Brighton, Michigan Public Records

Residents can register to vote through the Michigan Voter Information Center at www.michigan.gov/vote, a portal managed by the Michigan Secretary of State. Online registration requires a valid Michigan driver's license or state ID. The registration deadline is 15 days before an election, though Michigan permits same-day registration at the clerk's office or polling location with proof of residency. Acceptable identification includes a Michigan driver's license, state ID, or other government-issued photo ID. Municipal elections in Brighton fill the Mayor's office and seven City Council seats. Council members serve staggered four-year terms, with certain seats contested in odd-numbered years such as 2025 and 2027 during the November general election. The Mayor also serves a four-year term decided in these November odd-year races. Information about candidates, sample ballots, and local ballot questions appears on the Livingston County Clerk's website and at www.brightoncity.org as elections approach. Candidate filing documents and campaign finance disclosures for local races are maintained by both the Brighton City Clerk and the Livingston County Clerk. Brighton voters can locate their assigned polling place using the Michigan Voter Information Center at www.michigan.gov/vote by entering their name and date of birth or address. The tool displays the polling location address, hours - typically 7:00 AM to 8:00 PM on Election Day - and a sample ballot. During the November 2024 presidential election, Livingston County recorded voter turnout of approximately 75-78%, consistent with the high participation rates typical of presidential election years in this politically engaged county. Several precincts in the Brighton area exceeded 80% turnout. The November 3, 2026 general election will present Brighton and Livingston County voters with multiple significant races. Michigan voters will elect a Governor, as Governor Gretchen Whitmer's current term expires in January 2027. All 110 seats in the Michigan House of Representatives will be contested, including districts representing the city. County offices on the 2026 ballot include County Commissioner positions depending on district, along with the Livingston County Clerk, Register of Deeds, Prosecuting Attorney, and Sheriff, all serving four-year terms. The U.S. Senate seat currently held by Gary Peters is not up in 2026. Michigan's statewide officials including Secretary of State and Attorney General are elected in gubernatorial years. Brighton municipal elections will not occur in 2026 since city races are held in odd-numbered years like 2025 and 2027. Michigan allows no-reason absentee voting, permitting any registered voter to request an absentee ballot without justification. Applications can be submitted online at www.michigan.gov/vote, by mail, or in person at the Livingston County Clerk's office. Voters can request ballots for a single election or opt to automatically receive them for all future elections. Completed ballots must be received by 8:00 PM on Election Day - postmarks don't count. Return options include mail, secure drop boxes available at clerk offices in Brighton and throughout Livingston County, or in-person delivery to the clerk's office. Public election records in Michigan include voter registration lists available with restrictions for political and election purposes, campaign finance reports filed with the Michigan Secretary of State and searchable at www.michigan.gov/sos, candidate filings and petitions, precinct-level results, and absentee ballot statistics. Individual voter history showing which elections a person voted in, though not how they voted, is also public record.