Oakland County voters cast 173,463 ballots ahead of Tuesday's primary, and Rochester-area residents who haven't yet voted get their final chance at the polls Tuesday, Aug. 4, from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
The countywide total, compiled by data expert Kurt Metzger for Oakland County Times using Michigan Secretary of State figures through Sunday, Aug. 2, represents 18.5% of active registered voters. Of those, 155,068 were absentee ballots and 18,395 were early in-person votes.
Those early numbers outpace 2024. Oakland County Clerk Lisa Brown told The Oakland Press on July 31, when the county had just crossed 8,000 early in-person ballots: "Our numbers are higher than they were for '24 as far as early voting at this point … I think more and more people are learning about it."
Bloomfield Township leads the county at 26.3% pre-Election Day turnout, boosted by two local millage proposals. Pontiac (10.2%), Hazel Park (10.7%), and Keego Harbor (10.9%) sit at the bottom.
What's on your ballot
Rochester, Rochester Hills, and Oakland Township voters all face the Oakland Schools enhancement millage, a 1.5-mill, six-year levy estimated to raise $125.8 million in its first year for the county's 28 school districts.
Rochester Hills voters have two additional proposals:
- Fire millage increase: Raises the authorized fire levy from 3.0 to 3.5 mills, generating an estimated $5 million in new first-year revenue to hire 12 firefighter/paramedics and staff a 24/7 ambulance and fire engine. The fire department logged more than 9,200 emergency runs in 2025, and on 224 occasions, zero units were available to respond. For a home with a $200,000 taxable value, the increase costs about $100 per year.
- Pathway millage renewal — renews the existing 0.1715-mill levy for 10 years with no rate increase, raising an estimated $864,920 in the first year for the Clinton River Trail and Paint Creek Trail within city limits.
Contested races
Rochester and Rochester Hills voters will pick nominees in the 10th Congressional District. Four Republicans are running: Michael Bouchard, Steffan Demetropoulos, Justin Kirk, and Robert Lulgjuraj, though Lulgjuraj withdrew from the race in July. Three Democrats are on the ballot: Eric Chung, Tim Greimel, and Christina Bertrand Hines.
In State Senate District 9, which covers Rochester, Rochester Hills, and parts of Oakland Township, three Democrats compete: Theresa Brooks, Brendan Johnson, and Ren Nushaj. Michael Webber is unopposed on the Republican side.
All Oakland County voters also have contested races for Circuit Court Judge and Probate Court Judge.
How to vote Tuesday
Polls open at 7 a.m. and close at 8 p.m. On Election Day, voters report to their assigned precinct. Absentee ballots must be received by 8 p.m. to count.
SMART buses are free on Election Day for riders heading to the polls.
