Michigan officials are expressing optimism that the state will have final unofficial results from Tuesday’s election by mid-day Wednesday, if not earlier. This positive outlook is attributed to new rules that allowed clerks to begin processing absentee ballots on October 28th.
Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson highlighted the efficiency of the process this year, stating that clerks were able to start pre-processing and feeding ballots into machines last week. This new approach positions Michigan well to handle any late-arriving ballots returned on Election Day.
This marks the first time Michigan has permitted pre-processing of mail-in absentee ballots in a general election, a move aimed at expediting the tabulation of results.
Concerns over the speed of statewide results have been raised, with former President Donald Trump emphasizing the importance of timely reporting during his campaign stop. However, some voters, like retired neonatal nurse Linda Talley, are not overly concerned about immediate results. Talley expressed understanding for the need to ensure accuracy in the counting process.
Overall, Michigan officials are confident in the efficiency of the new procedures and are hopeful for a quicker turnaround in releasing unofficial election results compared to previous years.
