WHY VOTE? In MI's 2026 Elections Your Vote Counts More than Ever
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Low turnout means fewer voices shape Michigan's future
By Janine Iyer, Michigan Fair Elections Institute Board Member
April 14, 2026
[Editor’s Note: This article is the first in a series that aims to answer the question: Why every U.S. citizen in Michigan should vote in this year’s elections?]
Do you plan to vote in this year’s elections? Do you have friends, neighbors, or relatives who typically vote only in presidential elections or not at all? What would you say if they were to ask you, “Why should I vote this year?”
The 2026 midterm elections in Michigan represent a pivotal moment for our state's future. With over 150 important races in play, voters will decide who will hold key federal and state offices, including: an open U.S. Senate seat, all 13 U.S. House districts, a new governor, secretary of state, attorney general, and every state legislator.
Because turnout in midterm elections is always significantly lower than turnout in presidential election years,1 a relatively small number of additional voters can swing results and shape policies that will affect Michigan’s cost of living, employment opportunities, quality of education, energy costs, election integrity, and more.
Key Offices on the 2026 Ballot
Michigan's 2026 ballots (Primary on August 4 and General Election on November 3) will include a wide range of important offices along with many seats open due to term limits, retirements, and expirations.
Federal Offices
U.S. Senate: Senator Gary Peters announced he will not seek re-election, creating an open U.S. Senate seat. This race could help shape national policy in a closely divided Senate.
U.S. House of Representatives: All 13 congressional districts are on the ballot, as the full chamber is elected every two years.
Statewide Executive Offices
The following offices are term-limited, meaning these officeholders cannot run again for their respective offices:
Governor Gretchen Whitmer
Lieutenant Governor Garlin Gilchrist II
Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson
Attorney General Dana Nessel
These offices oversee critical areas such as law enforcement, election administration, and the overall direction of state policy.
State Legislature
Michigan State Senate: All 38 seats are up for election, as the full chamber is elected every four years.
Michigan House of Representatives: All 110 seats are up for election, as the full chamber is elected every two years.
Judicial and Other Races
Michigan Supreme Court: Two seats are on the ballot, as the terms for Chief Justice Megan Cavanagh and Justice Noah Hood are expiring. These nonpartisan races will influence future decisions on issues of law that will affect Michigan residents.
Other races: Seats on the State Board of Education and university governing boards (such as the University of Michigan, Michigan State University, and Wayne State University) will be on the ballot.
This broad sweep of offices — from executive leadership to legislative representation to judicial oversight — means voters can profoundly influence Michigan's governance for years to come.
Why This Year’s Elections Matter
A low turnout in 2026 would mean a smaller number of voters would decide who sets Michigan’s economic, energy, educational, and other key policies for at least the next four years.
Midterm elections consistently see lower voter participation than presidential elections. Historical data from the Michigan Secretary of State shows turnout in recent midterms hovering around 55-58% of the voting-age population (e.g., 56.8% in 2022, 55.4% in 2018), compared to more than 70% in presidential cycles like 2020 and 2024.
When fewer people vote, a smaller group ends up determining policies that affect everyone. Whenever voters abstain from voting, they leave many significant decisions to others.
A Relevant Example: Rising Utility Costs
Have you noticed rising home heating and utility costs in recent years? These rising costs are determined in part by rate increases approved by the governor-appointed members of the Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC). This three-member commission is responsible for reviewing and approving rate requests from utilities. The MPSC’s stated mission is to “serve the public by ensuring safe, reliable, and accessible energy and telecommunications services at reasonable rates.”2 For the last two years, however, MPSC has approved four sizable rate increases for Consumers Energy and two large rate increases for DTE Energy, see the table below.
Michigan now has the highest residential electricity rates in the Midwest 9 and ranks 15th in the nation in states with the highest electricity costs.10 Michigan is likely to move up in that ranking, as just days after the MPSC approved their $242,406,000 February 2026 rate hike, DTE Energy announced that in April 2026 it will seek another rate increase from MPSC for Michigan electricity customers.11 Similarly, Consumers Energy announced on April 3, 2026, that they will request yet another new rate hike effective as early as June 2, 2026, this announcement coming just 7 days after the approval of their last rate increase of $276, 600,000.12
Another likely factor in higher energy costs is executive-branch policies that favor and subsidize “green energy” over cheaper energy sources.13 Supporters of subsidizing “green energy” sources argue these policies are necessary for long-term reliability and climate goals, while critics contend that they raise costs and pose risks such as decreased outputs and more frequent and prolonged blackouts. Energy sources and costs are therefore directly tied to decisions by elected officials and their appointed commissions like the MPSC, and ratepayers are directly affected by them.
Beyond Energy: Other Key Issues
Elected state officials also help shape the state’s budget, education policy, public safety priorities, transportation projects, and the overall business climate. The candidates elected in 2026 will determine the direction of our state in these important areas.
Your Role as a Citizen
Voting is one of the most direct ways you can hold leaders accountable, particularly those who are seeking re-election. Participating in the August 4th Primary lets you evaluate an incumbent’s performance and gives you the opportunity to select candidates who best align with your values and policy preferences. The November 3rd General Election then gives you the power to elect the candidates who will set policy and make decisions that will directly impact you as a Michigan resident.
With so much on the line — economic and energy policies, education reform, election integrity, judicial decisions, and legislative majorities — will you help shape the future of Michigan with your vote?
Don't let these choices be made without your input! Resolve to vote in both the Primary and the General Election. Michigan's direction in the coming years depends, in part, on whether people like you participate. Remember, all key offices are up for grabs. Your vote will help decide Michigan's future.
Please share this article with at least one person who needs encouragement and motivation to vote in 2026! In future articles in this series, we intend to provide more concrete reasons to vote in this year’s pivotal elections.
3. https://www.michigan.gov/mpsc/commission/news-releases/2024/03/01/mpsc-approves-92m-rate-increase-for-consumers-energy-electric-customers- Additional coverage: Detroit Free Press article (March 1, 2024) confirming the approval — https://www.freep.com/story/money/business/michigan/2024/03/01/consumers-energy-rate-hike-approved-michigan-public-service-commission/72804529007
5. https://www.michigan.gov/mpsc/commission/news-releases/2025/03/21/commission-approves-$153-8m-for-consumers-energy-to-improve-grid-reliability- Michigan Attorney General press release https://www.michigan.gov/ag/news/press-releases/2025/03/21/mpsc-approves-new-154-million-consumers-energy-rate-hike
6. https://www.michigan.gov/mpsc/commission/news-releases/2025/09/30/commission-approves-consumers-energy-gas-rate-increase-to-upgrade-system- Michigan Attorney General press release https://www.michigan.gov/ag/news/press-releases/2025/09/30/mpsc-approves-consumers-energy-natural-gas-rate-hike
