LANSING, Mich. (March 19, 2026) — Yesterday, the Michigan Senate passed bipartisan legislation, spearheaded by Senate Majority Floor Leader Sam Singh (D-East Lansing), to move the state’s primary election date from August to May starting in 2028. Along with this change, Senate Bills 691–698 would also move our state’s regular election date from May to the fourth Tuesday in February each year, lining up with the date of the presidential primary every four years.
“For years, clerks around the state have requested more time to prepare for and manage elections, especially as we see more and more Michiganders choosing to vote absentee,” said Sen. Singh. “By delivering this window of relief that our election administrators have been asking for, this bipartisan bill package would build on the progress that my colleagues and I have advanced on voting rights and access — ensuring Michiganders’ voices are heard through an efficient and accurate election process.”
Currently, following the state’s primary in August, clerks have less than 100 days until the November general election — a narrow window in which they need to test voting equipment, finalize ballot information, complete canvass certification, and more. By moving these election dates, as proposed by this legislation, election administrators would have more time to successfully and accurately meet the necessary deadlines.
“Elections today encompass a wide range of complex responsibilities — from hiring and training election inspectors to programming and testing voting equipment and ensuring the timely distribution and return of ballots for both domestic voters and those serving overseas or in the military, said Kimberly Hinkley, president of the Michigan Association of County Clerks and a clerk/register for Calhoun County “Election Day preparations are now further intensified by the requirement of a minimum of nine days of early voting, followed by the obligation to canvass results within a strict 14-day window. All of this occurs while simultaneously preparing for upcoming elections, potential recounts, and post-election audits.
“These responsibilities must be carried out within rigid statutory timelines that are increasingly difficult to meet,” Hinkley continued. “The once more manageable period between the August primary and the November general election has been replaced by a significantly faster-paced and more demanding election cycle. In this evolving environment, maintaining the integrity, security, and safety of elections must remain the top priority — while also striving to balance efficiency with the realistic constraints of time and resources.”
Cosponsored by Sens. Paul Wojno (D-Warren), Ed McBroom (R-Waucedah Twp.), Darrin Camilleri (D-Trenton), Veronica Klinefelt (D-Eastpointe), and Dayna Polehanki (D-Livonia), this bill package would align Michigan with 11 other states that hold their state primary elections in May, including two Midwest neighbors — Ohio and Indiana.
“Clerks around the state are dedicated to meeting every statutory deadline required of them, and they have worked tirelessly to do so. However, the timing between the August primary and November general election compresses too many legally required steps into too little time,” said Lisa Lawitzke, president of the Michigan Association of Municipal Clerks and clerk for Belleville Twp. “In order to accommodate the timely delivery of ballots to our Military and Overseas Voters and other absentee voters, and allow additional time for the return of those Military and Overseas ballots, while also extending the period for voting in person by a minimum of nine days of Early Voting, allowing voter registration up to and on Election Day, and placing a priority on doing audits after each and every election, clerks simply needed more time between the primary and general elections to continue keeping the highest level of election security and transparency possible for our voters. Moving the primary election to May gives clerks that valuable time.”
Additional legislation passed yesterday would go hand-in-hand with these proposed changes. Sponsored by Sens. Singh and Jeremy Moss (D-Bloomfield), Senate Bills 814–815 would move the personal financial disclosure deadline up earlier, equipping voters with the information they need to assess candidates.
These bills now head to the House for further consideration.