Flip it over! The Michigan Supreme Court race could be hiding on your ballot this year.

The nonpartisan, Michigan Supreme Court race appears toward the bottom of Michiganders’ ballots. Some voters might even need to flip over their ballots to find it. 

MICHIGAN—A crucial section of the ballot in this year’s election could be at risk of being overlooked, particularly among voters who try to rush through the voting process this year.

Tucked away toward the bottom of the ballot in this year’s election are four candidates who are each seeking a seat on the Michigan Supreme Court: Kyra Harris Bolden, who is running against Patrick O’Grady, and Kimberly Ann Thomas, who is running against Andrew Fink. 

Bolden and Thomas have each been nominated by the Michigan Democratic Party. O’Grady and Fink are running with the support of the Michigan Republican Party. And the outcome of the race will ultimately determine whether Democratic-backed judges retain their majority on the state’s highest court, or whether Republican-backed judges will be able to regain control.

But because the race is technically nonpartisan, none of the four candidates will have a clear party identification next to their names, and the race will invariably appear toward the bottom of the ballot—well below the race for president, Congress, and other partisan elected positions.

That means Michiganders will need to pay close attention when they fill out their ballot this year—or risk skipping the nonpartisan section and the Michigan Supreme Court race altogether. 

Here’s the deal:

In Michigan, there are two sections of every ballot: a partisan section and a nonpartisan section. 

The partisan section—like the race between Vice President Kamala Harris and ex-President Donald Trump and the US Senate race between US Rep. Elissa Slotkin and former US Rep. Mike Rogers—always comes first. Notably, this section can be filled out as a “straight ticket,” where voters can choose one political party rather than bubble in votes for each candidate. 

The nonpartisan section of the ballot includes proposals and other matchups where the candidates don’t clearly subscribe to the political beliefs of one party or another. That includes this year’s race for the Michigan Supreme Court, among other judicial races in Michigan. 

The nonpartisan section always appears at the bottom of the ballot—or even on the backside, depending on the jurisdiction in which the ballot is printed. And unlike in the partisan section, straight-ticket voting for one particular political party is not an option for this portion of the ballot. 

That means voters must vote on these nonpartisan items separately—by bubbling in the space next to no more than two of the four candidates who are running for the state Supreme Court. 

It also means one of the most critical choices that Michiganders will be making in this year’s election could be easily missed, especially for people who may be rushing through their vote. 

Why does it matter?

Michigan’s Supreme Court decisions can impact everything from voting rights and reproductive health access to the environment and public safety. With a chance to shape the court’s majority, these two seats are among the most significant choices voters can make in this election.

Make a mistake?

If you’ve already filled out and returned your absentee ballot without filling out the nonpartisan section, it’s too late to “spoil” and re-do your absentee ballot ahead of this year’s election. 

But if you have not turned in your absentee ballot, there’s still time to correct your mistake. 

Just bring your absentee ballot with you to your clerk’s office, early voting site, or Election Day polling place where you can “surrender” it for a new, in-person ballot. If your ballot was lost or destroyed, you can also sign a statement to that effect and vote at your precinct polling location.

READ MORE: 2024 Michigan Voting Guide

For the latest Michigan news, follow The ‘Gander on Twitter.

Follow Political Correspondent Kyle Kaminski here.