LANSING, Mich. — An overwhelming majority of Michigan voters trust their local election officials, and more than three-quarters of voters are confident the upcoming November election will be fair, secure and accurate, a new statewide poll unveiled today found.
The bipartisan Democracy Defense Foundation, which released the Michigan poll, encouraged Michiganders to better understand how election workers keep Michigan elections secure, safe and accurate by getting more directly involved. These include volunteering to work at polling precincts, acting as impartial observers and touring local clerks’ offices for a behind-the-scenes look at how elections are conducted. With early voting, Michiganders can start returning their absentee ballots as early as Sept. 24.
“Michigan voters understand that our elections are conducted and overseen by election workers and volunteers in their own communities, including friends, family and neighbors, who took an oath to follow the law and ensure that elections are fair, accurate and secure,” said DDF Michigan board member, former Gov. Jim Blanchard, a Democrat. “We strongly encourage every voter to get involved in making our elections this year safe, secure and successful.”
Other findings of the poll include:
- 74% of voters support allowing drop boxes for ballots.
- 73% support no-reason absentee voting.
- Two-thirds of Michigan voters are satisfied with the state’s election system.
- A majority support same-day voter registration.
This is DDF’s third annual poll on Michigan elections and democracy and shows the continuing need to do more education and raise further public awareness about elections safeguards in the state.
“While Michigan voters are generally satisfied with our elections, our poll shows that we can and must do more work to further strengthen voter trust confidence,” said DDF board member, former Gov. John Engler, a Republican. “We look forward to all candidates working harder to earn more votes instead of spreading doubts about our election process that serve only to erode public confidence. It starts with expanding public understanding and awareness of the important safeguards already in place here in Michigan.”
Former Lt. Gov. John Cherry, a Democrat, said: “Local election volunteers and workers deserve our thanks as we approach the general election, and our poll reflects voter support for these frontline heroes of democracy who live and work in our communities. We can support them further by working the polls, volunteering at precincts, and serving as observers so our elections this November remains safe, fair and accurate.”
Former Congressman Mike Bishop, a Republican, said: “As we travel across Michigan and talk to local electionprofessionals, we meet folks who are truly committed to fairand accurate elections and who do this patriotic work diligently and selflessly. Policymakers can further support local clerks across Michigan by working together in good faith and addressing any gaps in our elections so every citizen, regardless of their political background, can be fully assured that their vote is counted.”
To shed light on voter attitudes amid elections-related developments at the federal level in the past 12 months, the 2026 poll showed:
- More than 85% of voters trust their local elections, believing local elections are fair and accurate.
- More than 74% of voters expressed confidence that the upcoming general election in November will be fair, secure and accurate.
- Two-thirds of Michigan voters support giving states power over elections, as Article 1, Section 4 of the U.S. Constitution stipulates.
- A majority of Michigan voters are not concerned about noncitizens voting, reflecting a 16-point swing from 2025, when more voters worried about noncitizen voting.
- Nearly 6 in 10 voters oppose the state surrendering private voter data to the federal government, which is suing Michigan for personal information, even though a federal judge has blocked the Trump Administration.
- More than 61% of voters support the U.S. Department of Justice sending monitors to Michigan to observe the November elections.
The DDF poll of 800 likely November 2026 general election voters was conducted Aug. 8-13 on landlines and cell phones. The poll has a margin of error of +/-3.5% with a 95% level of confidence.
A slide deck summarizing the poll is can be viewed here.
To see the 2024 and 2025 DDF poll: Michigan – Democracy Defense Foundation
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Published: Sep 17, 2026
