It's time for the General Election this November! For those living in Lake County, see our voting guide below to help you know what's going to be on the ballot.

LAKE COUNTY BALLOT GUIDE

Date: Tuesday, November 3

Polling Hours: 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Additional Resources:

• POLLING PLACE
• EARLY VOTING INFO
• GENERAL VOTING INFO

*STATE OFFICIALS*

State Governor & Lieutenant Governor (1)

All TWPs and Cities

• Jocelyn Benson & Winnie Brinks, Democrat

• John James & Jay DeBoyer, Republican

• Anthony Hudson & Beau Parmenter, Libertarian

• Donna Brandenburg & Robert Cowper II, U.S. Taxpayers

• Douglas Campbell & Bobbie Clay, Green

Secretary of State (1)

All TWPs and Cities

• Garlin Gilchrist II, Democrat

• Anthony Forlini, Republican

• Christine Sloan, Libertarian

• Scott Aughney, U.S. Taxpayers

• Eric Borregard, Green

Attorney General (1)

All TWPs and Cities

• Eli Savit, Democrat

• Doug Lloyd, Republican

• Jason Dye, Libertarian

• John Perry Ludtke Jr., U.S. Taxpayers

• Jeff Polonowski, Green

• Doug Dern, Natural Law

*CONGRESSIONAL OFFICIALS*

U.S. Senator (1)

All TWPs and Cities

• Abdul El-Sayed, Democrat

• Mike Rogers, Republican

• Lydia Christensen, Libertarian

• Tim Long, U.S. Taxpayers

• Douglas Marsh, Green

• Walter Kristy, Natural Law

U.S. Congress - 2nd District (1)

All TWPs and Cities

• Ben Ambrose, Democrat

• John Moolenaar, Republican*^INC

• Charlotte Magoon, Green

• Richard Sills, Natural Law

State Senator - 33rd District (1)

Eden TWP, Elk TWP, Lake TWP, Newkirk TWP, Peacock TWP, Pleasant Plains TWP, Sauble TWP, Sweetwater TWP, Webber TWP

• Stan Opal, Democrat

• Gina Johnsen, Republican

State Senator - 34th District (1)

Chase TWP, Cherry Valley TWP, Dover TWP, Ellsworth TWP, Pinora TWP, Yates TWP

• Roger Hauck, Republican*^INC

• Tyler Landgraf, Democrat

State Representative - 100th District (1)

Chase TWP, Dover TWP, Ellsworth TWP, Pinora TWP

• Tom Kunse, Republican*^INC

• Tracy Ruell, Democrat

State Representative - 101st District (1)

Cherry Valley TWP, Eden TWP, Elk TWP, Lake TWP, Newkirk TWP, Peacock TWP, Pleasant Plains TWP, Sauble TWP, Sweetwater TWP, Webber TWP, Yates TWP

• Christopher Crain, Democrat

• Jaxon Deur, Republican

*STATE EDUCATIONAL OFFICIALS*

State Board of Education (2)

All TWPs and Cities

• Judith Pritchett, Democrat

• Tiffany Tilley, Democrat

• Terence Collins, Republican

• Bree Moeggenberg, Republican

• Charles Essner, Libertarian

• William Mohr II, U.S. Taxpayers

• Christine Schwartz, U.S. Taxpayers

• Wissam Charafeddine, Green

• Mary Anne Hering, Working Class

• Kelli Monroe, Natural Law

Regent of the University of Michigan (2)

All TWPs and Cities

• Paul Brown, Democrat

• Amir Makled, Democrat

• Lena Epstein, Republican

• Michael Schostak, Republican

• Andrew Chadderdon, Libertarian

• Kyle Maas, U.S. Taxpayers

Trustee of Michigan State University (2)

All TWPs and Cities

• Brianna Scott, Democrat

• Kelly Tebay Zemke, Democrat

• Julie Maday, Republican

• Roger Victory, Republican

• Daniel Patterson, Libertarian

• Will Tyler White, Libertarian

• Janet Sanger, U.S. Taxpayers

• John Sanger, U.S. Taxpayers

• John Anthony La Pietra, Green

• Yaz Ozbek, Working Class

Govenor of Wayne State University (2)

All TWPs and Cities

• Shereef Akeel, Democrat

• Richard Mack, Democrat

• Andy Anuzis, Republican

• Christa Murphy, Republican

• Alex Avery, Libertarian

• Jami Van Alstine, Libertarian

• Jeff McDonald, U.S. Taxpayers

• Paul Ragan, Green

• Suzanne Roehrig, Working Class

• Kathleen Oakford, Natural Law

*JUDICIAL OFFICIALS*

Justice of Supreme Court (2)

All TWPs and Cities

• Megan Kathleen Cavanagh*^INC

• Noah P. Hood*^INC

• Thomas W. Howe

• Casandra Morse-Bills

• Michael Warren

• Jody White

Judge of Court of Appeals (3)

All TWPs and Cities

• Michael J. Kelly*^INC

• Allie Greenleaf Maldonado*^INC

• Michelle M. Rick*^INC

Judge of 78th Circuit Court (1)

All TWPs and Cities

• Ellsworth Stay Jr.

*COUNTY OFFICIALS*

Lake County Prosecuting Attorney (1)

All TWPs and Cities

• Tom Evans, Republican

Lake County Road Commissioner (1)

All TWPs and Cities

• Rick Haslock, Republican

*CITY, TOWNSHIP, & VILLAGE OFFICIALS*

Village of Baldwin President (1)

Pleasant Plains TWP, Webber TWP

• Harold Nichols

Village of Baldwin Trustee (2)

Pleasant Plains TWP, Webber TWP

• Pamela Anderson

• Timothy Jannereth

Chase Township Clerk (1)

Chase TWP

• No candidates on ballot.

Cherry Valley Township Clerk (1)

Cherry Valley TWP

• Angela Guynn, Republican

Ellsworth Township Trustee (1)

Ellsworth TWP

• James Bacon, Jr.

Lake Township Clerk (1)

Lake TWP

• Amy Rademaker, Republican

Lake Township Trustee (1)

Lake TWP

• Tina Personette

Village of Luther President (1)

Ellsworth TWP, Newkirk TWP

• James Bacon, Jr.

Village of Luther Trustee (2)

Ellsworth TWP, Newkirk TWP

• Brittany Carlson

• Sherrill Cobb

• Matthew Hamilton

• Thomas Jolly

Pleasant Plains Township Trustee (1)

Pleasant Plains TWP

• Raymond Novakoski

Sweetwater Township Clerk (1)

Sweetwater TWP

• No candidates on ballot.

Yates Township Supervisor (1)

Yates TWP

• Chris Grier, Democrat

*LOCAL EDUCATIONAL OFFICIALS*

Baldwin Community Schools Board Member (3)

Cherry Valley TWP, Eden TWP, Elk TWP, Lake TWP, Newkirk TWP, Peacock TWP, Pleasant Plains TWP, Sauble TWP, Sweetwater TWP, Webber TWP, Yates TWP

• Joseph W Brooks Jr

• Diamond Burrell

• Mary Ann Pieske

Cadillac Area Public Schools Board Member (3)

Newkirk TWP

• Zachary A. Anderson

• Anne Engels

• Nicole Schultz

Kaleva Norman-Dickson School District Board Member (4)

Elk TWP

• Brent R. Haskin

• Jenna Meyer

• Jessica Ward

• Megan Zupin

Mason County Central Schools District Board Member (4)

Lake TWP, Sweetwater TWP

• Margaret Greiner

• Steven A. Griswold

• Gena Nelson

• Barry Pleiness

• Stephanie Stakenas

• Darrell Storvik

Mason County Eastern Schools District Board Member (3)

Sauble TWP, Sweetwater TWP

• Jennifer Fisher

• Sheryl Howe

• Curtis Stewart

Pine River Area Schools Board Member (2 each)

Dover TWP, Ellsworth TWP, Newkirk TWP, Pinora TWP

• Derek Brock (6-year-term)

• Wendy Ragatzki (6-year-term)

• Rob Kulpa (4-year-term)

• Susan Stoll (4-year-term)

Reed City Area Public Schools Board Member (3)

Chase TWP, Pinora TWP

• Troy Alan Bowling (4-year term)
• Jamie Eichenberg (4-year term)
• Christine Mund (4-year term)
• Dustin Robbins (4-year term)
• Maggie M. Walcott (partial term until 12/1/28)* ^{seperate from 4-year}

West Shore Community College Board of Trustees Member (4)

Elk TWP, Lake TWP, Sauble TWP, Sweetwater TWP

• Daniel LaMore
• Thomas Voss

*STATE & COUNTY PROPOSALS*

Proposal 2026-1: Convene A Constitutional Convention For The Purpose Of Drafting A General Revision Of The State Constitution?

All TWPs and Cities

• Shall a convention of elected delegates be convened in 2027 to draft a general revision of the State Constitution for presentation to the state’s voters for their approval or rejection?

Proposal 2026-2: Proposed Law To Prohibit Campaign Contributions From Certain Regulated Utilities And Government Contractors And Apply Campaign Finance Laws And Regulations To Additional Types Of Political Communications?

All TWPs and Cities

• Prohibit regulated electric and gas utilities, contractors with over $250,000 annually in government contracts, and people and organizations with substantial connections to these utilities/contractors from making direct or indirect campaign contributions to those who run for or hold offices that impact them. 

• Expand laws regulating spending on political communications, including those requiring disclosing donor information, to apply to communications clearly identifying candidates or ballot questions, even if they do not expressly advocate voting for/against them. 

• Expressly apply the law requiring disclosure of who paid for political communications to internet political communications. 

• Should this proposal be adopted?

Lake County Senior Citizens Renewal Millage Proposal

All TWPs and Cities

• For purpose of reauthorizing funding for providing services to the senior citizens of Lake County through the Lake County Council on Aging, shall the previously voter authorized increase of the constitutional limitation imposed under Article IX, Sec. 6 of the Michigan Constitution upon the total amount of taxes which may be assessed in one (1) year upon all taxable property within the County of Lake, Michigan, and that has been reduced by the Headlee Amendment to .6150, be renewed in an amount not to exceed .6150 mills ($.6150 per $1,000.00 of taxable value) and the County authorized to levy this millage for a period of six (6) years (2027-2032) inclusive?  (If approved and levied in full, this millage will raise an estimated $539,026 for County senior citizen services in the first calendar year of the levy based on taxable value.  In accordance with State law, a portion of the revenue collected may be disbursed to the Village of Baldwin Downtown Development Authority).

Lake County Road Patrol Services Renewal Millage Proposal

All TWPs and Cities

• For the sole purpose of continued funding of the operation of the County Sheriff’s Department Road Patrol, shall the previously voter authorized increase of the constitutional limitation imposed under Article IX, Sec. 6 of the Michigan Constitution upon the total amount of taxes which may be assessed in one (1) year upon all taxable property within the County of Lake, Michigan, and that has been reduced by the Headlee Amendment to 2.8362, be renewed in an amount not to exceed 2.8362 mills ($2.8362 per $1,000.00 of taxable value) and the County authorized to levy this millage for a period of six (6) years (2027-2032) inclusive?  (If approved and levied in full, this millage will raise an estimated $2,485,829 for Road Patrol purposes in the first calendar year of the levy based on taxable value.  In accordance with State law, a portion of the revenue collected may be disbursed to the Village of Baldwin Downtown Development Authority). 

*CITY, TOWNSHIP, & SCHOOL PROPOSALS*

Kaleva Norman Dickson School District Operating Millage Renewal Proposal

Elk TWP

• This proposal will allow the school district to continue to levy the statutory rate of not to exceed 18 mills on all property, except principal residence and other property exempted by law, required for the school district to receive its revenue per pupil foundation allowance and renews millage that will expire with the 2027 tax levy.

• Shall the currently authorized millage rate limitation of 18.9702 mills ($18.9702 on each $1,000 of taxable valuation) on the amount of taxes which may be assessed against all property, except principal residence and other property exempted by law, in Kaleva Norman Dickson School District, Manistee, Lake and Mason Counties, Michigan, be renewed for a period of 5 years, 2028 to 2032, inclusive, to provide funds for operating purposes; the estimate of the revenue the school district will collect if the millage is approved and 18 mills are levied in 2028 is approximately $3,373,000 (this is a renewal of millage that will expire with the 2027 tax levy)?

Mason County Eastern District Operating Millage Proposal

Sauble TWP, Sweetwater TWP

• This proposal will allow the school district to continue to levy the statutory rate of not to exceed 18 mills on all property, except principal residence and other property exempted by law. The school district is required to levy 18 mills for operating purposes to receive its full revenue per pupil foundation allowance.

• Shall the limitation on the amount of taxes which may be assessed against all property, except principal residence and other property exempted by law, in Mason County Eastern District, Mason, Lake and Manistee Counties, Michigan, be increased by 6 mills ($6.00 on each $1,000 of taxable valuation) for a period of 8 years, 2026 to 2033, inclusive, to provide funds for operating purposes; the estimate of the revenue the school district will collect if the millage is approved and 0.1474 mill of the 6 mills is levied in 2026 is approximately $19,378 (this millage is to restore millage lost as a result of the reduction required by the Michigan Constitution of 1963 and will be levied only to the extent necessary to restore that reduction)?

Mason County Eastern District Sinking Fund Proposal

Sauble TWP, Sweetwater TWP

• Shall the limitation on the amount of taxes which may be assessed against all property in Mason County Eastern District, Mason, Lake and Manistee Counties, Michigan, be increased by and the board of education be authorized to levy not to exceed 0.0511 mill ($0.0511 on each $1,000 of taxable valuation) for a period of 3 years, 2026, 2027 and 2028, for sinking fund purposes, including for school security improvements; for the acquisition or upgrading of technology; for the construction or repair of school buildings; for the purchase of real estate for school sites; for the acquisition of student transportation vehicles; for the acquisition of parts, supplies, and equipment used for the maintenance of student transportation vehicles; for the acquisition of eligible trucks and vans used to carry parts, equipment, and personnel for or in the maintenance of school buildings; for the acquisition of parts, supplies, and equipment used to maintain such trucks and vans; and for all other purposes authorized by law; the estimate of the revenue the school district will collect if the millage is approved and levied in 2026 is approximately $14,919 (this millage is to restore millage for sinking fund purposes lost as a result of the reduction required by the Michigan Constitution of 1963)?

Reed City Area Public School District Bond Proposal

Chase TWP, Pinora TWP

• Shall Reed City Area Public Schools, Osceola, Mecosta, Newaygo and Lake Counties, Michigan, borrow the sum of not to exceed Ten Million Seven Hundred Eighty Thousand Dollars ($10,780,000) and issue its general obligation unlimited tax bonds therefor, in one or more series, for the purpose of: 

• Remodeling and re-equipping school buildings and facilities; and preparing, developing, improving and equipping structures, sites and lighting at the high school athletic field? 

• The estimated millage that will be levied for the proposed bonds in 2027 is 0.20 mill ($0.20 on each $1,000 of taxable valuation) for a -0- mill net increase over the prior year’s levy. The maximum number of years the bonds of any series may be outstanding, exclusive of any refunding, is nine (9) years. The estimated simple average annual millage anticipated to be required to retire this bond debt is 1.83 mills ($1.83 on each $1,000 of taxable valuation). 

• The school district does not expect to borrow from the State to pay debt service on the bonds. The total amount of qualified bonds currently outstanding is $2,260,000. The total amount of qualified loans currently outstanding is $0. The estimated computed millage rate may change based on changes in certain circumstances. 

• (Pursuant to State law, expenditure of bond proceeds must be audited and the proceeds cannot be used for repair or maintenance costs, teacher, administrator or employee salaries, or other operating expenses.)

Sweetwater Township Emergency Services Millage Proposal

Sweetwater TWP

• For the purposes of providing funding for  Emergency Services, including providing funding for the fire services, first responders, and other emergency service operations and any related equipment, shall the limitation on the amount of taxes which may be assessed each year for all purposes on real and tangible personal property in Sweetwater Township, Lake County, Michigan be increased as provided in Article 9, Section 6 of the Michigan Constitution and Sweetwater Township be authorized to levy a new and additional tax not to exceed one mill ($1.00 per $1,000) of state equalized valuation of such property for a period of fourteen (14) years (2027-2040) inclusive? If approved, this millage would supplement an existing and currently approved Fire Services levy. If approved and levied in full, this millage will raise an estimated $22,956 for Emergency Services in the first calendar year of the levy based on taxable value.