Romulus, Michigan Public Records

The office provides comprehensive election information including sample ballots, candidate lists, and precinct maps. Michigan residents can register to vote online at www.michigan.gov/vote using the Michigan Voter Information Center, which requires a driver's license or state ID number. The state offers same-day voter registration, meaning eligible residents can register and vote on Election Day at their city or township clerk's office or at their polling place. Voters must be U.S. citizens, at least 18 years old by Election Day, and residents of Michigan and their city or township for at least 30 days before the election. Online registration closes 15 days before each election, but in-person registration continues through Election Day. Acceptable identification includes Michigan driver's license, state ID, student ID from a Michigan high school or college, tribal ID, or other government-issued photo ID. Municipal elections in the city are held in odd-numbered years for City Council and Mayor. Romulus operates under a council-manager form of government with a seven-member City Council and directly-elected Mayor. The next regular city election will be in November 2025, with the primary in August 2025 if needed. Local ballot measures, charter amendments, and millage proposals also appear on these municipal ballots. Candidate filings and local campaign finance reports are submitted to the Romulus City Clerk and are available for public inspection at City Hall. Residents can find their assigned polling place using the Michigan Voter Information Center at www.michigan.gov/vote, which allows searches by name and date of birth or address. The site displays polling location addresses, hours (7:00 AM to 8:00 PM on Election Day), and sample ballots showing all races and proposals specific to the voter's precinct. Wayne County operates numerous polling locations throughout the area on Election Day, typically in schools, community centers, and public buildings. Michigan election records that are public include the Qualified Voter File (voter registration list available to campaigns and political organizations), campaign finance disclosure reports filed by candidates and committees (searchable at www.michigan.gov/sos under Campaign Finance), candidate filing documents showing who is running for each office, precinct-level election results after certification, and absentee ballot statistics. Individual voter history (which elections a person voted in, though not how they voted) is also public record accessible through FOIA requests to Wayne County Clerk. In the November 2024 presidential election, Wayne County saw substantial turnout with over 680,000 ballots cast countywide, representing approximately 62-65% of registered voters. Local precincts participated actively in this election. Looking ahead to November 3, 2026, voters will decide several important races: Michigan Governor (incumbent Gretchen Whitmer is term-limited, so this will be an open seat election), Michigan Attorney General, Michigan Secretary of State, all 110 seats in the Michigan House of Representatives, half of the Michigan Senate (even-numbered districts in 2026), one U.S. Senate seat (Gary Peters is up for reelection in 2026), and the U.S. House seat for Michigan's 12th Congressional District (which includes Romulus after redistricting). County-level races will include Wayne County Executive, Wayne County Clerk, Wayne County Treasurer, Wayne County Sheriff, Wayne County Prosecutor, and Wayne County Commissioner for the district covering the city. City of Romulus offices are not on the ballot in 2026 (even-year elections in Michigan are for partisan federal, state, and county offices). Michigan voters can request absentee ballots without stating a reason under a 2018 constitutional amendment. Requests can be submitted online through the Michigan Voter Information Center, by mail, or in person at the Romulus City Clerk's office at City Hall. Applications must be received by 5:00 PM the Friday before Election Day, though ballots requested closer to the election may not arrive in time by mail. Absentee ballots can be returned by mail (must be postmarked by Election Day and received within six days), deposited in official drop boxes located throughout the city, or delivered in person to the city clerk's office up until 8:00 PM on Election Day. Michigan also allows in-person absentee voting at the clerk's office beginning 40 days before each election.