Want faster election results? Michigan's new absentee ballot count option helps
Michigan clerks who took advantage of new laws that allow them to prepare absentee ballots for counting ahead of election day found during the August primary that they were able to get results out faster, but not without some hiccups.
Under expanded pre-processing laws in Michigan, election officials can take in returned absentee ballots, verify signatures, open the envelopes, ensure the correct ballot was returned, and scan them through the tabulator, but they can’t yet count the votes. In communities with more than 5,000 people, officials can begin doing this eight days before the election; in smaller towns, officials are allowed to do it the Monday before the election. Election workers don’t issue vote totals until polls close on election day.
Across the state, pre-processing meant that results came in faster after polls closed, Jonathan Brater, director of the state’s Bureau of Elections, told the state board of canvassers on Monday.
“It does speed the process up, and it makes election day a little easier to deal with, because hopefully you’ve gotten through the vast majority of your absentee ballots, and you’re just waiting for the last ones to come in,” Brater said.
https://www.bridgemi.com/michigan-government/want-faster-election-results-michigans-new-absentee-ballot-count-option-helps
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