by: WOOD TV8
LANSING, Mich. (AP) — A Thursday vote by state lawmakers eases the process for clerks to process a surge in absentee ballots in the battleground state’s presidential election by letting them start a day earlier than normal.
Under current law, state election officials currently cannot remove ballots from outer envelopes until 7 a.m. on Election Day, which this year is Nov. 3.
The approved legislation from today was sent to Gov. Gretchen Whitmer for her likely signature would allow them to be opened between 10 a.m. and 8 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 2, in cities or townships with at least 25,000 residents. Ballots would have to remain in secrecy envelopes until being counted on Nov. 3.
Legislators say the change is intended to help avoid delays in counting the vote due to so many more people voting absentee.
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