As the final leg of the U.S. midterm elections draws to a close, hundreds of Michiganders flooded early voting centers this past week to cast their ballots ahead of Election Day. With nearly one in three registered voters (31.2 percent) already at the polls, this election cycle showcases some of the most enthusiastic voter turnout the state has seen in years.

Voters in Wayne County cast at least 364,055 ballots ahead of Election Day, leading all other counties in the state. Major cities like Detroit, Dearborn and Dearborn Heights are fueling this engagement, bringing in staggering numbers for both in-person and absentee ballots. Because Wayne County generated large early voter engagement, Michigan is seeing numbers reach roughly 99 percent of the total early votes recorded during the 2022 midterm election cycle. The local clerk offices are gearing up for the final rush of voters on Election Day, when the polls open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

The energy on the ground since early voting opened remains tangible as voters file into local facilities. Long lines at the Ford Community and Performing Arts Center in Dearborn began forming on Sunday, demonstrating a large Arab American voter turnout for Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Dr. Abdul El-Sayed. In fact, when asked, 95 of 100 interviewed voters said they intended to vote for El-Sayed, suggesting strong support for his campaign across the city.

Voters in Wayne County cast at least 364,055 ballots ahead of Election Day, leading all other counties in the state.

Similarly, the Canfield Community Center in Dearborn Heights was brimming with early voters all weekend long. State Senate candidate Abbas Alawieh made an appearance at the polls Friday afternoon to encourage community members to come out and place their ballots ahead of Election Day.

“If you get too busy or you’re not able to vote, we can’t risk that, especially because there’s too much at stake in this election,” Alawieh said when asked why early voting is so important.

Assuming victory in the midterms, Alawieh would be the first Arab American and Muslim American elected to the Michigan State Senate, marking Dearborn as a historic turning point this election season.

This midterm cycle has also put a distinct spotlight on the power of young voters in Michigan. Michigan resident and college student Hassan Elhajj-Hassan spoke on the significance of down-ballot races, such as university board seats.

“It’s very important to know who runs these universities and it’s very important to be associated with the right people,” Elhajj-Hassan said.

If you get too busy or you’re not able to vote, we can’t risk that, especially because there’s too much at stake in this election.” — Abbas Alawieh

Alawieh reaffirmed this sentiment, noting that he believes the people who are going to be most impacted by the decisions these politicians are making for the longest period of time are young voters.

These local dynamics feed directly into high-stakes federal races. El-Sayed is facing off against Republican Mike Rogers for the competitive, open seat held by retiring Senator Gary Peters. The race, which has drawn in more than $200 million in ad spending and Super PAC funding, remains crucial for determining which party will control the chamber moving forward.

If elected, El-Sayed will break barriers as the first-ever Muslim American to serve in the U.S. Senate. Supporters said they believe his lead is a massive breakthrough following 18 months of scrutiny and backlash directed toward his campaign.

Ultimately, this election is about more than individual achievements or campaign discourse. It is about creating a better and stronger state for all Michiganders, and it begins at the polls.