What’s on my ballot?

Most candidates will have their policy platforms outlined on their campaign website. However, some of the third party candidates don’t have websites that outline these policy priorities. If that is the case, the best place to go is the party’s website and read over the entire political party policy platform. Candidates might not align entirely with the party platform and there will be nuance here, but it can give you a broad overview of the positions a candidate is likely to align with. 

(Credit to Vote411) Duties: The President is: the head of state of the United States of America; the Chief Executive Officer; and, the Commander in Chief of all military forces. The powers of the President are prescribed in the Constitution and federal law. The President appoints the members of the Cabinet, ambassadors to other nations and the United Nations, Supreme Court Justices, and federal judges, subject to Senate approval. The President, along with the Cabinet and its agencies, is responsible for carrying out and enforcing the laws of the United States. The President may also recommend legislation to the United States Congress.

Term: Four years. Limit of two terms.

• Kamala Harris (D)

• Donald Trump (R)

• Chase Oliver (Libertarian) 

• Jill Stein (Green) 

• Randall Terry (Constitution) 

• Cornel West (Independent)

(Credit to Vote411) Duties:  U.S. Senators share the responsibility with U.S. Representatives for enactment of the nation's laws as provided in the U.S. Constitution.  Senators ratify international treaties and confirm Presidential appointments of Cabinet members, federal judges, and foreign ambassadors.

Term: 6 years 

• Hill Harper (D)

• Elissa Slotkin (D)

• Justin Amash (R)

• Sherry O’Donnell (R)

• Mike Rogers (R)

(Credit to Vote411) Duties: The Michigan Supreme Court is the state's highest court and makes the final determination and interpretation of Michigan's laws. It supervises all other state courts. Although the election is nonpartisan, candidates (other than incumbents) are nominated by political parties.

Term: 8 years 

• Andrew Fink 

• Kimberly Ann Thomas

• Kyra Harris Bolden 

• Patrick William O-Grady 

• Michigan State University 

  • Board of Trustees

    • (Credit to Vote411) Duties: The Michigan State Board of Trustees has eight members and has general supervision of the university and the control and direction of all expenditures from the institution's funds. The board shall elect a university president who shall be the principal executive officer.

    • Term: 8 years

    • Vote for no more than two (2) candidates.

    • Rebecca Bahar-Cook (D)

    • Thomas Stallworth III (D)

    • Mike Balow (R)

    • Julie Maday (R)

    • John Anthony La Pietra (G)

    • Grant Baker (L)  

    • Janet Sanger (U.S. Taxpayer Party) 

    • John Sanger (U.S. Taxpayer Party)

• University of Michigan 

  • Board of Regents 

    • (Credit to Vote411) Duties: The University of Michigan Board of Regents has eight members and has general supervision of the university and the control and direction of all expenditures from the institution's funds. The board shall elect a university president who shall be the principal executive officer.

    • Term: 8 years

    • Vote for no more than two (2) candidates.

    • Denise Illitch (D) 

    • Shauna Diggs (D)

    • Carl Meyers (R)

    • Sevag Vartanian (R)

    • Andrew Chadderdon (L) 

    • Donna Oetman (U.S. Taxpayers Party)

• Wayne State University 

  • Board of Governors

    • (Credit to Vote411) Duties: The Wayne State University Board of Governors has eight members and has general supervision of the university and the control and direction of all expenditures from the institution's funds. The board shall elect a university president who shall be the principal executive officer.

    • Term: 8 years

    • Vote for no more than two (2) candidates.

    • Mark Gaffney (D)

    • Michael Busuito (R)

    • Rasha Demashkieh (D) 

    • Sunny Reddy (R)

    • Sami Makhoul (G)

    • Farid Ishac (L)

    • Kathleen Oakford (Natural Law Party) 

    • William Mohr II (U.S. Taxpayers Party) 

    • Suzanne Roehrig (Working Class Party)

• Research! Always research not just what a candidate has in their policy platforms on their websites, but also other comments or actions they’ve taken on policy and issues.

  • What are the candidates' policy platforms? 

  • Do those policy platforms align with their previous comments or voting records?

  • Is this person an incumbent? What do their actions (past votes, donors, comments, etc.) say about the issues they support or do not support?

• Reflect! Ask yourself some questions that will help you reveal your priorities and boundaries around voting. Below are questions to ask yourself when you’re thinking about who you’re going to vote for in this upcoming general election 

  • What issues are the most important to me, my family, friends, neighbors, community? Does the candidate align with my perspective on that issue(s)?

  • Do I believe this person can and will deliver change that will impact my community on issues that I care about?

• Discuss! Talk with your community, your trusted people. If you’re unclear on how you stand on something, go to those that you trust are informed and hold valuable perspectives on the issues you care about. These people could also be political thought leaders or organizers you admire.