Michigan’s top election official says more than three million people have voted before Election Day.
Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson says the number of absentee ballots cast this year has tripled compared to the last presidential election in November 2016.
Benson says 3.4 million absentee ballots were requested, and expects many will be returned today alongside ballots cast at polling centers throughout the state. She says it could take a while to count them.
“It may take several days to tabulate securely and methodically and validate every one of these 3.1 million absentee ballots that we’ve got and the more that will come in today,” Benson said.
Benson says good weather conditions throughout Michigan should encourage Election Day turnout. She says her office has NOT received any complaints of voter intimidation.
She says poll workers and clerks have made sure that Election Day is running smoothly.
“Because of that and because precincts all over the state opened on time, we have not seen long lines," she said. "We have not seen crowding. We have seen a steady stream of voters come through our precincts throughout the day.”
Benson says there are more than 100 Department of State staff deployed throughout Michigan to respond to voting issues.
Polls are open in Michigan 8pm Tuesday night. Anyone not registered to vote is able to do so at their local clerk's office before 8pm, with proof of residency.