Who's on the ballot in
Independence charter Township
Oakland County, Michigan
Voters in Independence charter Township are in U.S. Congressional District 9, MI State Senate District 23 and MI State House District 52. Independence charter Township is split between districts, so part of the town votes in Clarkston Community School District, Lake Orion Community Schools and Waterford School District. Enter your street address below to see exactly which races are on your ballot.
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2026 General Election
in 30 daysTuesday, November 3, 2026
- Polls open
- 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
- Register by
- Oct 19, 2026
- Request absentee ballot by
- Oct 30, 2026
Candidates on the Independence charter Township ballot
Federal
U.S. Senator
Vote for 1 · 6 candidates
- Abdul El-SayedDemocratic
- Mike RogersRepublican
- Lydia ChristensenLibertarian
- Tim LongU.S. Taxpayers
- Douglas P. MarshGreen
- Walter P. KristyNatural Law
U.S. Representative, 9th Congressional District
Vote for 1 · 6 candidates
- Ray PooleyDemocratic
- Kevin VaykoLibertarian
- John VlahosU.S. Taxpayers
- Destiny ClaytonGreen
- Jim WalkowiczWorking Class
- Lisa McClainRepublican
State
Governor
Vote for 1 · 5 candidates
- Jocelyn BensonDemocratic
- John JamesRepublican
- Anthony HudsonLibertarian
- Donna BrandenburgU.S. Taxpayers
- Douglas CampbellGreen
Secretary of State
Vote for 1 · 5 candidates
- Garlin Gilchrist IIDemocratic
- Anthony G. ForliniRepublican
- Christine SloanLibertarian
- Scott E. AughneyU.S. Taxpayers
- Eric BorregardGreen
Attorney General
Vote for 1 · 6 candidates
- Eli SavitDemocratic
- Doug LloydRepublican
- Jason DyeLibertarian
- John Perry Ludtke Jr.U.S. Taxpayers
- Jeff PolonowskiGreen
- Doug DernNatural Law
State Senator, 23rd District
Vote for 1 · 2 candidates
- Greg HillDemocratic
- Donni SteeleRepublican
State Representative, 52nd District
Vote for 1 · 2 candidates
- Brendan P. LeddyDemocratic
- Mike HarrisRepublican
Member of the State Board of Education
Vote for 2 · 10 candidates
- Terence CollinsRepublican
- Bree MoeggenbergRepublican
- Charles EssnerLibertarian
- William Mohr IIU.S. Taxpayers
- Christine C. SchwartzU.S. Taxpayers
- Wissam CharafeddineGreen
- Mary Anne HeringWorking Class
- Kelli MonroeNatural Law
- Judith PritchettDemocratic
- Tiffany TilleyDemocratic
Regent of the University of Michigan
Vote for 2 · 6 candidates
- Amir MakledDemocratic
- Lena EpsteinRepublican
- Michael SchostakRepublican
- Andrew ChadderdonLibertarian
- Kyle MaasU.S. Taxpayers
- Paul BrownDemocratic
Trustee of Michigan State University
Vote for 2 · 10 candidates
- Julie MadayRepublican
- Roger VictoryRepublican
- Daniel R. PattersonLibertarian
- Will Tyler WhiteLibertarian
- Janet SangerU.S. Taxpayers
- John SangerU.S. Taxpayers
- John Anthony La PietraGreen
- Yaz OzbekWorking Class
- Brianna ScottDemocratic
- Kelly Tebay ZemkeDemocratic
Governor of Wayne State University
Vote for 2 · 10 candidates
- Shereef AkeelDemocratic
- Richard MackDemocratic
- Andy AnuzisRepublican
- Christa MurphyRepublican
- Alex AveryLibertarian
- Jami Van AlstineLibertarian
- Jeff McDonaldU.S. Taxpayers
- Paul M. RaganGreen
- Suzanne RoehrigWorking Class
- Kathleen OakfordNatural Law
Judges & courts
Judge of the Court of Appeals, 2nd District · Incumbent position
Vote for 2 · 2 candidates
- Sima G. PatelNo party listed
- Christopher M. TrebilcockNo party listed
Judge of the 6th Circuit Court · Incumbent position
Vote for 6 · 6 candidates
- Mary Ellen T. BrennanNo party listed
- David M. CohenNo party listed
- Lisa GorcycaNo party listed
- Nanci GrantNo party listed
- Jeffery S. MatisNo party listed
- Lorie N. SavinNo party listed
Judge of the 6th Circuit Court · Non-incumbent position
Vote for 1 · 2 candidates
- Victoria KingNo party listed
- Lisa Marie NeilsonNo party listed
Judge of Probate Court, Oakland County · Incumbent position, Partial term ending 1/1/2029
Vote for 1 · 1 candidate
- Nicole S. HuddlestonNo party listed
Judge of Probate Court, Oakland County · Non-incumbent position
Vote for 1 · 2 candidates
- Elisabeth DeryNo party listed
- Jessica Ann HallmarkNo party listed
Judge of the 52nd District Court, 2nd Division · Incumbent position
Vote for 1 · 1 candidate
- Joseph G. FabrizioNo party listed
Justice of the Supreme Court
Vote for 2 · 6 candidates
- Thomas W. HoweNo party listed
- Casandra Morse-BillsNo party listed
- Michael WarrenNo party listed
- Jody WhiteNo party listed
- Megan Kathleen CavanaghNo party listed
- Noah P. HoodNo party listed
School board
Board of Education Member, Clarkston Community Schools · 6 Year Term
Vote for 3 · 4 candidates
- Kristine FerrellNo party listed
- Stephen J. HyerNo party listed
- Elizabeth E. EganNo party listed
- Jaclyn SiversNo party listed
Only part of Independence charter Township votes in this race. Enter your address to know for sure.
Board of Education Member, Lake Orion Community Schools · 4 Year Term
Vote for 3 · 4 candidates
- Paul J. CassiseNo party listed
- Jeff FaberNo party listed
- Heather SinawiNo party listed
- Jake SingerNo party listed
Only part of Independence charter Township votes in this race. Enter your address to know for sure.
Board of Education Member, Waterford School District · 6 Year Term
Vote for 2 · 4 candidates
- Kelly HamiltonNo party listed
- Michael RistichNo party listed
- Tyler SoncrainteNo party listed
- Kristen WagnerNo party listed
Only part of Independence charter Township votes in this race. Enter your address to know for sure.
Board of Trustees Member, Oakland Community College · 6 Year Term
Vote for 2 · 7 candidates
- Jose F. AliagaNo party listed
- Marian BlockerNo party listed
- Jacqueline A. KellyNo party listed
- Robin L. McGregorNo party listed
- Alexandra MorganNo party listed
- Deborah SnyderNo party listed
- MiVida M. BurrusNo party listed
Ballot issues
Proposal 2026-1: Call a constitutional convention
Shall a convention of elected delegates be convened in 2027 to draft a general revision of the State Constitution for presentation to the state’s voters for their approval or rejection?
Proposal 2026-2: Campaign contributions by utilities and government contractors, and political ad disclosure (initiated law)
The proposal would: • Prohibit regulated electric and gas utilities, contractors with over $250,000 annually in government contracts, and people and organizations with substantial connections to these utilities/contractors from making direct or indirect campaign contributions to those who run for or hold offices that impact them. • Expand laws regulating spending on political communications, including those requiring disclosing donor information, to apply to communications clearly identifying candidates or ballot questions, even if they do not expressly advocate voting for/against them. • Expressly apply the law requiring disclosure of who paid for political communications to internet political communications. Should this proposal be adopted?
Oakland County Zoological Authority: Detroit Zoo millage renewal (0.10 mill)
In 2008 and 2016, pursuant to Public Act 49 of 2008, Oakland County voters renewed a 10-year property tax millage to fund zoological services through the Oakland County Zoological Authority, supporting animal care for more than 2,000 animals and 200 species, educational and senior programs, and facility maintenance at the Detroit Zoo.To continue providing these services, the Authority seeks to renew and restore the millage to the original voter-approved rate of 0.10 mill (10 cents per $1,000 of taxable value). This proposal would renew the millage at 0.0927 mill and restore the remaining 0.0073 mill that was reduced due to required rollback, for a total authorized rate of 0.10 mill on taxable real and personal property for ten (10) years. If approved, the millage rate would be unchanged from those approved by voters in 2008 and 2016. Funds will be disbursed to the Authority and transferred to the Detroit Zoo as permitted by law. All funds are subject to annual independent audits. It is estimated that $8,831,012 will be collected in the first year. Ballot Question: Do you approve the renewal and restoration of the levy of 0.10 mill on all taxable property in Oakland County for a period of ten (10) years, from 2028 through 2037?
Lake Orion Community Schools: $115,985,000 school improvement bond
State of MichiganShall the Lake Orion Community Schools, County of Oakland, State of Michigan, borrow the sum of not to exceed One Hundred Fifteen Million Nine Hundred Eighty-Five Thousand Dollars ($115,985,000) and issue its general obligation unlimited tax bonds, in one or more series, to pay the cost of the following projects for the purpose of creating a modern, safe and healthy learning environment for students: - Equipping school buildings for safety and security, including security doors, backup generators and access controls; - Remodeling, equipping, re-equipping, furnishing, re-furnishing school buildings and other facilities, including improving infrastructure, roofs and heating, plumbing, and electrical systems; - Erecting and completing additions to school buildings and other facilities which include additions for special education programs and an addition at the High School for robotics, career tech and trades education; - Acquiring and installing instructional technology infrastructure and equipment in school buildings and other facilities; and - Preparing, developing and improving sites at school buildings and other facilities and the purchase of school buses? The annual debt millage required to retire all bonds of the School District currently outstanding and proposed pursuant to this ballot is expected to be at or below 7.00 mills which is a 0 mill increase from the annual debt millage levied in 2026. The maximum number of years any series of bonds may be outstanding, exclusive of refunding, is not more than twenty (20) years; the estimated millage that will be levied to pay the proposed bonds in the first year is 1.74 mills (which is equal to $1.74 per $1,000 of taxable value); and the estimated simple average annual millage that will be required to retire each series of bonds is 2.06 mills annually ($2.06 per $1,000 of taxable value). If approved by the voters, the bonds will be guaranteed by the State under the School Bond Qualification and Loan Program (the “Program”). The School District currently has $129,685,000 of qualified bonds outstanding and $0 of qualified loans outstanding under the Program. The School District does not expect to borrow from the Program to pay debt service on these bonds. The estimated computed millage rate required to be levied to pay the proposed bonds may change in the future based on changes in certain circumstances. (Pursuant to State law, expenditure of bond proceeds must be audited, and the proceeds cannot be used for teacher, administrator or employee salaries, repair or maintenance costs or other operating expenses.)
Only part of Independence charter Township votes on this. Enter your address to know for sure.
Independence Township: police operating millage (3.2 mills)
Shall the expired Police Operating Millage, which at the time of expiration in December 2025 had been reduced by the required millage rollbacks to 2.8282 mills ($2.82 per $1,000 of taxable value), be replaced by a new additional millage of up to 3.2 mills ($3.20 per $1,000 of taxable value), for a period of four (4) years, starting December 2026 through December 2029, inclusive, for the purpose of continuing to provide police protection and law enforcement services within the Township, which may include funding for related operating, personnel, capital expenditures and School Resource Officers? If approved and levied in full, this millage would raise an estimated $7,781,495.86 in the first year of levy. As required and determined by law, a small portion of the total millage revenue will be captured and disbursed to the Independence Township Downtown Development Authority (DDA) and Corridor Improvement Authority (CIA). The total capture by the DDA and CIA is collected solely from properties located within the DDA and CIA boundaries, respectively.
Waterford School District: non-homestead operating millage replacement (18 mills)
This proposal would replace, restore and extend the authority of the School District to levy the statutory limit of 18 mills on non-homestead property (principally industrial and commercial real property and residential rental property) which currently expires with the School District’s 2033 tax levy and allow the School District to continue to levy the statutory limit of 18 mills on non-homestead property in the event of future Headlee rollbacks of up to 4 mills. The authorization will allow the School District to continue to receive revenues at the full per pupil foundation allowance permitted by the State. Personal residences are exempt from this levy. Shall the limitation on the total amount of taxes which may be assessed against all property, except principal residences and other property exempted by law, situated within the Waterford School District, County of Oakland, State of Michigan, be increased to the amount of 22 mills with 18 mills being the maximum allowable levy ($18.00 on each $1,000 of taxable valuation), for a period of ten (10) years, 2026 to 2035 inclusive, with 17.6749 mills of the above 22 mills being a replacement of the authorized operating millage which will otherwise expire on December 31, 2033 and 0.3251 mills of the above 22 mills being a restoration of the millage lost as a result of the reduction required by the Michigan Constitution? This operating millage if approved and levied, would provide estimated revenues to the School District of $17,701,778 during the 2026 calendar year, to be used for general operating purposes.
Only part of Independence charter Township votes on this. Enter your address to know for sure.
Southeast Michigan Public Historical Museum Authority: new historical museums millage (0.2 mill)
The Southeast Michigan Public Historical Museum Authority (“Authority”) is a joint authority established by Wayne and Oakland Counties (“Counties”) pursuant to Michigan Public Act 321 of the Public Acts of 2000, as amended, and was formed to support the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History, Detroit Historical Museum, Dossin Great Lakes Museum, and other public historical museums located in Wayne and Oakland Counties (“Historical Museums”) that provide historical museum services for students, residents and visitors of the Counties. The law allows the Authority to seek authorization from the electors in each of the Counties to levy a tax of 0.2 mill (20 cents per $1,000 of taxable value) on taxable property to provide revenue for Historical Museums.It is estimated that if approved and levied on taxable property located within Wayne County, this new millage would generate approximately $12,219,200 in 2026. In addition to supporting the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History, Detroit Historical Museum, and Dossin Great Lakes Museum, 15% of revenues received by the Authority from taxable property in Wayne County, after Authority administrative expenses, will be disbursed to the County of Wayne for the purposes of supporting Historical Museums in Wayne County. Shall a 0.2 mill tax on all taxable property located within Wayne County be imposed by the Authority for a period of ten (10) years, being years 2026 through 2035, inclusive, to provide historical museum services for the benefit of the residents of the Counties?
Polling places in Independence charter Township
Charter Township of Independence, Precinct 1
St Trinity Lutheran Church · 7925 Sashabaw Rd, Clarkston
Charter Township of Independence, Precinct 2
First Congregational Church · 5449 Clarkston Rd, Clarkston
Charter Township of Independence, Precinct 3
Clarkston Community Church · 6300 Clarkston Rd, Clarkston
Charter Township of Independence, Precinct 4
Calvary Lutheran Church · 6805 Bluegrass, Clarkston
Charter Township of Independence, Precinct 5
Clarkston United Methodist Church · 6600 Waldon Road, Clarkston
Charter Township of Independence, Precinct 6
Maranatha Baptist Church · 5790 Flemings Lake Rd, Clarkston
Charter Township of Independence, Precinct 7
Bay Court Park-Brady Lodge · 6970 Andersonville Road, Clarkston
Charter Township of Independence, Precinct 8
Mt. Zion Church · 4900 Maybee Rd, Clarkston
Not sure of your precinct? Enter your address above, or check the official Michigan lookup.