
Haynes / Goldberg / Kulkarni are running as an incumbent-aligned slate with Ann Arbor Education Association support. Zach Buck is the non-slate name. Conservative default: Zach Buck. Do not rubber-stamp the union slate.
Ypsilanti District Library
Four-year: Patricia J. Horne McGee, Kerri Pepperman, Kristy Cooper, Paul Leighton. Partial: Christopher Slat. Same collection-and-mission test as AADL.
City of Dexter
Mayor (vote 1): Shawn W. Keough is unopposed. Recommended. A good mayor; running unopposed is the right outcome here.
Council, four-year (vote 3): Sanam Aldag, Dan Schlaff, Joe Semifero, Kyle Marsh.
| Name | Our take |
|---|---|
| 1. Kyle Marsh | A talented architect and Dexter High School graduate who knows the city well. A staunch conservative and a known quantity to the local party community. |
| 2. Sanam Aldag (incumbent) | Very non-partisan, thoughtful, and intelligent. A strong incumbent worth returning to council. |
| 3. Dan Schlaff | A very competent former director of public works who knows the city, its budgets, and its problems in detail. A regular at the Dexter Forum. A great choice for council. |
|
⚠ Joe Semifero (incumbent)
OPPOSE
|
Regular at the Dexter Forum, but has let national politics bleed into local council business that should stay nonpartisan. Recommend replacing him with the three names above. |
Council, partial term to 11/30/2028 (vote 1): Michael S. Williams vs. Pavlo Popov.
Recommended: Pavlo Popov. Popov is filling a vacancy and doing a fine job. Also a regular at the Dexter Forum — thoughtful and well spoken. No public information available yet on Williams.
Nonpartisan. Dexter fights are usually taxes, density, and downtown — not national ideology. Ask who will vote no on the next fee or millage.
City of Saline
Mayor: Michael McVey vs. Brian D. Marl. Council vote 3: Bret Pollington, Janet Dillon, Daniel P. Burgess.
Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti city offices
Ann Arbor mayor: Yousef Rabhi (D). Ward 3 NPA: Kenny Leicht vs. Ryan Bartholomew (D). Ward 4 NPA: James Trost vs. Aidan Sova (D). Ypsilanti mayor Nicole A. Brown; Ward 1 Me' Chelle Michelle King; Ward 2 Patrick A. McLean.
Local partisan (if on your ballot)
Lodi Twp Supervisor (partial term): Jacob D. Schaible (R) vs. Jane V. Chronis (D). Recommended: Jacob D. Schaible (R)
Scio Twp Trustee (partial term): Mary Gillis (D) vs. Mark D. Altomare (NPA). No Republican nominee.
Unopposed Democratic township names on some ballots: Ann Arbor Twp Clerk Kristine Bolhuis; Webster Twp Clerk Barbara Calleja; York Twp Supervisor David P. Ludwig.
Proposals
Washtenaw County clerk proposal information ➚Default rule: NO on new or restored taxes; NO on Headlee overrides; multi-year “renewals” are still a tax vote.
Proposal 1 — Constitutional Convention
Required every 16 years. Yes elects 148 delegates in 2027 who can rewrite the 1963 constitution. Michigan has rejected this each prior time. A convention is a blank check in a year when the activist infrastructure that would dominate delegate elections is not conservative.
Recommended: NO
City of Ann Arbor — five charter amendments
| Proposal | What it actually does | Mark |
|---|---|---|
| Tax for Street, Bridge, and Sidewalk Repair and Replacement | Up to 2.125 mills for 2027-2032, first year about $19.2 million. Six-year re-authorization of a dedicated property tax. | NO |
| Tax for the Construction of New Sidewalks | Up to 0.20 mills for 2027-2032, first year about $1.81 million. Second sidewalk tax on top of the streets tax. | NO |
| Method for Counting Signatures of Nomination Petitions | Lowers the bar after a voter signs two petitions. Keep the current, stricter rule. | NO |
| Terms of Office for Elected Officials | Moves term start to noon on the first Monday of the following month. Calendar housekeeping. | No opinion |
| Creation and Governance of a Municipal Electric Utility | Requires the city to establish a municipal electric utility and board. Buying DTE's local system was estimated at $300 million to more than $1 billion. | NO |
City of Dexter
Locks a specified parcel as parkland in perpetuity. No tax. Local land-use call.
No opinion.
City of Milan
Authorizes a city-wide Act 33 fire special-assessment district. Fire service is legitimate; a blank Act 33 authorization is also a new extraction tool.
No strong opinion, lean NO.
City of Ypsilanti — two charter amendments
Non-Partisan Elections. Strips party labels from mayor and council. One view: hiding the (D) hides information in a one-party city. Flip side: a serious Republican or NPA candidate could benefit from the format.
No strong opinion.
Police Budget. Would bar Council from increasing the police budget above the previous year without a standalone citywide vote. Singles out the Police department, taking away the decision-making authority from the elected council.
This is a terrible precedent, hog-tying the council. The council, in our representative form of government, should be able to set the budget for all departments, including police, without a separate citywide vote.
Recommended: NO
Township and fire-authority millages
| Jurisdiction | Ask | Mark |
|---|---|---|
| Augusta Charter Twp | Fire increase +1 mill (already rejected in August) | NO |
| Manchester Twp | Fire renewal 0.6444 mills, 2028-2032 | NO |
| Northfield Twp | Fire / medical rescue 2.5 mills (Headlee restoration) | NO |
| Scio Twp | New 0.5-mill roads / bridges / bike lanes | NO |
| Saline Area Fire Authority | 2.980 mills for 10 years | NO |
School and college millages
Clinton Community Schools operating renewal — non-homestead 18.487 mills, 2027-2032. NO
Schoolcraft College operating millage with Headlee override — 2.27 mills locked 2029-2038. NO
2026 General Election — Who to mark
Tuesday, November 3, 2026 · Confirm your ballot at mvic.sos.state.mi.us
Marks in red bold are recommended. Statewide races and U.S. House MI-6 are on every Washtenaw ballot. Everything else depends on address. Names from the county unofficial list dated Aug. 24, 2026.
Statewide — every voter
| Office | Vote | Mark |
|---|---|---|
| Governor / Lt. Governor | 1 | John James / Jay DeBoyer |
| U.S. Senate | 1 | Mike Rogers |
| U.S. House MI-6 | 1 | Heather Smiley |
| Secretary of State | 1 | Anthony Forlini |
| Attorney General | 1 | Doug Lloyd |
| State Board of Education | 2 | Terence Collins · Bree Moeggenberg |
| U-M Regents | 2 | Lena Epstein · Michael Schostak |
| MSU Trustees | 2 | Julie Maday · Roger Victory |
| Wayne State Governors | 2 | Andy Anuzis · Christa Murphy |
Legislature — your district only
| Seat | Mark |
|---|---|
| Senate 14 | Tawn Shawnelle Beliger |
| Senate 15 | Jason Rogers |
| House 23 | Miriam Corvino |
| House 31 | Laura M. Perry |
| House 32 | Mike Eller |
| House 33 | Catherine Rogers |
| House 46 | Kathy Schmaltz |
| House 47 | Justin Griffis |
| House 48 | Brian Ignatowski |
Salem 14/23. Ypsi City & Twp 15/32. Augusta / Milan (Washtenaw) 15/31. Chelsea 14/46. Dexter City / Manchester 14/47. Dexter Twp / Northfield / Webster 14/48. Ann Arbor, Scio, Pittsfield, York, Superior, Sharon, Sylvan, Lyndon, Freedom are split — check MVIC.
Judges — no party label
| Court | Vote | Mark |
|---|---|---|
| Supreme Court | 2 | Michael D. Warren Jr. · Casandra Morse-Bills Skip Cavanagh, Hood, Howe, White. |
| Court of Appeals 3rd | 2 | Mark T. Boonstra Leave Korobkin (former ACLU-MI legal director) unmarked. |
| 22nd Circuit | 2 | Patrick J. Conlin Jr. Second mark optional. Van den Bergh is the legal-aid / child-welfare bio. |
| 14A / 14B / 15th District | 1 each | Incumbents unopposed. No contest. |
| Washtenaw Probate | 1 | No conservative nominee. Non-Dem-endorsed option: Battles. Dem-endorsed: Lawrence. |
School boards
Screen: phonics and math; budget honesty; parental notice; phones/screens; millage skepticism. You do not have to fill every bubble.
| District | Vote | Mark / note |
|---|---|---|
| AAPS | 4 + 1 partial | Kelley Ellis · Jennifer Oldham · Andrew Spencer Oppose Rima Mohammad. Leave the fourth four-year bubble and the partial blank unless researched. |
| Chelsea | 2 + 1 partial | Eric Wilkinson (lone no on WISD CTE millage). No recommendation for the partial (Heineman vs. Steinhauer). |
| Milan | 3 + 1 partial | George M. Elder IV. Leave the other bubbles blank unless researched. Heikka unopposed on the partial. |
| Lincoln | 3 | Only Jason and LaBombarbe filed. No slate. |
| Dexter / Saline / YCS / Manchester | varies | No slate. Confirm names on MVIC. Same five-question screen. |
College, library, local
| Race | Mark / note |
|---|---|
| WCC board — vote 3 | No slate. DeVarti, Fleming, Hatcher, Katanski. Skip bubbles if unsure. |
| AADL — vote 3 | Zach Buck. Haynes / Goldberg / Kulkarni = incumbent + union slate. |
| YDL | No slate. Same collection / mission test as AADL. |
| Lodi Twp Supervisor | Jacob D. Schaible (R) |
| Scio Twp Trustee | Gillis (D) vs. Altomare (NPA). No Republican. |
| Dexter City council | Kyle Marsh · Sanam Aldag · Dan Schlaff Oppose Joe Semifero. Partial term: Pavlo Popov over Michael S. Williams. |
| Saline City | Nonpartisan. Tax, density, millage test. |
| Ann Arbor Wards 3–4 | NPA: Kenny Leicht (W3), James Trost (W4). |
Proposals
Rule: new or restored taxes NO; Headlee overrides NO; multi-year “renewals” are still a tax vote.
| Proposal | Mark |
|---|---|
| Proposal 1 — Constitutional Convention | NO |
| Ann Arbor street / sidewalk tax 2.125 mills | NO |
| Ann Arbor new sidewalks 0.20 mills | NO |
| Ann Arbor petition-signature counting | NO |
| Ann Arbor start of terms | No opinion |
| Ann Arbor municipal electric utility | NO |
| Dexter park-in-perpetuity | No opinion |
| Milan fire special assessment | Lean NO |
| Ypsilanti non-partisan city elections | No strong recommendation |
| Ypsilanti police-budget charter lock | NO |
| Augusta Twp fire +1 mill | NO |
| Manchester Twp fire renewal | NO |
| Northfield Twp fire / rescue 2.5 mills | NO |
| Scio Twp new 0.5-mill roads / bike lanes | NO |
| Saline Area Fire Authority 2.980 mills / 10 years | NO |
| Clinton schools operating renewal | NO |
| Schoolcraft College millage + Headlee override | NO |
Sample Ballot — Recommended Marks
Fill only the races on YOUR ballot. ● = recommended.
Skip anything that is not on your MVIC sample ballot.