Communities across Michigan — including several in metro Detroit — will be holding special elections on Tuesday, May 6, for a range of local ballot measures and races.

Check if you’re registered, find your polling place, or view a sample ballot here.

Macomb County

Mount Clemens

Voters in the Mount Clemens Community School District will have a $91.8 million bond proposal and millage reduction on their ballots.

The district says the funding would be used to renovate and revitalize its historic buildings, make critical infrastructure improvements, create modern learning spaces, and address safety and security needs.

Find more information about the bond proposal at mtcps.org.

Oakland County

Ferndale

In Oakland County, voters in Ferndale will see another Headlee override operating millage proposal on their ballot.

Ferndale voters rejected a previous iteration of the Headlee override in November, with roughly 54% of residents voting against it. City council members voted in January to include an adapted proposal on the May 6 ballot that aims to address some of the concerns cited by residents during town halls and listening sessions. If passed, the millage would take effect on residents’ Summer 2026 tax bills.

More information about the proposal, including the changes that were made and its potential cost impact on residents, can be viewed at ferndalemi.gov.

Additionally, voters in the Ferndale School District — which includes portions of Pleasant Ridge, Oak Park and Royal Oak Township — will have a school improvement bond on their ballot.

The $114.8 million bond proposal would not increase voters’ tax rates, according to the district, and would enable “transformational improvements” at its middle and high school buildings. Among the updates would be a new academic wing, modernized classrooms, updated fine arts spaces, safer school entry points, and improved student services.

For more information about the school bond proposal, visit ferndaleschools.org.

Clawson

Voters in Clawson will have two charter amendment proposals on the ballot.

The first is asking voters to determine the size of city council. A “yes” vote would maintain the city’s four-member council — excluding the mayor — rather than expand the council by two additional members, as adopted by council in 2023.

The second charter amendment relates to the council members’ term limits, and can only be passed in conjunction with the first amendment.

The full proposals can be viewed at cityofclawson.com.

Madison Heights

Residents in the Lamphere School District will see an $85 million, 30-year school improvement bond proposal on the ballot.

The district says the funding is needed to enhance school safety and security, expand learning opportunities, and update school infrastructure. If passed, the cost to homeowners would be 4.15 mills ($4.15 per $1,000 of taxable property value).

For more specifics on what the bond funding would be used for, visit lamphereschools.com/bond2025.

Proposals 2 and 3 — a non-homestead operating millage renewal and 2-mill hedge — would maintain the current millage rate if passed, allowing the district to retain $5 million for staffing, instructional and extracurricular programming, maintenance and operations.

Residential tax rates on primary residences would not increase if any of these initiatives pass, according to the district. However, the millage rate would decline over the next few years if the bond proposal is rejected.

Know your rights

Michigan’s primary election will be held on Tuesday, Aug. 5, 2025. Check back for updates to WDET’s Voter Guide as the election gets closer.

Wayne County has broken ground on a project that’s supposed to reduce train delays in the Downriver area. 

The plan is to separate the railroad tracks from a section of Allen Rd. in Woodhaven. Crews will lower the road so that it runs underneath the tracks.

It’s a public safety issue

County Public Services Director Dayo Akinyemi says when it’s finished, trains will no longer delay traffic on Allen Rd. north of Van Horn Rd. He says it’s common for ambulances, fire trucks, and police cars to get stuck while responding to emergencies.

“This will make that problem go away,” he says. “Anybody that lives Downriver will know that this is a problem we’ve been trying to solve for a long time.”

Wayne County announced the grade separation project in 2020. Akinyemi’s predecessor, Beverly Watts, said at the time she hoped to finish it within two or three years.  

But in 2022, Watts estimated the job would cost about $28 million dollars. Rising expenses delayed the project and raised the price tag to $65 million. 

So, Akinyemi says county, state, and local officials worked together to come up with the money.

“There are several sources of funds that’s cobbled together to get us to where we are today,” he says. “There’s money in the state transportation department, some earmarks from the federal government, earmarks from the state Legislature.”

Another challenge was acquiring right-of-way to relocate utilities such as power lines, fiber-optic cables, and water mains.

How long will it take?

“We’ve started the relocation of the Verizon lines,” he says. “Once we finish that, DTE gas will come to relocate their own line.”

And Akinyemi says by fall, people will see a lot more activity in the area. 

“Next year, we’ll begin the real construction,” he says. “There will be a period of time when there will be a full closure and a diversion of traffic.”

More: MDOT aims to end Fort Street train delays Downriver

Akinyemi estimates it will take up to three years to finish the project. During that period, the Michigan Department of Transportation expects to begin work on a similar project on Fort St. north of Van Horn Rd. in Trenton. 

Longtime Wayne County Executive Warren Evans gave his State of the County address on Wednesday night.

Speaking at Woodhaven High School in Brownstown Township, Evans touched on several topics throughout his speech, including regional transit, the county’s medical debt relief program and a slight increase in Wayne County’s population.

“It signifies a trend, because the city of Detroit also increased its population in that period of time, and what that’s telling us is people aren’t running from Detroit to the out county or vice versa,” he said. “We’re all growing.”

Evans – who took office in 2015 – says Wayne County added 9,000 new residents over the past few years, while Detroit’s population rose by nearly 2,000. He also noted a drop in crime in the county that mirrors the reduction of crime in Detroit over the past two years.

As for transit, Evans said now that municipalities can no longer opt out of regional transit projects, he’s looking forward to hammering out a new plan with the county’s 43 communities.

“We’re going to be data driven and have a common sense approach to building a plan that actually works for our residents,” he said. “A plan that improves mobility, strengthens our economy and enhances our quality of life.”

But any regional transit plan might be short-lived, with a transit millage back on the ballot next year.

Evans also shared that the county has helped 24,000 residents wipe out $13 million in medical debt, adding that the Wayne County Commission passed a $2.2 billion budget that dedicates $25 million in much-needed raises for many workers.

He also announced a new program to bring more produce to residents.

“We’re partnering with Eastern Market to bring fruits and vegetables to schools and senior homes across the county, and we’re exploring synergies with our long standing Meals on Wheels program.”

Watch the full State of the County address below.

Wayne County Executive Warren Evans will deliver his annual State of the County address on Wednesday night.

During his speech, Evans is expected to share key updates, accomplishments, and plans for Wayne County’s future.

The State of the County address will begin at 7 p.m. Watch the livestream below or tune in to 101.9 FM WDET.