Hello,

Included in this month’s newsletter is information on the August 4 Primary Election, election inspector summer training schedule, election security tabletop exercise, and a statewide voter education initiative. Should you have any questions, please contact Kent County Elections Director Mike Sullivan, at michael.sullivan@kentcountymi.gov or 616-632-7657.

Sincerely,
Lisa Posthumus Lyons
Kent County Clerk/Register of Deeds

The August 4 Primary election is fast approaching! To view the official candidates & proposal list for this election, click here. Absentee ballots are now available! To request an absentee ballot, click here. Early voting is from July 25-August 2. To find your early voting site, click here. 

Prior to each election, city and township clerks must test and verify the accuracy of the materials and systems used to conduct an election. That includes the tabulator and programming, paper ballots, equipment, and election reporting software. This is done in a public meeting called the Logic & Accuracy Test. 

Depending on the various districts, there may be several ballot types in each precinct. Each ballot type has its own specific test chart that instructs local election officials how a sample set of ballots, called a test deck, should be marked and tabulated in order to verify that your vote will be properly counted. Each test deck is passed through an associated ballot tabulator just as your ballot will on Election Day.

Once the entire test deck is scanned through the tabulator, the test results are printed and verified against the chart of predetermined results. If the printed results match the chart of predetermined results and there are no functional issues with the equipment, the tabulation is reset to zero for election day. Tamper evident security seals are applied to the machine, securing them until Election Day.

To view the list of upcoming Logic & Accuracy dates and times for cities and townships within Kent County, click here. We invite you to consider attending!

All candidate committees and ballot question committees NOT participating in an election in 2026 are required to submit a July Quarterly Report by Monday, July 27 at 5pm.

All committees participating in the August 4 Primary Election are required to submit a Pre-Election Report by Friday, July 24 at 5pm. The late contribution reporting period is July 20 - August 1. This is only for late contributions of $500 or more (individual or cumulative from one individual for the election cycle). Late contributions must be reported to our office within 48 hours. 

For a calendar of the full 2026 campaign finance schedule click here. 

Special Election: Tuesday, May 5
Primary Election: Tuesday, August 4
General Election: Tuesday, November 3