State Senator's bill aims to ease counting burden of absentee ballots spike

by:Lynsey Mukomel

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — According to numbers released by the Michigan Secretary of State on Thursday, more than 2.1 million Michigan voters have requested to vote absentee in the November election,

The Secretary o State's office says that number is already higher than the record-setting 2 million requests sent ahead of the August primary, which resulted in more than 1.6 million votes actually cast absentee.

Election officials project some 3 million votes could be cast absentee in the Nov. 3 general election.

One of the root problems is that current Michigan law allows absentee ballots to be checked only beginning at 7 a.m. Election Day and absent voter counting boards must work however long it takes to tabulate all cast within their jurisdiction.

A bill currently addressing the issue is S.B. 757, introduced by Sen. Ruth Johnson, R-Groveland Township, earlier this year.

More:WOODTV.COM


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