Detroit, the time is now.
For the first time in over a decade, the city will choose a new mayor. That alone makes 2025 a defining year for the people of Detroit, but the weight of this election doesn’t stop there. Every seat on City Council is up for grabs. Voters will also select a new city clerk and elect seven members of the Board of Police Commissioners. After years of calls for accountability, transparency, and community power, this election is not one to watch from the sidelines.
It’s time to get organized, get informed, and get to the polls.
Local elections are where the everyday decisions that impact Black Detroiters are made—decisions about housing, public safety, education, infrastructure, and how the remaining American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) dollars get spent. ARPA funding, the federal COVID-era relief that supported everything from housing programs to public health, runs out next year. Detroit received over $826 million in ARPA funds. As of this summer, less than $100 million remains unallocated. Once it’s gone, it’s gone—and who we vote into office will determine how the final funds are used and how the city survives beyond them.
That’s not just about policy. That’s about people. Streets still need repairs. Water bills keep rising. Affordable housing is harder to come by. Programs once funded by temporary ARPA cash will need sustainable support, and that means electing leaders who have a plan—and who will listen.
Detroit’s voter turnout, however, tells a harder story. In the 2021 mayoral election, just 24% of registered voters cast a ballot. During the 2023 citywide races, turnout dropped to just 18%. These aren’t just numbers—they’re warning signs. Fewer voters mean fewer voices shaping Detroit’s future. That gap disproportionately leaves out young people, renters, and low-income families who already face systemic barriers to civic participation.
But 2025 is different. The mayor’s office is open. The entire City Council will look different after redistricting. The Board of Police Commissioners—one of the few civilian oversight bodies in the city—will get new leadership. Detroiters have a chance to reset the political table. Everyone running for office must live in Detroit and must have lived here for at least one year before filing. Council and Police Commissioner candidates must live in the districts they hope to represent.
The primary election is set for Tuesday, August 5. Polls open at 7 a.m. and close at 8 p.m. Voters in line at 8 p.m. will still be allowed to vote. The general election will follow on Tuesday, November 4. Again, polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
But Detroiters don’t have to wait for Election Day. Early voting began July 26 and runs through August 4 for the primary, and from October 25 through November 3 for the general. The state now requires cities to offer at least nine days of early voting for eight hours each day, giving more flexibility for voters juggling work, school, and caregiving.
Early voting sites across the city include:
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City Clerk’s Office, 2 Woodward Ave. Ste 106
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WCCCD Northwest Campus, 8200 W. Outer Dr.
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Northwest Activities Center, 18100 Meyers Rd.
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Farwell Recreation Center, 2711 E. Outer Dr.
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WCCCD Eastern Campus, 5901 Conner St.
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Department of Elections, 2978 W. Grand Blvd.
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Clark Park, 1130 Clark St.
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Adams Butzel Recreation Complex, 10500 Lyndon St.
At each site, voters will fill out their ballot, place it in a secrecy sleeve, and feed it directly into a tabulator—just like on Election Day. For those using write-in votes, those ballots will be checked manually by election workers after polls close.
Detroiters can also choose to vote absentee. Ballots can be mailed in or dropped off in-person. And for those not yet registered, it’s not too late. Michigan allows same-day voter registration. Up to 15 days before the election, residents can register online, by mail, or in-person. Within 14 days of Election Day, registration must be done at the local clerk’s office with proof of residency.
If you’re not sure whether you’re registered or want to double-check your polling location, visit Michigan.gov/Vote or call the City Clerk’s office at (313) 876-0190. The office is located at 2978 W. Grand Blvd. and open Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. You can also contact Wayne County Clerk Cathy Garrett’s office at (313) 224-5525 or email jredmond@waynecounty.com for county-level election inquiries.
Behind every vote is a process designed to protect its integrity. On Election Day, once a ballot is cast, it drops into a sealed bag inside the tabulator. After polls close, election workers of different political parties enter a code to print three paper result reports. Those results are then secured and transferred to the city clerk, the county Board of Canvassers, and the chief probate judge.
Canvassing boards—made up of two Democrats and two Republicans—review the results to ensure the number of ballots matches the number of voters. If there are discrepancies, the board investigates them publicly before certifying the outcome. The state Board of Canvassers must finalize results by November 25. Any statewide race decided by 2,000 votes or fewer triggers an automatic recount, and candidates can also request a recount within 48 hours of certification, though few change outcomes.
All ballots, whether absentee or in-person, are stored for 22 months and may be audited after each major election. These steps ensure Detroiters’ votes are protected from start to finish.
This election year is not a moment to be passive. With the city’s future leadership uncertain and critical funding winding down, the decisions made in 2025 will reverberate for decades. Every voice matters. Every district matters. And every vote carries weight.
Detroit has always been a city of resilience. But resilience without representation is not power—it’s survival. The power to shape policy, demand accountability, and invest in the neighborhoods that raised us comes from the ballot.
No matter your zip code, age, or experience with the process—participation starts with showing up. Ask questions. Learn who’s running. Vote early if you can. Bring someone with you.
The next chapter of Detroit’s story starts at the ballot box. Let’s be the authors of it.
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