Over 1.2 million citizens of Michigan took the opportunity to vote early in-person, wrapping up on Sunday, according to statements from state officials on Monday. Tallying absentee voters as well, nearly 3.1 million of Michigan’s sizable 7 million registered voters have already made their mark ahead of Election Day. A noteworthy surge in early in-person voting occurred on Sunday, with a record 189,422 ballots cast, clearly indicating increased engagement from Michigan folks.
Wayne County turned heads with its impressive record, logging over 175,040 votes among the counties with the most early in-person voters, doing so just before the culmination of early in-person voting. This high involvement highlights the active role Wayne County residents played, effectively making their voices heard in anticipation of Election day. It’s a testament to their commitment in upholding the principles of democracy.
The early voting period officially commenced on the second Saturday before Election Day, i.e., Oct. 26, concluding on Sunday, Nov. 3, as stated by the Michigan Secretary of State. Several places, including Detroit, Canton Township and East Lansing, took initiatives and began the early voting processes even before the official start date. Detroit led by example, starting its early voting journey on Oct. 19 while Canton Township and East Lansing followed suit commencing from Oct. 21.
Flexibility was pivotal in Michigan’s election process as communities were given the autonomy to decide whether they wanted to extend early voting periods. The state law empowers communities to provide up to 28 days of early voting, a testament to the reinforcement of democratic values, allowing voters even more time to make their choices heard.
As of Nov. 3, data from the Secretary of State revealed the state’s active registered voters amounted to a staggering 7,274,257. A breakdown of the voting results in Michigan indicated that absentee ballots returned were 1,981,594. Meanwhile, there were 1,214,444 voters who chose to vote in person. The total votes collected added up to 3,196,038.
For context, the top five counties actively participating in early voting as of Oct. 31 were Wayne County, recording 175,040 votes, Oakland County with 153,594 votes, Macomb County at 122,025 votes, Kent County with 96,705 votes, and Genesee County posting 54,077 votes. The energized participation demonstrates the firm stance taken by these counties and their citizens to voice their opinions, despite the circumstances.
Meanwhile, what brought attention were the top five counties where voters marked their mail-in ballots. Oakland County led, returning 309,071 ballots, followed closely by Wayne County at 305,948. Macomb County submitted 169,620, Kent County received 126,256, and Washtenaw County accounted for 94,449 returned mail-in ballots.
The spotlight fell upon Nov. 5, the day scheduled for the general election. Voting precincts were kept open from the early hours of 7 a.m. until 8 p.m., not only improving accessibility but also ensuring that everyone had ample time to cast their vote in their assigned precincts.
The Secretary of State wisely noted that absentee ballots take time to be cautiously processed and counted. Michigan has made precise provisions for this, allowing cities and townships with a population of more than 5,000 residents the ability to establish an Absentee Voter Counting Board to handle these ballots during any of the eight days before an election, during the same polling hours from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Commendably, irrespective of the population size, Michigan allows cities and townships to form an Absentee Voter Counting Board. These boards are empowered to process and tabulate absentee ballots on the day before an election, preserving the same timespan of polling hours. This speaks to the state’s commitment to ensuring every single vote counts, regardless of the voter’s location.
The post-election process is a sure and steady one. After the polls close, already received results will be posted, with more information added as returns roll in from different parts of the state. However, no state, Michigan included, can claim to count every vote by the end of election night, simply due to the sheer number of votes cast.
The continuation of vote counting can extend into days or even weeks post-Election Day. Among these votes that would be counted later are votes from honorable members of the military and citizens living overseas. The state legislature ensures their contribution to the democratic process by giving absentee ballots postmarked on or before Election Day the leniency to reach their local clerk up to six days after the election.