LANSING, Mich. (WZMQ) – Michigan’s primary election is now three weeks away, and over 1.5 million voters have already opted to participate early and requested an absentee ballot.
Michigan voters will have more options to participate early in this August’s primary election than ever before. With voting centers across the state preparing for 9 days of early in-person voting, and creating more absentee ballot drop boxes, Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson said nearly 200 thousand voters have already cast their ballots to be counted on election day.
If you are planning to vote absentee, ballots are available by request online, and in person at your local clerk’s office. You’ll also have the chance to cast your ballot early in person at voting centers from July 27 until August 6. New voters are eligible to register online or by mail until July 22, and in person until August 6.
“All of those are options now, and we want folks who maybe have further to go in order to get to a place to know that you choose the option that works for you,” Benson said. “But it’s a noisy election cycle. It’s already filled with a lot of challenges and misinformation about our processes and we expect those challenges to increase in intensity and perhaps frequency.”
On Monday, Donald Trump’s presidential campaign, and the Republican National Committee filed a lawsuit against michigan officials, including Governor Gretchen Whitmer and Secretary Benson. The suit claims they overstepped their authority by allowing Veteran’s Affairs medical centers and Small Business Administration offices to act as voter registration agencies. Seeking to have those designations declared invalid.
Secretary Benson said her office is only focused on making sure all eligible Michiganders have the ability, and opportunity to vote.
“Throughout the Upper Peninsula, and northern michigan, and rural areas throughout our state, we want people to know how to make government work best for them,” Benson said. “Clerks are working really hard all across the state to make sure we’re ready to go and that the process goes smoothly and I’ve been really grateful for how much they’ve leaned in to make this constitutional right. for all of our citizens of early voting a reality.”
With 20 days until August 6th, Benson said the best place to go for more reliable voting information is Michigan.gov/vote
