What Flint Voters should know for the upcoming midterm election

On Tuesday, Nov. 3, Flint residents will have the chance to vote for new representatives in the general election, including those for Flint City Council, Flint mayor, the Flint Community Schools Board of Education, eight ballot proposals and several federal races, including Michigan’s governor and a new Michigan senator. 

Flint City Council, a non-partisan four-year position, has all nine seats on the ballot:

Ward 1:

• Debra J. Coleman 
• Arthur Woodson

Ward 2:

• Current council member, LaShawn Johnson
• Current council member, Ladel Lewis

Ward 3:

• Current council member, Leon El-Alamin
• Paradise Williams

Ward 4: 

• Ramie Yelle

Ward 5:

• Joel Arnold
• DeWaun E. Robinson

Ward 6:

• Dakota Starr

Ward 7: 

• Darell Brown
• Current council member, Candice Mushatt

Ward 8:

• Ezezial Harris
• Casey Lester

Ward 9: 

• Michael J. Harris

Flint’s mayoral election is another nonpartisan position that lasts for four years and is between incumbent Mayor Sheldon Neely and current 6th Ward City Council Member, Tonya Burns. 

The Flint Community Schools Board of Education is a six-year nonpartisan position with three seats up for election. The candidates include:

• Current President, Joyce Ellis-McNeal
• Current Vice-President, Laura MacIntyre
• Current Trustee, Terae King Jr.
• Kasey Calvert
• Leonard Fox
• Meshelle Merritt
• Annalissia Padilla

Flint residents will also have the opportunity to vote on whether to enact eight different proposals:

• Proposal 2026-1 
• Proposal 2026-2 
• Genesee County Animal Care Shelter millage renewal  
• Genesee County Health Care Services millage renewal 
• Public transportation millage renewal 
• Police and fire department millage renewal 
• Citywide parks, forestry and recreation millage renewal 
• Mott Community College millage renewal

The governor’s position is a four-year partisan position. The gubernatorial race has one member for each party: 

• Democratic: Jocelyn Benson
• Republican: John James 
• Green: Douglas Campbell
• Libertarian: Anthony Husdon
• U.S. Taxpayer: Donna Brandenburg
• Independent write-in: Joseph Michael Hunt
• Independent write-in: Evan Space

Senator is another four-year partisan position. The candidates on the ballot include:

• Democrat: Abdul El-Sayed 
• Republican: Mike Rogers
• Green: Douglas P. Marsh
• Libertarian: Lydia Christensen 
• US Taxpayer: Timothy Long
• Natural Law: Walter Kristy 

Voters must register through the local clerk’s office. If it is more than 15 days before an election, registration can be completed in-person, online or by mail. If there are 14 or fewer days until an election, or if it is Election Day, registration must be completed in person. In the City of Flint, a person can register to vote in person at the City of Flint Clerk’s Office, with proof of residency, from Tuesday, Oct. 20 to Tuesday, Nov. 3, until 8 p.m. 

Michigan residents can check their registration status and look up their local clerk information by visiting Michigan.gov/Vote. 

Early in-person voting takes place Saturday, Oct. 24 to Sunday, Nov. 1 at the City of Flint Municipal Building on 1101 S. Saginaw St., in the City Council Chambers on the third floor, during regular business hours.

To obtain an absentee ballot by mail, one must be requested before Friday, Oct. 30 at 5 p.m. To apply for one in person at the City of Flint Clerk’s Office, the deadline is Monday, Nov. 2 at 4 p.m. 

On Election Day, voting will take place Tuesday, Nov. 3 from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. People who choose to register in-person at the City of Flint Clerk’s Office on Election Day may vote an absentee ballot or follow other voters and vote in-person at their precinct. 

All Flint residents belong to one of the 27 precincts. The City of Flint website provides maps to determine which precinct an address falls under. A resident’s precinct number will determine their proper voting location for Election Day.