Michigan absentee ballot requests reach 2.1 million ahead of election

Summarised from 2 outlets · 4 reports · Updated 21 Oct, 18:32 · Archive

More than 2.1 million absentee ballots have been requested in Michigan ahead of the 3 November general election. This represents a 17% increase compared to requests during the same period before the 2022 midterm election. As of early Tuesday, 789,476 completed ballots had been returned by mail, drop box or directly to clerk offices, bringing the active registered voter turnout rate to 10.7%.

State election officials are urging voters to return their ballots in person rather than by post, given the proximity to election day. Michigan law requires clerks to receive ballots by 8 p.m. on election day for them to be counted. Voters can deliver their ballots to their local clerk's office, an assigned drop box or an early voting site. Deputy Secretary of State Aghogho Edevbie specifically cautioned against mailing completed ballots at this stage, urging voters to utilise direct return methods to ensure their ballots arrive before the deadline.

Early voting sites are scheduled to open on 24 October and will operate for at least 8 hours daily through 1 November. Some jurisdictions, including East Lansing and Grand Rapids, have already opened early voting sites ahead of the statewide schedule. Residents who still need to register to vote must do so in person at their local clerk's office with proof of residency, as online and mail registration are no longer permitted within 14 days of an election.

How it is being reported

• Mailing a ballot in Northern Michigan? USPS says don’t waitNorthern Michigan voters who plan to return their ballots by mail are urged to send them at least one week before they must be received by their local election office, as the U.S. Postal Service prepares additional ballot-handling measures starting Oct. 24.9And10News · 21 Oct, 18:31
• Your voice, your vote: Take part in 9&10 News election pollsTRAVERSE CITY — As the November 3 election draws near, 9&10 News is asking Northern Michigan residents to share their thoughts on the election, their voting habits, and the issues that matter most to them. 9&10 News is conducting a series of online polls to hear directly from residents across…9And10News · 21 Oct, 18:11
• Mid-Michigan Matters: What Michigan voters need to know before the Nov. 3 electionWith Michigan’s midterm election less than two weeks away, voters have several options for casting their ballots.WILX · 21 Oct, 18:06
• Absentee ballot requests hit 2.1 million in Michigan ahead of Nov. 3 electionLANSING - More than 789,000 Michigan voters have already cast their ballots two weeks ahead of the Nov. 3 General Election, bringing the active registered voter turnout rate to 10.7%. Voters have requested more than 2.1 million absentee ballots so far, marking a 17% increase compared to the same…9And10News · 20 Oct, 19:21

In this story: Michigan · East Lansing · Grand Rapids · Aghogho Edevbie

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