Are you registered? Check your registration status here: https://mvic.sos.state.mi.us/Voter/Index
If you aren’t registered, the web site above has a link to online registration. You can also register in person at several locations, which it lists. If you are registered, it can tell you whether you have already requested an absentee ballot, how to request one online if you haven’t, and where to go to request one in person. You can also preview your own ballot: click the green “VIEW” button in the top center of the page that shows your registration status (under “Ballot Preview.”) If you have never voted before, you may be surprised by how long it is!
The above site also shows you where to turn in your “mail-in” ballot if you want to drop it off in person, rather than trusting it to the mails. There are several drop boxes this year, including one at City Hall (open 24/7) and one in the UM Museum of Art, 530 S State St. (open M-Th noon-6 pm and Fridays noon-4 pm).
It also shows where you can vote early from Saturday 10/26 through Sunday 11/3. (I think that’s new this year?) There are 6 early voting sites in Ann Arbor, and A2 residents can use any of them: 3 public libraries (Westgate, Malletts Creek, and Traverwood), 2 UM sites (the Art Museum on State Street at the main campus, and the Duderstadt Center on North Campus), plus City Hall. The first five will be open from 11 am to 7 pm and the City Hall location from 8 am to 5 pm on each of the 9 days of early voting.
Finally, last but not least, it tells you where your voting booth is, if you want to vote the old-fashioned way: in person, on Election Day, November 5!
There is a long ballot this year! Be sure to review yours before you vote — especially if you plan to vote in person on Election Day! On the first part of the ballot is the “Partisan Section,” where candidates are listed by party), I count 13 contested and 3 uncontested races on my ballot. Yours may differ, depending on where you live. I figure that there is plenty of information out there on the partisan races, so I am not providing any information about those.
The second part of the ballot is the “Nonpartisan Section,” in which I count 6 contested and 5 uncontested races. I list some basic information about the contested nonpartisan races below. Note that, depending on where you live, you may have other choices to make on your ballot.
The final part is the “Proposal Section.”
DISCLAIMER: According to University policy, “Posting factual material about ballot proposals or political candidates and/or the results of research on a ballot initiative or political issue to a University website, Facebook page, or X account” is allowable. In the following guide, I have included links to various websites. By doing so, the only claim that I am making is that these sites factually exist. Please note that I have not in any way vetted the websites themselves and am in no way making any claim about the truth or falsity of any materials that might be presented in them.
NONPARTISAN SECTION
1) Judicial races. (Listing the contested races only here)
Note: though judicial elections are nonpartisan, candidates to the Michigan Supreme Court are nominated by the parties, which are listed below (but not on the ballot!). I list these candidates alphabetically; they appear in some other, random order on my ballot. Below I list the candidates’ campaign web pages, linking to their endorsement page where available.
Resources: https://gandernewsroom.com/2024/08/26/candidates-michigan-supreme-court/
JUSTICE OF SUPREME COURT, 8 Year Term
Andrew Fink (Republican) https://finkformichigan.com/endorsements/
Kimberly Ann Thomas (Democratic) https://www.electkimberlythomas.com/endorsements
This voter guide summarizes the two candidates’ positions and endorsements:
https://guides.vote/guide/2024-michigan-supreme-court-voter-guide
JUSTICE OF SUPREME COURT, Partial Term Ending 01/01/2029
Kyra Harris Bolden (Democratic) https://www.boldenforjustice.com/endorsements
Patrick William O’Grady (Republican) https://www.judgeogrady4supremecourt.com/endorsements
This voter guide summarizes the two candidates’ positions and endorsements:
https://guides.vote/guide/2024-michigan-supreme-court-voter-guide-special-general-election
JUDGE OF CIRCUIT COURT, 22ND CIRCUIT COURT, 6 Year Term
Jinan Hamood https://www.jinanforjudge.com/endorsements
Jeffrey Worosz https://www.woroszforjudge.com/
Jinan Hamood has been endorsed by 16 organizations, including Washtenaw County Democratic Party and the regional AFL-CIO. Jeffrey Worosz does not list any endorsements.
JUDGE OF DISTRICT COURT, 15TH DISTRICT COURT
Tamara Garwood https://www.garwoodforjudge.com/blank-1
S. Kerene Moore https://www.morejustice2024.com/supporters
Tamara Garwood lists 4 institutional endorsements. Kerene Moore lists 18 institutional endorsements, including (confusingly) all 4 listed by Garwood as well as the Washtenaw County Democratic Party and the regional AFL-CIO.
2) School, Community College, and Library Boards.
These are truly nonpartisan positions. It can be difficult to discern what sets the candidates apart. I list endorsement pages where I have found them.
ANN ARBOR PUBLIC SCHOOLS BOARD MEMBER, 4 Year Term, *Vote for not more than 3
Megan Kanous https://www.voteformegankanous.org/
Ernesto Q. Querijero https://vote4ernestoq.com/endorsements/
Eric Sturgis https://www.ericforschoolboard.com/
Don Wilkerson https://www.votedonwilkerson.com/
Leslie Wilkins https://www.lesliewilkinsforschoolboard.com/endorsements
Glynda T. Wilks https://www.electglyndawilks.com/endorsements
Note: Candidates participated in an Ann Arbor School Board Candidate Panel on August 17, 2024, available here (2 hours): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iwbzNg7zHSo
They also participated in a forum sponsored by the Student Advocacy Center of Michigan on September 24, 2004 (1 hour 35 min): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uy7t00IjCrw
This forum was written up in the Michigan Daily: https://www.michigandaily.com/news/ann-arbor/aaps-school-board-candidates-talk-upcoming-election/
They also answered questions sent out by Michigan Education Justice Coalition:
https://www.michiganedjustice.org/school-boards/ann-arbor-public-schools
The Ann Arbor Education Association (AAEA, the local teachers’ union) has endorsed Megan Kanous, Ernesto Querijero, and Leslie Wilkins.
Better Boards, Better Schools (a local group) has endorsed Megan Kanous, Don Wilkerson, and Glynda Wilks.
Focus on Education Ann Arbor (a local group) has endorsed Don Wilkerson and Glynda Wilks.
The Washtenaw County Democratic Party has endorsed Don Wilkerson, Leslie Wilkins, and Glynda Wilks, according to a voter guide mailed to county residents (not online).
WASHTENAW COMMUNITY COLLEGE BOARD OF TRUSTEES, *Vote for not more than 2
Diana McKnight-Morton https://www.facebook.com/diana.mcknightmorton/
Alex Milshteyn https://www.alexforwcc.com/
Eileen Peck https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61563896195021
I have not been able to find much information about this race or these candidates, apart from their websites. McKnight-Morton and Milshteyn are incumbents; Peck is a challenger. Peck is also the editor (and writer?) of WCC Watch, on which she has a page about the election: https://wccwatch.org/2024-washtenaw-community-college-board-of-trustees-election/. The WCCEA (Faculty union at WCC) has endorsed Alex Milshteyn and Eileen Peck.
PROPOSAL SECTION
Note: These are mainly millages (that is, taxes on property). Most but not all of the County proposals are renewals, which is to say that if the millage passes taxes will stay the same. If all of the “renewal and restoration” millages pass, total millages will rise from 1.205 to 1.300 in Washtenaw County, an increase of just under 0.1 mills. If the new millage proposals (County Prop 3 and City Prop B) pass, they will add an additional 0.5 mills in the county and 1.1 mills in the City of Ann Arbor. If I am reading this right (and note that I am NOT a tax expert, though I can add and subtract!), passing all the millages on the ballot will raise “Total Homestead Millage Rates” for an Ann Arbor homeowner from 37.6342 mills to 39.3292 mills, an increase of about 4.5%.
If you are new to this: A millage of 1.0 mill costs house owners $100 per year for every $100,000 in taxable value of their home. The median home in Ann Arbor (from what I could find) has a “taxable value” of about $250,000 and so would owe $250/year per mill.
There are also 3 proposed non-millage amendments to the Ann Arbor city charter, below.
County
Prop 1. Renewal and restoration of the Enhanced Emergency Communications System Millage
Shall the limitation on the amount of taxes which may be imposed each year for all purposes taxable property in Washtenaw County, Michigan be increased by 0.200 mill ($0.20 per thousand dollars of taxable value) for a period of ten (10) years, 2026 to 2035, inclusive, as a renewal of the 0.0960 mills previously authorized by the electors which expires with the 2025 tax levy as reduced by the operation of the Headlee amendment, plus new additional millage as a restoration of 0.009 mills, for the sole purpose of providing funds to the County for the acquisition, renovation, maintenance, upgrade and operation of the County’s Enhanced Emergency Communications System, including the potential construction of additional towers, upgrading the existing infrastructure, purchasing equipment, and paying for maintenance and user fees? If approved and levied in full, this millage will raise an estimated $4,493,654 when first levied in 2026.
Prop 2. Renewal and restoration of the Veteran’s Relief Millage
Shall the limitation on the amount of taxes which may be imposed on taxable property in the County of Washtenaw, Michigan, be increased by 0.100 mill ($0.10 per thousand dollars of taxable value) of the taxable value for a period of eight (8) years, 2024 to 2031, inclusive, as a renewal of that portion of the 0.100 mill authorization previously authorized by the electors in 2016 as reduced by the operation of the Headlee amendment, which was 0.0960 mill in 2023, plus new additional millage representing a restoration of the amount equal to the amount reduced by operation of the Headlee amendment, which was 0.004 mill in 2023, to provide funds to Washtenaw County for the purpose of funding the Washtenaw County Department of Veterans Affairs’ provision of financial relief and services for Washtenaw County veterans, including the payment of eligible indigent veteran claims, and to fund the administration of the department? If approved and levied in full, this millage will raise an estimated $2,197,389 when first levied in 2024.
Prop 3. Establishing an Older Persons Services Millage
Shall the limitation on the total amount of taxes which may be levied against taxable property within Washtenaw County, Michigan, be increased by up to 0.5000 mill ($0.50 per thousand dollars of taxable value) for a period of eight (8) years, 2024 to 2031, inclusive, as a new additional millage for the purpose of providing funding for activities and services for older persons (age 60 or older) in Washtenaw County? If approved and levied in full this millage will raise an estimated $11,584,031 in the first year.
Prop 4. Renewal and restoration of the Washtenaw County Community Mental Health and Public Safety Preservation Millage
Shall the limitation on the amount of taxes which may be imposed on taxable property in the County of Washtenaw, Michigan, be increased by 1.000 mill ($1.00 per thousand dollars of taxable value) of the taxable value for a period of eight (8) years, 2026 to 2033, inclusive, as a renewal of that portion of the 1.000 mill authorization previously authorized by the electors in 2017 as reduced by the operation of the Headlee amendment, which was 0.9693 mill in 2023, plus new additional millage representing a restoration of the amount equal to the amount reduced by operation of the Headlee amendment, which was 0.0307 mill in 2023, to provide funds to the Washtenaw County Community Mental Health Department, Washtenaw County Sheriff’s Office, local governments which have their own police force for the purposes of improving the treatment of people with mental health needs; providing increased financial support for mental health crisis, stabilization and prevention; and for continued law enforcement services to be distributed as follows: 38% shall be allocated to Washtenaw County’s Community Mental Health Department; 38% shall be allocated to the Washtenaw County Sheriff’s Office; and 24% shall be allocated to jurisdictions in the County which maintain their own police force (currently Ann Arbor, Chelsea, Milan, Saline, Ypsilanti, Pittsfield Township and Northfield Township) in proportion to their respective 2023 population values. If approved and levied in full, this millage will raise an estimated $22,409,411 when first levied in 2026.
City of Ann Arbor
NOTE: I have not found much information online about Proposal A, and so far what I have found are posts advocating for it; there must be opposition as well, but I haven’t found the arguments. The proposal is sponsored by the current Ann Arbor City Council and mayor. There is a parallel proposal, not on the ballot, by a separate group called Ann Arbor for Public Power, https://annarborpublicpower.org/ .
The city’s explainer for the proposition can be found here: https://www.a2gov.org/departments/sustainability/Sustainability-Me/Pages/Ann-Arbor’s-Sustainable-Energy-Utility-(SEU).aspx
The Ann Arbor downtown library hosted a “Sustainable Energy Utility Proposal Discussion with Mayor Chris Taylor” (who is an advocate for the proposal) on Oct. 15 at 6 pm; the recording is here: https://aadl.org/node/628415
Prop A. Ann Arbor City Charter Amendment Creation of a Sustainable Energy Utility
The City of Ann Arbor proposes to create within its boundaries an opt-in, publicly-owned Sustainable Energy Utility (“SEU”) to (i) supply, generate, transmit, distribute, and store electricity, heat, cooling, light, and power (all from renewable sources); and (ii) provide energy-related services. The SEU could, for example, provide individual or networked rooftop solar panels, heat pumps, geothermal systems, or batteries to customers to supplement existing utility services. The SEU will be fee-based. This proposal does not authorize new taxes. Shall the Charter be amended to authorize the City to establish, construct, own, and operate an opt-in Sustainable Energy Utility?
NOTE: A2 Proposal B is a millage renewal. (I previously described it, mistakenly, as a new millage request.) I have not found anything pro or con, but here are two very short descriptions. From WEMU: https://www.wemu.org/wemu-news/2024-10-08/proposal-b-in-ann-arbor-would-extend-parks-millage-for-two-decades. From the Michigan Daily, in their guide to all four city proposals: https://www.michigandaily.com/news/a-students-guide-to-the-2024-ann-arbor-ballot-proposals/.
Prop B. Ann Arbor City Charter Amendment Authorizing Tax for Park Maintenance and Capital Improvements
Shall the Charter be amended to authorize a tax up to 1.10 mills for park maintenance and capital improvements for 2025 through 2044 to replace the previously authorized tax for park maintenance and capital improvements for 2019 through 2024, which will raise in the first year of the levy an estimated revenue of $8,519,150? In accordance with State law, a portion of the millage may be subject to capture by the Ann Arbor Downtown Development Authority and the Washtenaw County Brownfield Redevelopment Authority.
NOTE: A2 Proposals C and D, the last two proposed amendments to the city charter, are sponsored by a group called the Coalition for Ann Arbor’s Future. Their campaign websites are here:
https://www.a2nonpartisan.com/ (Prop C)
https://www.a2future.com/ (Prop D)
The Washtenaw Democratic Party, including the current mayor and all or most current city council members oppose both proposals. Here are the campaign websites in opposition:
https://www.democratsforannarbor.com/our-coalition (Prop C)
https://www.citizensforfiscalresponsibility.com/our-coalition (Prop D)
The League of Women Voters of Washtenaw County also came out against the proposals:
https://my.lwv.org/michigan/washtenaw-county/article/press-release-league-women-voters-washtenaw-county-opposes-ann-arbor-2024-ballot-proposals-c
Articles about the proposals:
MLive, https://www.mlive.com/politics/2024/08/group-gets-2-proposals-on-ann-arbor-ballot-after-collecting-over-11000-signatures.html
Ann Arbor Observer, https://annarborobserver.com/no-parties/
The Ann Arbor Independent, https://a2independent.com/2024/09/11/ags-objections-to-amending-ann-arbor-charter-to-establish-fair-elections-fund-are-legally-misguided/
Prop C. Ann Arbor City Charter Amendment Non-Partisan Elections
It is proposed City Charter Sections 13.4, 13.8, and 13.11 be amended to provide for election of non-partisan candidates for those offices by filing of nominating petitions and removal of reference to a candidate’s party designation on the ballot. Shall this proposed amendment to the Ann Arbor City Charter be adopted?
Prop D. Ann Arbor City Charter Amendment Fair Elections Fund
It is proposed that the City Charter be amended to add Section 13.17 to provide for a continuing and non-lapsing Fair Elections Fund with three-tenths of one percent of the City’s general fund, as appropriated by City Council for the purpose of public financing for participating candidates for City Council and Mayor who voluntarily agree to receive contributions in lower amounts and only from natural persons. Shall this proposed amendment to the Ann Arbor City Charter be adopted?
Washtenaw Intermediate School District
NOTE: This is another plain-vanilla millage renewal.
Special Education Millage Renewal Proposal
This proposal will permit the intermediate school district to continue to levy special education millage previously approved by the electors.
Shall the currently authorized millage rate limitation of 2.3826 mills ($2.3826 on each $1,000 of taxable valuation) on the amount of taxes which may be assessed against all property in Washtenaw Intermediate School District, Michigan, to provide funds for the education of students with a disability, be renewed for a period of 12 years, 2026 to 2037, inclusive; the estimate of the revenue the intermediate school district will collect if the millage is approved and levied in 2026 is approximately $56,900,000 from local property taxes authorized herein (this is a renewal of millage that will expire with the 2025 tax levy)?
