About one-third of requested absentee ballots in Michigan have already been submitted

Drop box for absentee ballots in Detroit | Ken Coleman

With three weeks until the Nov. 5 election, almost a third of the more than 2.1 million registered voters in Michigan who have requested an absentee ballot have already turned it in.

Meanwhile, early voting in Michigan will begin as early as Saturday in select communities, and then statewide on Oct. 26.

According to the Michigan Secretary of State, more than 670,000 voters have submitted their completed ballot, or approximately 31% of those who requested one.

That compares to about 34% who had submitted their ballots three weeks before the 2020 election, which took place during the COVID-19 pandemic and its related social distancing recommendations.    

As of Oct. 15, a total of 2.13 million Michigan citizens had received an absentee ballot through either a request or after joining the permanent absentee ballot list. Of those, 672,585 voters returned their completed absentee ballot to be counted. 

Voters who already received an absentee ballot are urged to complete it as soon as possible, be sure to sign the back of the envelope, and then either mail the sealed ballot or drop it off at their clerk’s office or designated ballot drop box.

The deadline for eligible Michigan citizens to register to vote online or by mail is Monday. It can also be done in person at their local clerk’s office with proof of residency by 8 p.m. on Election Day.

As for early voting, approved by voters in a constitutional referendum in 2022, at least nine days of early voting in both statewide and federal elections must be made available starting no later than two Saturdays before Election Day and ending the Sunday before Election Day. 

With Election Day set this year for Nov. 5, early voting will be offered statewide starting Oct. 26 and ending Nov. 3.

Three municipalities — Canton Township, Detroit and East Lansing — will begin early voting periods before Oct. 26. Voters in Detroit can start casting ballots beginning this Saturday, Oct. 19, while Canton Township and East Lansing will start early voting on Monday, Oct. 21.