Nearly 173,500 Oakland County voters had already cast ballots before polls opened Tuesday morning for the Aug. 4 primary, putting pre-election turnout at 18.5% of active registered voters countywide.

The figures, compiled by data expert Kurt Metzger for the Oakland County Times using Michigan Secretary of State data through Sunday, Aug. 2, show absentee ballots accounted for 155,068 of those votes. Another 18,395 were cast in person during the nine-day early voting window that ended Aug. 2. Novi, Northville, and Novi Township voters used the Novi Civic Center, 45175 W. Ten Mile Road, as their early voting site.

Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday. Absentee ballots may still be submitted until 8 p.m.

What's on the ballot locally

Two school millage proposals dominate the local ballot.

Northville Public Schools operating millage: Voters in the Northville district, including those in Novi Precincts 16, 24 and 25, are deciding a 10-year replacement millage (2027–2036) of up to 18 mills on non-homestead property. The district estimates the levy would generate approximately $11.8 million in its first year, roughly $1,662 per student and about 11.3% of the district's $100 million operating budget.

Northville Superintendent RJ Webber told The Oakland Press in July that failure would eliminate 11% of the general fund. "We have a budget of $100 million, so that means 11% of our general fund money would be gone," Webber said. "The impact that would have, because about 87% of our money is spent on human capital, would mean the very real potential of class sizes going up significantly, services being cut."

Oakland Schools Regional Enhancement Millage: Most Novi voters (Precincts 1–15 and 18–23) are deciding a proposed 1.5-mill increase for six years, estimated to raise $125.8 million in its first year. The tax would cost the owner of a home with a $200,000 taxable value about $300 per year and distribute funds at roughly $781 per pupil to all eligible public school districts within the Oakland Schools ISD boundaries.

Oakland County is one of the few large Michigan counties without a dedicated countywide enhancement millage. Wayne County adopted one in 2016; Macomb County followed in 2020.

Novi Community School District Superintendent Ben Mainka told WXYZ-TV on July 21 that the millage offers districts spending flexibility that bonds and sinking funds do not. The Oakland County Republican Party has campaigned against the proposal, calling it a "$131 million tax grab."

Turnout across the county

Bloomfield Township led all Oakland County communities in pre-election turnout at 26.3%, boosted by two local millages on its ballot. The lowest rates belonged to Keego Harbor (10.9%), Hazel Park (10.7%) and Pontiac (10.2%).

The pattern is consistent with Bloomfield Township, where two local millages appear to have driven turnout well above the county average.

Voters countywide are also narrowing fields for Oakland County Circuit Court Judge and Probate Court Judge, with the top two finishers in each three-candidate race advancing to November. Results are expected Tuesday night after polls close at 8 p.m.