Detroit Officials Project 45% Voter Turnout as Absentee Ballots Surge
Election Clerk Janice Winfrey reports 70,000 votes already cast in the city, urging residents to use expanded drop box networks.
By Takeshi Davidson ·
Detroit election officials forecast a voter turnout of 40% to 45% for the 2026 midterm elections.
Election Clerk Janice Winfrey announced that 70,000 votes have already been recorded in the city. This total includes 10,000 ballots cast on the first day of early voting and 60,000 returned absentee ballots.
Winfrey predicts between 105,000 and 125,000 residents will vote in person on election day. She also expects the office to receive another 75,000 to 80,000 absentee ballots by the following Tuesday.
City clerks report a rise in the use of ballot drop boxes. Winfrey stated the increase is intentional and part of a design strategy to ensure reliable ballot reception. She told voters to submit sealed envelopes with signatures on the back to any designated location.
Clerks advise against relying on the postal service for final ballot delivery with less than a week remaining until the vote. The Detroit Votes website lists current drop box and early voting center locations.
Statewide data from the Michigan voting dashboard shows nearly 25% of all voters have cast ballots. Of the 1,704,715 total votes recorded, 1,346,372 were absentee and 358,343 were early votes. The state's early voting rate has stayed near 70,000 ballots per day since Oct. 23.
