Election 2026 · Houghton
Houghton County votes today on a $28 million jail bond: 1,945 people voted early, and results come in after polls close at 8 p.m.
HOUGHTON — Houghton County voters are deciding a $28 million jail bond today, Tuesday, Nov. 3, along with a countywide special education levy, two Hancock tax questions and a Houghton City Council race. Polls are open until 8 p.m.
Nearly 2,000 voters cast their ballots before today. The county’s early voting center on Sharon Avenue took in 1,945 ballots over the nine-day early voting period that ended Sunday, Nov. 1, an average of about 216 a day, the Keweenaw Report reported. The busiest day was the first one, Saturday, Oct. 24, with 269 voters.
“I’m very happy with it,” County Clerk Jennifer Kelly told the Mining Gazette. She said early turnout was far above August’s primary, when the center drew 273 voters over nine days. The county has about 28,000 registered voters, Kelly said, so by our math about 7% of them voted early in person. In the 2024 presidential election, 2,603 ballots were cast at early voting in the county, the Keweenaw Report said, citing the Mining Gazette, so this year’s midterm total ran about a quarter lower.
What is on the ballot
The biggest question is the County Jail and Building Improvement Bond Proposal. It would let the county borrow up to $28 million, repaid over no more than 30 years, to build new jail facilities and renovate county buildings, according to the ballot language. The estimated levy is 1.2726 mills in 2027, the first year. As we reported in October, the county jail has had the same 28 beds since 1963, and the county’s jail committee put the cost for the owner of an average-taxable-value home at about $5 a month.
Every county voter also sees a Copper Country Intermediate School District question: 0.2903 mill for 20 years, 2027 through 2046, to replace an expiring special education levy. It would raise about $601,033 in 2027, according to the ballot language.
In and around Hancock, voters decide a renewal of the city’s 0.8-mill recreation millage and a new 0.7-mill levy for the Hancock Area District Library; we laid out what both Hancock questions would cost last week. In Houghton, five candidates are running for four City Council seats, as we reported after their October forum.
Where to vote and how the count works
Voters must go to their own precinct today. In the city of Houghton, Precinct 1 votes at the Houghton Fire Hall and Precinct 2 at Dee Stadium; Hancock’s three city precincts vote at Lakeview Manor, according to the county’s notice of election. Absentee ballots must be returned to the local clerk by 8 p.m. Residents who are not registered can still register and vote today at their city or township clerk’s office with proof of residency.
The early voting ballots are counted with everything else tonight. Kelly said the workers who staffed the early voting center will close those polls at 8 p.m. with her chief deputy, “just like every other precinct,” and then bring their results to the clerk’s office.
Results posted tonight are unofficial. Michigan’s county canvasses must finish by Nov. 17, and the Board of State Canvassers certifies the statewide results by Nov. 23.
Anyone in line at 8 p.m. can still vote. Michigan residents who are not yet registered can register and vote today at their city or township clerk’s office with proof of residency.
Sources:
The Keweenaw Report, “1,945 voters cast ballots early in Houghton County” (Nov. 2, 2026; daily average, busiest day, 2024 early vote, absentee deadline), https://keweenawreport.com/2026/11/02/1945-voters-cast-ballots-early-in-houghton-county/
The Mining Gazette, Graham Jaehnig, “Early voting numbers up” (Nov. 2, 2026; Kelly quotes, 28,000 registered voters, August total, election-night process), https://www.mininggazette.com/news/local-news/2026/11/early-voting-numbers-up/
Houghton County, “County Jail and Building Improvement Bond Proposal,” ballot language, https://www.houghtoncounty.net/docs/ballot_jail_2026.pdf
Houghton County Clerk, Copper Country ISD special education millage proposal, https://www.houghtoncounty.net/docs/ballot_ccisd_2026.pdf
Houghton County, Nov. 3, 2026 notice of election (polling places), https://www.houghtoncounty.net/docs/11_3_2026_notice_election.pdf
Photo: Chris857, “Dee Stadium.jpg,” Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0), https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Dee_Stadium.jpg
More from Houghton
Sports · November 1, 2026
Michigan Tech beats Saginaw Valley 27-20 on Jake Rueff’s late touchdown, then comes home to face No. 9 Davenport
The No. 15 Huskies never trailed, got a blocked-punt touchdown from Jadon Bender and a 58-yard end-around from Abram Larner to set up the winner with 1:51 left. Tech is 7-2 and 4-1 in the GLIAC.
News · October 31, 2026
Houghton County driver pleads no contest in the US-41 crash that killed two South Carolina motorcyclists; sentencing is Nov. 30
Sze Wenn Tiang, 45, entered the plea in 97th District Court to two misdemeanor counts of moving violation causing death and driving without a valid license. The prosecutor will defer to the victims’ families at sentencing.
Election 2026 · October 31, 2026
Hancock voters decide recreation and library millages Tuesday, plus a countywide special education levy
City voters are asked to renew 0.8 mill for parks and recreation. A new 0.7 mill would fund the Hancock Area District Library, created in August. A countywide Copper Country ISD special education levy is also on the ballot.
Community · October 30, 2026
Copper Country troops overseas will get a taste of home again: Hancock’s Legion auxiliary starts its holiday gift drive
Operation Copper Country Active Duty, now in its sixth year, collects local hats, candy and souvenirs through November and ships them the first week of December. Families can submit a service member’s name and address.