Empty ballots leave thousands of Michiganders with no choices on Election Day

A new analysis from BallotReady shows that Michigan’s 2024 election cycle featured several dozen races with no real competition—or no candidates running for office at all.

LANSING—Last year, nobody ran for prosecutor in Ontonagon County. Or for Wheatfield Township Clerk in Ingham County. Nobody ran against the village president in Tekonsha, either. And all three members of the Walker City Commission also ran for office without any opposition. 

In total, more than 200 Michigan primary and general elections featured uncontested candidates—or no candidates at all—on the ballot last year, according to a new report from BallotReady, a nonpartisan organization that tracks election data. That means in those races, there was only one name for voters to pick from and in some cases, no election at all.

The Ontonagon County prosecutor had to be appointed, as did the clerk in Wheatfield Township and officials in more than 100 other townships statewide. Dozens of other elected positions across Michigan—like school board members and judges—were in the same, empty boat.

“Democracy is not working the way it should,” Alex Niemczewski, chief executive of BallotReady, told the New York Times last year. “Voters don’t have a choice.”

The trend also tracks out nationwide. In 2024, there were more than 10,000 seats where zero candidates appeared on the ballot, the report found. Others were technically “elections”—but in name only, with just one candidate running and no chance for voters to make a real choice. 

And with key roles like county commissions, city councils, and more being left vacant or decided via appointment behind closed doors, experts say this trend could signal trouble for democracy.

“Nobody seems to get this,” Michael Siegrist, the clerk in Canton Township, told the Lansing State Journal last year. “Nobody realizes that the election framework is crumbling.”

How did this trend play out in Michigan?

Michigan was among the states with the most uncontested elections last year, the report found.

The breakdown is bleak: 56 races in the primary election and another 145 more in the general election featured no candidates at all, according to BallotReady’s analysis. 

That includes high-stakes roles like probate judges, mayors, township supervisors, and road commissioners—as well as dozens of school board, library board, and park board positions that often go unnoticed but can still play a big role in affecting daily life for Michigan voters. 

While some of these roles were filled by appointment, others are vacant—or being handled by other public officials pulling double duty. In smaller communities, it’s not uncommon for a clerk or supervisor to absorb the responsibilities of an empty office where nobody showed up to run.

And Michigan isn’t alone. According to BallotReady’s data, nearly 12% of all open seats nationwide had no candidates in 2024. In about 70% of races nationwide, only a single candidate filed to run—effectively leaving voters without a real decision to make.

Most of these no-show races were for nonpartisan, down-ballot roles, like school boards, city councils, or utility boards. But the report identified 177 separate types of elected positions across the country where local elections either didn’t happen or had no competition at all.

What’s next?

BallotReady’s analysis is the first in a multi-part series reviewing trends from the 2024 election cycle. While the group doesn’t offer any specific policy recommendations in the report, its latest findings paint a troubling picture for future Michigan elections—especially in local government.

The group’s research shows the trend has gotten worse since 2020. If it continues into 2026, more Michigan races could end up with no competition, no ballots, and no public input at all.

To address the issue, the Michigan Democratic Party (MDP) launched a statewide campaign in March to recruit hundreds of Democrats to run for local office and ultimately help ensure that no race goes uncontested this year and beyond. The initiative is part of a national movement led by Contest Every Race to strengthen Democratic representation, particularly in down-ballot races.

“Local offices shape our schools, roads, and communities, and we’re helping dedicated Democrats show up and run for those roles,” MDP Chairman Curtis Hertel said in a statement. “At a time when the will of unelected billionaires dominates national politics, we’re building a stronger, more representative democracy—one that works for everyday Michiganders. ”

READ MORE: Republicans keep trying to chip away at Michiganders’ voting rights

Don’t miss Michigan’s biggest stories—follow The ‘Gander on X.