2026 General Election: What Business Leaders Need to Know

• Michigan’s election system uses paper ballots, decentralized administration, bipartisan election workers, and the Qualified Voter File to support secure and accurate elections.
• Business leaders can strengthen voter participation by sharing reliable, nonpartisan information about registration, early voting, mail voting, and Election Day voting. 
• Employers and employees can support election administration by engaging with local clerks, volunteering as election workers, and learning how ballots are processed. 

Watch the full video recording below.

The Detroit Regional Chamber hosted election administration experts, business leaders, and bipartisan former elected officials for a webinar about what business leaders should know ahead of the November 2026 election.  

The session addressed Michigan’s election infrastructure, public confidence in election results, voting options, and the role employers can play in supporting informed participation and institutional stability. 

Thomas described Michigan’s 1,604 county, city, and township election officials as “the lighthouses of democracy.” He focused on the Qualified Voter File, which supports voter registration, voter information, mail ballot administration, election worker assignments, signature verification, and electronic poll books. 

Thomas cited a recent Auditor General’s report that found 99.7% of driver files and Qualified Voter File records containing a driver’s license number matched on name, address, and date of birth. He also outlined safeguards that include paper ballots for audits and recounts, decentralized election administration, Democrat and Republican election workers, and challengers at polling places and absentee voter counting boards. 

“Michigan voter registration files are well secured and vetted,” Thomas said. He later added, “I remain confident in the security of the electoral process.” 

Thomas described Michigan’s 1,604 county, city, and township election officials as “the lighthouses of democracy.” He focused on the Qualified Voter File, which supports voter registration, voter information, mail ballot administration, election worker assignments, signature verification, and electronic poll books. 

Thomas cited a recent Auditor General’s report that found 99.7% of driver files and Qualified Voter File records containing a driver’s license number matched on name, address, and date of birth. He also outlined safeguards that include paper ballots for audits and recounts, decentralized election administration, Democrat and Republican election workers, and challengers at polling places and absentee voter counting boards. 

“Michigan voter registration files are well secured and vetted,” Thomas said. He later added, “I remain confident in the security of the electoral process.” 

Ballou-Aares said challenges to election results can pose risks, including market volatility, operational disruption, and reputational harm. She encouraged business leaders to engage with local election officials, share nonpartisan voter information, support employee participation, and promote confidence in election processes. 

Panelists also encouraged Chamber members to help recruit election workers. Bishop said local governments need volunteers, particularly with the addition of early voting, and suggested that people with concerns about election administration visit or participate in their local process. 

“The more we see it up close, the more likely we are to trust it,” Bishop said. 

Panelists said employers can remind employees about registration, early voting, and Election Day; provide reliable information about how and where to vote; and offer workplace flexibility that supports participation without turning the workplace into a political campaign. Blanchard emphasized the broader responsibility to sustain confidence in democratic institutions.  

“We need to support it, keep it, revere it, and trust it,” Blanchard said.