Michigan Department of State releases 2024 county-level election data showing record turnout in state's first presidential election after passage of Proposal 2022-2

Michigan ranked #3 in the nation for eligible voter turnout, over 60% of total votes cast early or by mail 

LANSING, Mich. – Today, the Michigan Department of State (MDOS) released a new report on county-level voter turnout from the state’s first presidential election after Michigan voters passed new accessible voting options under Proposal 2022-2. In 2024, Michigan broke its 2020 turnout record with more than 5.7 million votes cast and was ranked third in the nation with 74.6% of eligible voters casting a ballot – one of only five states with higher voter turnout than in 2020. Voters cast over 60% of ballots early or by mail – trends that were evident statewide and not correlated to previous turnout rates or partisan support.
 
The new 2024 election report, Access Matters: Michigan #3 in Voter Turnout, shows statewide total turnout of 5,706,503, breaking Michigan’s previous record turnout in the 2020 Presidential Election (5,579,317). Over 1.2 million Michigan voters in the 2024 General Election cast a ballot at their in-person early voting site and over 2.2 million voted by mail. As of Dec. 5, 2024, over 25% of active registered Michigan voters had joined the permanent vote by mail list.
 
“As American citizens, our vote is our voice. Now, more than ever, Michiganders are making their voices heard,” said Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson. “As one of the nation’s leading states in voter turnout, Michigan is proof that making voting more accessible strengthens our democracy and puts power where it belongs – in the hands of the voters. This Independence Day, we can all celebrate the power of the people and our secure, accessible elections that ensure each citizen has a voice.”
 
The November 2024 Presidential Election was the first statewide general election since 2022, when nearly 60% of Michigan voters approved Proposal 2022-2. The ballot measure amended the state constitution to require at least nine days of early in-person voting, give every voter the option to join a permanent mail-in ballot list, and require ballot drop boxes for every jurisdiction, along with other voting reforms. In 2018, over 66% of voters approved a constitutional amendment that allows every registered voter to cast a ballot by mail in every statewide election.  
 
The state’s more convenient options to vote encouraged Michiganders who did not vote in 2020 to cast a ballot in 2024. Over 820,000 voters were first-time voters in Michigan, making up 14.5% of total turnout. Over 71,000 voters who were eligible and registered to vote, but inactive, also cast a ballot – 35.4% of these voters had not cast a ballot since before 2020.The report also includes county-by-county voter turnout data.

• Counties with the highest turnout of active registered voters in 2024 were: Leelanau (89.0%), Livingston (86.4%), Keweenaw (85.2%), Clinton (84.7%), and Grand Traverse (83.6%). 
• Counties with the lowest turnout of active registered voters in 2024 were: Wayne (70.5%), Calhoun (71.2%), St. Joseph (72.3%), Branch (72.4%), and Clare (73.1%).

More than half of voters in 58 of 83 Michigan counties cast ballots early or by mail.

• Counties with the highest percentage of voters casting a ballot by mail or at an early voting site were Benzie (74.0%), Grand Traverse (71.3%), Washtenaw (71.0%), Livingston (70.7%), and Roscommon (70.6%). 
  • Leelanau County had the highest percentage of votes by mail (50.5%) and Kalkaska County had the highest percentage of votes cast at an early voting site (37.6%).
• Counties with the lowest percentage of voters casting a ballot by mail or at an early voting site were Arenac (42.2%), Missaukee (42.5%), Oceola (42.8%), Luce (43.4%), and Gratiot (43.4%). 
  • Missaukee County had the lowest percentage of votes by mail (24.4%) and Mackinac County had the lowest percentage of votes cast at an early voting site (8.4%).

The full report is available online.
 
On June 26, the Democracy Defense Project released poll results showing a large majority of Michigan voters believe the 2024 elections were accurate, fair, and secure. Eight out of 10 voters say they believe that the 2026 election will also be secure and accurate, and 88% say they trust elections in their county are run fairly and their votes are counted accurately.
 
For more information on Michigan elections, visit Michigan.gov/Vote.

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