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    • More than 250,000 votes in the first weekend
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    More than 250,000 votes in the first weekend

    Harry Posted on

    The first statewide early voting ahead of Michigan’s general election was well attended, with more than 250,000 voters taking advantage of the new option, Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson said at a press conference Monday morning.

    “This weekend, Michigan voters made history by showing up in droves to cast their ballots at the early voting site,” Benson said. According to the Secretary of State, there are more than 7.2 million active registered voters in Michigan. website.

    Early voting began statewide on Saturday and will continue through Sunday. A ballot measure approved by 60% of Michigan voters The 2022 elections require at least nine days of early voting before statewide and federal elections. Detroit chose to offer Canton Township and East Lansing voters more than the required nine days. This year, for the first time, every Michigan voter has the opportunity to vote early.

    At early voting locations, voters fill out a ballot and add it to the tabulation, just like they would at polling places on Election Day.

    More than 145,000 voters cast early votes in person this past Saturday, according to Benson, and 105,000 voters participated on Sunday. He said the weekend’s numbers “far exceeded” election officials’ expectations. In Michigan’s two other statewide elections this year — the February presidential primary and the August primary — the single-day high turnout for early voting was 11,000 voters. Benson emphasized that this weekend’s high turnout is a sign that more Michigan voters are starting to take advantage of the state’s nascent early voting option.

    Absentee voting update in Michigan

    absentee voting It’s also ongoing in Michigan. And as of Monday morning, more than 1.5 million Michigan voters had returned absentee ballots.

    “This means nearly a quarter (24%) of active registered voters in the state have already voted in this November election,” Benson said, citing a figure that includes both early and absentee votes. He pointed out that the turnout rate is an indicator that voters are willing to participate in this election.

    In addition to the presidential race, Michigan voters are voting to fill an open seat in the U.S. Senate and weighing in on congressional, state legislative, Michigan Supreme Court and university board races, as well as local offices and bids.

    Washtenaw County leads the state in turnout, with nearly 30 percent of active registered voters turning out absentee and early in-person so far, according to Benson. Oakland County ranked second with a turnout rate of 27.5%.

    Age and gender discrimination in early voting

    Different generations seem to adopt different voting methods. Almost two-thirds of Michigan voters who cast absentee ballots are over 60, Benson said. Meanwhile, 61 percent of those who have voted early in person so far are under 60, he said.

    The gender divide is also evident: Female voter turnout accounts for 55% of all votes cast to date, while male voters account for 44%, Benson said.

    How to vote early in Michigan?

    Voters can find early voting locations by going to: michigan.gov/vote and click “Where Do I Go for Early Voting?” and I enter the information.

    Early voting in Michigan ends next Sunday.

    To avoid possible mail delays, election officials encourage those who do not return absentee ballots to do so through a local ballot drop box. You can find drop box locations at: michigan.gov/vote. Clerks must receive absentee ballots by 8 p.m. on Nov. 5 for the votes to be counted. Voters can also go to an early voting center and add their absentee ballot to the tabulation.

    When is the 2024 election?

    Election day is Tuesday, November 5. On that day, voters can visit polling places from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

    Contact Clara Hendrickson at: [email protected] or 313-296-5743. Follow him on X, formerly called Twitter, @clarajanehen.

    Looking for more on Michigan elections this year? Check out our voter guidesubscribe election bulletin and always feel free to share your thoughts in some way letter to the editor.

    Harry
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