The 2024 presidential primary election season is gaining momentum across America. In Michigan, the presidential primary will be held on Tuesday, February 27, giving Michigan voters the opportunity to voice their choice for a candidate they believe will shape the direction of America for years to come if elected to the nation’s highest office.
If the February presidential primary seems earlier than usual, it is because, in early 2023, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed Senate Bill 13, moving the state’s presidential primary from the second Tuesday in March to the fourth Tuesday in February. Whitmer felt the move would give Michigan voters an earlier and more significant say in the race for President of the United States of America.
The candidates appearing in Michigan’s presidential primary include President Joe Biden, Dean Phillips, and Marianne Williamson. Republicans on the ballot are Donald Trump, Nikki Haley, Ryan Binkley, and several others who have already dropped out, but names remain on the ballot. Third-party candidates are Robert F. Kennedy (Independent), Cornel West (Independent), and Jill Stein (Green Party).
Michigan voters face many issues locally and nationally as they choose a candidate they feel can best address what Americans are facing. The issues, in no particular prioritized order, include reproductive rights, immigration, defending democracy in America, health care, the economy, crime and policing, climate change, and foreign policy.
For the upcoming Michigan presidential primary, there are deadlines voters will need to be cognizant of as they prepare for what is expected to be a highly competitive race. Friday, February 23, is the deadline for voters to request absentee ballots by mail, and Monday, February 26, is the deadline to request absentee ballots in person. All ballots must be received or postmarked by midnight on Tuesday, February 27, Election Day for the Michigan presidential primary.
According to Detroit City Clerk Janice Winfrey, state law requires that Early Vote Centers (EVCs) must be open to Michigan voters for a “minimum” of nine consecutive days before Election Day.
“That means February 17 through February 25 will be the days of operation for early voting in the city of Detroit,” Winfrey told the Michigan Chronicle. “In Detroit, we will have 14 Early Vote Centers (EVCs), and they will be open 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.”
In addition to early voting, Winfrey described the benefits of the Permanent Absentee Ballot list.
“Detroit electorates, for the first time, will have the opportunity to request a ballot once and be a part of the Permanent Absentee Ballot list, meaning they will automatically receive a ballot for every election moving forward without any additional application process,” Winfrey explained.
Winfrey added that there will also be 35 drop boxes throughout the city for any election-related mail, such as applications or ballots, to ensure that the city’s Department of Elections receives the mail on the same day. Winfrey said the EVCs and DropBox laws are the same for the entire state of Michigan.
Jocelyn Benson, Michigan’s Secretary of State, said she is pleased by Michigan voters who have applied for absentee ballots for the presidential primary, which she described at an 80% rate of increase.
“I’m thrilled to see so many Michiganders engaged and energized about this month’s presidential primary,” Benson said on X (formerly Twitter). “Whether you choose to vote early from home or at an early voting location – or in person on Election Day, clerks across the state are ready to ensure that your votes are (properly) counted.”
While the February 27 Michigan presidential primary will garner immense local, state, and national attention, since national election pundits have said, “Michigan is a state to watch in the 2024 presidential contest,” once the presidential primary is over, Election Season in Michigan continues. The state’s Primary Election is on Tuesday, August 6, followed by the General Election on Tuesday, November 5. Two “special General Elections” will be held on April 16 to replace former Michigan House of Representatives Lori Stone (13th District) and Kevin Coleman (25th District) after both metro-Detroit Democratic lawmakers left office to become mayors.
In the August primary, there will be several races to watch, but perhaps none more prominent than the primary contest to elect a successor to U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow, who announced in January 2023 that she would not seek reelection in 2024.
Democrats on the August primary ballot in pursuit of Stabenow’s seat on Capitol Hill are Nasser Beydoun, Zack Burns, Hill Harper, and Elissa Slotkin. Republican candidates have risen to 10 senate hopefuls, including two African Americans: James Craig and Alexandria Taylor. The candidate field for both political parties could grow even more since the deadline for filing to run is Tuesday, April 23.
The Democrat and Republican candidate receiving the most votes in the primary will face off in the November 5 General Election, with the winner sworn in as Michigan’s U.S. Senator in January 2025 in Washington, D.C.
Key dates for voters to remember for the August primary include Thursday, June 27, when absentee ballots will be available. Friday, August 2 at 5:00 p.m. marks the deadline to request an absentee ballot online or by mail. Monday, August 5 (4:00 p.m.) is the deadline to request an absentee ballot in person. On Tuesday, August 6 (Election Day), polls will be open from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Key dates for General Election voters are November 1 (5:00 p.m.), the deadline for voters to request absentee ballots online or by mail. However, Monday, October 21, is the final day for online registration to vote or register by mail and still be eligible to vote in the Tuesday, November 5 election. On General Election Day, polls will again be open from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
To find broad information about voting in Michigan, log on to the Michigan Voter Information Center at Michigan.gov/vote.
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