Election Insider: Understanding Michigan’s 2026 Primary Election, Wayne County Transit Investment Proposal 

Michigan’s statewide Primary Election is next week, Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2026. Voters will select party nominees for federal, state, and local offices ahead of the Nov. 3 General Election. Read more about what open seats near you have primaries here.

Michigan voters can cast a ballot in several ways. Absentee ballots became available June 25 and must be received by the voter’s local clerk by 8 p.m. on Election Day to be counted. Election officials recommend returning absentee ballots to the clerk’s office or a secure drop box. Michigan’s statewide early voting period runs from July 25 through Aug. 2, and polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Aug. 4.

For voters who are not yet registered, beginning July 21, registration must be completed in person at a local clerk’s office with proof of residency. Michigan residents can verify their registration status, view their sample ballot, track an absentee ballot, and find voting locations through the Michigan Voter Information Center.

For election information specific to Southeast Michigan, visit the county election resources below:

• Oakland County Elections

• Macomb County Elections

• Wayne County Elections

Early voting allows voters to cast a ballot similar to how they would do so at a polling place on Election Day. Voters are issued a ballot, complete it, and personally insert it into the tabulator at their early voting site.  

New in 2024, absentee voters now have the option to take their completed absentee ballot to their early voting site or their polling place on Election Day (not available in Detroit) and insert it directly into the tabulator. 

Any registered voter in Michigan has the right to vote early in person at an early voting site for statewide and federal elections in which they are eligible. Voters in Michigan can register to vote up to and on Election Day, including during the early voting period. 

To find your early voting location, click here. 

On Aug. 4, Wayne County voters will decide on a 10-year transit millage proposal that represents a strategic investment in the regional workforce and local business ecosystem. The 2026 proposal has been endorsed by Wayne County Executive Warren C. Evans and the Chamber’s President and Chief Executive Officer, Sandy K. Baruah. 

The Wayne County Public Transportation Millage would renew existing SMART millage funding for current participating communities while expanding transit opportunities throughout all of Wayne County. For homeowners in communities already receiving SMART service, the proposal represents a renewal of the current millage, not a tax increase. 

Revenue gathered from the millage would be distributed among Wayne County, the Suburban Mobility Authority for Regional Transportation (SMART), the Detroit Department of Transportation (DDOT), and other community and regional transit providers. The proposal is estimated to generate roughly $57 million in the first year. Wayne County officials say SMART would add eight new bus routes, five new route extensions, and on-demand service over approximately three years. 

After Oakland voters approved a similar millage proposal in 2022 to support and expand public transit services, the county can now point with pride to a 49.5% ridership increase, with 251,208 rides in 2025. 

The Detroit Regional Chamber Political Action Committee (PAC) announced its initial slate of endorsements for the 2026 election cycle. The endorsed candidates represent leaders who consistently demonstrate a willingness to move past partisan divisions, build common ground, and prioritize policies that enhance the state’s and Detroit Region’s competitive economic position. 

The Chamber PAC continues to evaluate candidates across the state, and more endorsements are being considered ahead of the 2026 general election. Read more about the PAC endorsements here.