by Therese Boudreaux
Four weeks out from Michigan’s Primary Election Day, more than 1.5 million of the state’s voters have requested or received an absentee ballot, breaking records set in 2020.
More than 178,000 of those voters have already submitted a completed ballot.
“This is great news for Michigan, and for democracy,” said Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson in a release. “In 2020, we saw our highest turnout elections in Michigan history. It is thrilling to see we are on track to exceed those high turnout levels in 2024 and even more exciting to see voters engaged early at such significant numbers and committed to ensuring their voice is heard.”
The state’s population numbers over 10 million; more than 8.3 million residents are registered to vote.
Many Republicans expressed opposition to no-excuse absentee ballot voting in the 2020 election due to security concerns, sentiments that have grown since then, according to a new national Pew Research Center poll.
Survey results revealed 62% of Republicans and Republican leaners believe early or absentee voting should only be available to those who have a documented reason for not voting in person on Election Day. In contrast, 82% of Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents said early or absentee voting should be available to any voter without the need for an excuse.
Despite hesitancy among Republican voters, party leaders and advocates have switched gears for the 2024 elections.
“If Republicans are going to win up-and-down the ballot in November it is imperative that Michiganders take advantage of early and absentee voting so that we know the score heading into Election Day and can strategically target voters down the final stretch heading into November 5th,” Republican State Leadership Committee President Dee Duncan said in June.
Absentee ballots must be received in the respective local clerk’s office of a voter by 8 p.m. on Election Day to be counted, with the exception of military and overseas ballots.
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Therese Boudreaux is a contributor to The Center Square.
Photo “Ballot Drop Box” by Cindy Shebley. CC BY 2.0.
