VOTER GUIDE: What's on the August 4, 2026 Primary Ballot in Livonia
LIVONIA — 7/11/2026
As the dog days of summer arrive, Livonia residents are preparing to head to the polls for the crucial August 4, 2026 State Primary Election. While primary elections traditionally see lower voter turnout than November general elections, the decisions made this August will directly shape local public safety infrastructure, regional transit connections, historical preservation, and frame the definitive candidate matchups for federal and state offices this autumn.
This comprehensive guide details the practical voting logistics, splits across local precincts, and the key partisan and non-partisan proposals facing Livonia voters.
1. Voting Logistics: How, When, and Where
Michigan's robust voting laws present residents with three distinct pathways to participate in the primary election. Ensuring your plan is in place early guarantees your voice is counted seamlessly.
Option A: Early In-Person Voting
Under the current state constitutional framework, all Livonia voters have access to nine consecutive days of early, in-person voting leading up to election day. This operates precisely like voting on Election Day, complete with standard tabulators.
- Dates & Hours: Saturday, July 25, 2026, through Sunday, August 2, 2026. Polls are open daily from 9:30 AM to 5:30 PM.
- Centralized Location: Early voting for all Livonia precincts takes place exclusively at Livonia City Hall (33000 Civic Center Drive, Livonia, MI 48154).
Option B: Absentee Voting
Any registered voter in Michigan may request an absentee ballot without providing a reason.
- Submission Deadlines: Completed absentee ballots must be received by the Livonia City Clerk's office or returned to an official city drop box no later than 8:00 PM on Election Day, Tuesday, August 4, 2026. Late ballots cannot be tabulated.
- Drop Box Locations: To bypass regular mail processing times, secure, 24/7 monitored ballot drop boxes are situated outside Livonia City Hall (33000 Civic Center Dr) and outside all major branch libraries.
Option C: Traditional Election Day Voting
If you prefer voting live on Election Day, polls will open across the city on Tuesday, August 4, 2026, from 7:00 AM to 8:00 PM. You must vote at your specifically designated neighborhood precinct location.
⚠️ Precinct Refresh Notice: Livonia permanently consolidated its voting precincts down from 44 to 26 to streamline city services and save municipal costs. Be sure to check your new voter ID card or verify your polling place online via the Michigan Voter Information Center (MVIC) portal before heading out.
⚠️ Crucial Primary Rule: Stick to One Party Section
Because this is a partisan primary election designed to select each political party's general election nominees, the candidate ballot is strictly divided into columns by party. Voters must restrict all candidate votes to a single party section (either entirely Democratic or entirely Republican). "Split-ticket" voting across different parties in the candidate section will completely invalidate the candidate portion of your ballot. However, everyone can vote on the local proposals at the bottom of the ballot, regardless of party choice.
2. Deep Dive: The Partisan Candidate Races
The following contests form the core of the partisan primary choices available to Livonia residents, featuring expanded details on platforms, backgrounds, and the core issues at play.
Governor of Michigan
With Governor Gretchen Whitmer term-limited, the race to lead the state's executive branch is wide open.
- Jocelyn Benson: The current Michigan Secretary of State since 2019 and former dean of Wayne State University Law School. Her platform focuses heavily on protecting democratic institutions, expanding voting access, safeguarding election infrastructure, lowering the overall cost of living, and taking Michigan public schools into the top 10 nationwide.
- Chris Swanson: The Genesee County Sheriff since 2019, carrying three decades of experience in law enforcement and public administration. He centers his campaign on a pro-labor stance, comprehensive public safety reform, infrastructure development, and expanding inmate education to reduce recidivism rates.
U.S. Senate
This open race represents a high-stakes ideological matchup for the seat vacated by retiring Senator Gary Peters.
- Haley Stevens: A U.S. Representative first elected in 2018 who previously served as chief of staff to the U.S. Auto Rescue Task Force under President Obama. Heavily backed by the national party establishment, her platform prioritizes investments in high-tech domestic manufacturing, protecting suburban small businesses, and federal gun control legislation.
- Abdul El-Sayed: A public health physician, progressive advocate, and former 2018 gubernatorial candidate. Backed by progressive leaders like Senator Bernie Sanders, his campaign centers on progressive economic reform, a green energy transition, student debt cancellation, and a "Medicare for All" single-payer healthcare model.
- Note: State Senator Mallory McMorrow suspended her campaign on July 5, but due to ballot-printing deadlines, her name remains listed.
U.S. House (12th Congressional District)
A heavily Democratic district stretching into western Wayne County.
- Rashida Tlaib: The progressive incumbent first elected in 2018. Her platform remains intensely focused on progressive systemic changes, corporate environmental accountability, federal consumer protections, and expanding the social safety net for vulnerable communities.
- Shanelle Jackson: A former State Representative who runs a moderate, business-friendly campaign. She has directly challenged Tlaib’s progressive foreign policy stances, arguing the district needs a representative solely focused on tangible local economic growth, technology sector pipelines, and job creation.
- Byron H. Nolen: The former Mayor of Inkster. His platform spotlights inner-suburban infrastructure repair, municipal financial stabilization, and capturing more federal grants for suburban water drainage networks and community policing.
State Senate & State House
- State Senate (8th District): Incumbent State Senator Dayna Polehanki runs completely uncontested in the Democratic primary.
While citywide contests span the full map, your choice for the Michigan House depends entirely on your local precinct assignment:
| Your Livonia Precincts | District | Candidates on Ballot |
|---|---|---|
| Precincts 1–3, 7–11 | District 15 | Laurie Pohutsky (D) vs. Ken Crider (R) |
| Precincts 4–6, 12–15, 22 | District 19 | Lisa McIntyre (D) vs. Casey J. Noce (R) |
| Precincts 16–21 | District 16 | Stephanie A. Young (D) vs. Brian M. Duggan (R) |
Governor of Michigan
The Republican gubernatorial field has narrowed down to a competitive, hard-fought primary.
- John James: A prominent military veteran, businessman, and U.S. Representative first elected to Congress in 2022. His executive platform builds heavily on domestic energy production, aggressive tax cuts, supply chain reshoring, border security, and parental rights in public education.
- Perry Johnson: A self-funded businessman and author who positions himself as a "quality-control" outsider. His campaign advocates for severe federal and state spending caps, broad industrial deregulation, and implementing corporate efficiency models to downsize state government bureaus.
- Mike Cox: The former Michigan Attorney General. Running on a traditional law-and-order platform, his campaign focuses on bolstering police funding, tightening criminal sentencing guidelines, and fiscal conservatism.
- Note: State Senator Aric Nesbitt officially remains on the ballot but unofficially withdrew from the race earlier this year.
U.S. Senate
- Mike Rogers: A former U.S. Representative and former Chairman of the House Intelligence Committee. Standing as the clear frontrunner on the ticket, his platform centers on national security defense, countering foreign economic espionage, curbing inflation, and energy independence.
U.S. House (12th Congressional District)
- James D. Hooper: Running uncontested on the Republican ticket. Hooper is a blue-collar industrial worker centering his platform on reducing federal inflation, implementing rigid federal spending controls, and rolling back manufacturing regulations.
State Senate & State House
- State Senate (8th District): Former Livonia Mayor Kenneth D. Massey runs uncontested on the primary ballot, setting up a major, highly competitive general election challenge against Polehanki this November.
3. Local Non-Partisan Ballot Proposals
Unlike candidate sections, local proposals are open to every voter. Three significant tax levies are on the ballot, directly affecting household budgets and community services.
1. Wayne County Public Transportation Millage
This countywide initiative introduces a major structural change to regional transit funding following updates to state legislation that removed local "opt-out" provisions.
- The Mechanics: It asks for a 0.9831-mill levy for 10 years (2026 through 2035). For a home with a market value of $200,000 (taxable value of $100,000), this represents an annual cost of roughly $98.
- The Local Impact: Currently, Livonia is among 17 Wayne County communities that are not part of the SMART transit system, making this a new tax for Livonia residents. If approved countywide, it is projected to generate $57.6 million in its first year to expand fixed bus routes along Seven Mile, Plymouth, Middlebelt, and Haggerty roads, while expanding app-based "SMART Flex" micro-transit service throughout the city.
2. City of Livonia Public Safety Millage Renewal
A city-specific charter amendment asking voters to renew a 10-year levy of up to 1.7 mills.
- The Mechanics: This is a standard re-up of an existing tax that has been approved by local voters for decades. It provides more than $10 million in supplemental funding annually for the city's police and fire services.
- The Local Impact: These funds are explicitly restricted by law to cover essential personnel operations, salaries, protective equipment, and emergency response training. Local officials note that losing this millage would cut roughly 20% of the city's public safety budget, leading to the elimination of dozens of police and fire positions.
3. City of Livonia Cultural and Senior Services Millage Renewal
A city-specific charter amendment requesting a 10-year renewal of an annual levy not to exceed 0.25 mill.
- The Mechanics: Another recurring 10-year renewal that does not increase existing tax rates.
- The Local Impact: This revenue is strictly earmarked to fund day-to-day operations, community programs, staffing, and continuous facility upkeep at the Livonia Senior Wellness Center and the Greenmead Historical Village. Defeat of this proposal would trigger immediate program and positional cuts at both landmark community facilities.
4. Preparing for the Polls
To ensure a smooth experience at the voting booth, local election officials recommend verifying your voter registration status beforehand via the state's MVIC site. Bring a valid government-issued photo ID (such as a Michigan driver's license, state ID card, or passport) to your polling station. If you do not possess photo identification on Election Day, you are legally entitled to sign an affidavit of identity and cast a standard ballot.