Michigan’s New Election Protocols Provide Extended Absentee Ballot Processing Time – Sky Bulletin
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In a remarkable move for Michigan’s electoral process, the presidential primary marked a first for the state – municipalities could start counting absentee ballots days before the actual election day. This was a significant development considering the surge in absentee voting popularity after Michigan relaxed rules in 2018. However, a legislative change in 2023 was necessary to allow local clerks additional time to manage the increased volume of absentee ballots.
For the initial time, many cities and townships could begin processing absentee ballots through tabulator machines starting eight days before the election. It is important to note that while the processing began earlier, no election results were to be disclosed to the public until after the close of polls at 8 p.m. on Tuesday.
Michael Siegrist, clerk of Wayne County’s Canton Township, said, “That took a lot of the burden off Election Day tabulation of absentee ballots. Michigan had been held hostage by antiquated laws and procedures.” He reported that by Tuesday morning, Canton had processed 10,000 of its 11,000 absentee ballots, demonstrating the efficacy of the new system.
Michigan witnessed the issuance of over 1.2 million absentee ballots for its voters as per the secretary of state’s data. To put this in context, the 2020 general election saw in excess of 3 million absentee ballots, which overwhelmed certain localities that couldn’t start opening envelopes until the night before the election. The consequent delays in finalizing election results were inaccurately portrayed by then-President Donald Trump and his allies as indications of electoral fraud.
“When it takes a while for results to come in, there’s a vacuum,” Siegrist explained. “Sometimes misinformation or disinformation fills that vacuum. That’s what we saw in the 2020 election.”
In the Detroit suburb of Warren, election workers took an oath of office before embarking on the task of handling thousands of absentee ballots. “Our absentee counting board workers are well-trained and work very hard to process each and every ballot received,” said Sonja Buffa, the city clerk.
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AP reporter Mike Householder in Warren contributed to this story.
FAQs about Michigan’s Absentee Ballot Processing Changes
- When were local clerks in Michigan first allowed to start processing absentee ballots?
For the presidential primary of that election year, clerks were permitted to begin processing absentee ballots eight days before the election date. - Why were these changes implemented?
The changes were a response to the significant increase in the use of absentee voting after Michigan loosened eligibility rules in 2018. The law adopted in 2023 was meant to help clerks manage the higher volume of absentee ballots more effectively. - Can election results be released before Election Day?
No, while the processing starts earlier, the results can’t be released until after the polls close at 8 p.m. on election day. - Did these changes address concerns from previous elections?
Yes, the changes aimed to reduce the workload on Election Day and to mitigate the misinformation that could arise from delays in result tabulation.
Conclusion
The introduction of earlier absentee ballot processing in Michigan represents a significant advancement in the state’s election administration. By allowing a head start on the management of absentee ballots, Michigan aims to alleviate the intense pressure on election day processes and combat the spread of false information resulting from delays in vote counting. Implementing such measures ensures voters that their votes are counted accurately and results are verified in a timely manner, reinforcing confidence in the democratic process.
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