2026 Elections: What's at Stake in Cascade Township
Two election days matter for Cascade Township residents in 2026:
- August 5, 2026 Primary — Contested races narrow to November finalists. Key: Cascade Township trustee seats and the 73rd House District.
- November 4, 2026 General — Township trustee seats decided. Also on the ballot: Public Safety millage renewal and a referendum on the Waterfall Shoppes PUD amendment.
The data center moratorium — and whether the township should extend or end it — has become a visible dividing line among candidates. This page gives you the verified facts so you can evaluate those positions yourself.
Last updated June 1, 2026 · Michigan Voter Information Center
August 5 Primary — What's on Your Ballot
The August primary is a partisan primary — you vote in only one party's primary. Unaffiliated voters can choose which party's primary to vote in on Election Day.
What's contested on August 5:
- Cascade Township Trustee (2 seats) — Multiple candidates in the Republican primary. These seats directly shape how the township responds to data center applications once the moratorium expires.
- Kent County Commissioner, District 4 — Covers parts of Cascade Township. Commissioner decisions affect county road funding and regional land-use coordination.
- 73rd State House District — Covers Cascade Township and portions of neighboring communities. This seat influences state legislation on data center tax incentives, zoning preemption bills, and utility regulation.
To know exactly what's on your ballot: Enter your address at mvic.sos.state.mi.us — Michigan's official voter information tool.
What Each Race Actually Decides
Township trustees vote on zoning ordinances, tax policies, and permit decisions. The two trustees elected in November 2026 will vote on whether to extend the data center moratorium, accept or reject the Planning Commission's permanent standards, and decide the first permit applications under those standards. These seats have direct, measurable power over the questions the community is debating right now.
County commissioners control county road funding (relevant for construction traffic from large industrial projects), county drain and water infrastructure, and county-level economic development grants. They do not directly control township zoning but influence the regional context.
The Michigan Legislature has active bills on data center siting, tax exemptions, and utility rate-setting for large industrial loads. A state representative from this district sits on committees where those bills move. This race connects local concerns to state law.
Cascade Township falls within the Forest Hills school district. School board elections in 2026 address curriculum, budget, and facilities questions. Check your specific address to confirm school board ballot eligibility.
Cascade Township Trustee Seats
Two trustee seats are on the 2026 ballot. Trustees serve 4-year terms and vote on all township ordinances, including zoning and tax policy.
How to find the candidates: Michigan's official candidate filing system is maintained by the Secretary of State. Filing deadlines close roughly 15 weeks before each election. Candidates who filed for the August 5 primary will be listed at:
mvic.sos.state.mi.us — enter your address to see your specific ballot
Questions to ask any candidate:
- Do you support extending the data center moratorium beyond its initial 6 months?
- What standards should the Planning Commission prioritize — noise, water, tax policy, or something else?
- How do you weigh township tax revenue from industrial development against residential quality-of-life concerns?
- What is your position on the Industrial Facilities Tax Exemption (IFT) policy change?
Candidate information: Michigan Campaign Finance Network filing database
November 4 Ballot — Local Questions
The township is asking voters to renew an existing millage that funds public safety services (fire, police dispatch). This is a renewal of an existing levy — not a new tax. If it fails, the township would need to reduce public safety funding or find alternative sources. The township board approved placing this renewal on the ballot at the May 13, 2026 meeting.
Source: Cascade Township Board, May 13, 2026 — meeting records
Voters will decide whether to approve an amendment to the Waterfall Shoppes Planned Unit Development (PUD) — a commercial area along Cascade Road. The board approved placing the referendum on the November ballot at the May 13, 2026 meeting. The full ballot language was approved at that meeting and will be available through the Kent County Clerk.
Source: Cascade Township Board, May 13, 2026 — meeting records
AI and Data Centers in the 2026 Campaigns
The data center moratorium has become a visible issue in local campaigns. Here is what we know from the public record:
- The Board's 7–0 moratorium vote was unanimous, meaning candidates of both parties have some connection to it — whether as supporters, board members at the time, or through public comment.
- State-level candidates in the 73rd District face related questions: Michigan bills on data center tax incentives and utility regulation are moving through committees, and a state rep's committee assignments will determine how much influence they have on those bills.
- The data center question sits at the intersection of economic development and local control — two issues that cut across party lines differently at the local and state level.
How to evaluate candidates' positions:
- Ask them whether they supported the moratorium and why.
- Ask what permanent standards they think the Planning Commission should adopt.
- Ask whether they believe the state should preempt local zoning for data centers (some bills would do this).
- Check their public statements against the meeting record — what did they say at the time?
We present these questions as a tool for evaluation — not a suggestion about how to vote.
AI in the 2026 Election — What Michigan Is Doing
AI-generated content and deepfakes are a recognized concern in 2026 elections. Michigan has taken some steps at the state level:
- Michigan disclosure requirements: Michigan law requires disclosure of AI-generated content in political advertising. Check the Michigan Secretary of State for current rules.
- Federal baseline: The FEC has ongoing rulemaking on AI disclosure in federal political advertising. State races fall under state jurisdiction.
- ODNI assessment: The Office of the Director of National Intelligence has assessed that foreign influence operations will use AI-generated content in 2026. The assessment is unclassified and publicly available.
Practical steps for voters:
- Verify candidate statements against official campaign websites and meeting minutes — not social media clips.
- Cross-reference local coverage with the primary source documents linked throughout this page.
- The township's official meeting records at cascadetwp.com are the authoritative source for what officials have actually said and voted.
Source: Michigan Secretary of State · ODNI 2026 Threat Assessment
Register, Check Your Registration, Vote
- Check registration: mvic.sos.state.mi.us — verify your address, polling location, and what's on your specific ballot.
- Register or update: Michigan allows same-day voter registration at your local clerk's office. Online registration closes 15 days before each election. Kent County Clerk: accesskent.com/CountyClerk
- Absentee voting: Michigan allows no-reason absentee voting. Request your absentee ballot through the Michigan Voter Information Center. Requests for the August primary close July 27; for November, October 25.
- Polling location: Your address determines your polling place. Confirm before Election Day at mvic.sos.state.mi.us
- Polls: Open 7am–8pm both Election Days. You must be in line by 8pm to vote.
Tell Candidates Where You Stand
The weigh-in below logs your position on whether AI and data center policy should drive your vote in 2026. Verified township-resident positions are aggregated into a Signal Brief shared with candidates and elected officials before key meetings.
Your verified position becomes part of the public record — officials can see the verified breakdown of resident sentiment on this question. Unverified positions are counted separately and labeled as such.
Beyond the weigh-in:
- Attend township candidate forums — check cascadetwp.com for announcements.
- Submit a written question to candidates through local civic organizations.
- Contact your current trustee directly: township contact information is at cascadetwp.com/government/elected-officials