LANSING, Mich. (WOOD) — Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson on Monday declared Michigan’s early in-person voting period a success, saying voters “experienced a smooth and successful and secure process.”

“I’m pleased to report that our state’s ever early-voting period during a presidential election was extremely successful and broke several records,” Benson said during a news conference in Detroit. “Since last Saturday, Oct. 26, all around Michigan, over 1.2 million voters came out and voted at an early voting center, some waiting in line for up to an hour … to cast their ballot in this historic election cycle.”

At least nine days of early in-person were mandatory statewide for the first time this year after voters approved a ballot initiative requiring the option in November 2022. The option wasn’t particularly popular during the February presidential primary, but turnout improved for the August primary and was much larger this time. Ottawa County, for example, recorded about 1,500 early voters in February, about 2,800 in August and, this time around, more than 31,100.

State data shows that Sunday, the last day of the early voting period, was the busiest around the state, with nearly 190,000 ballots cast. The first day of early voting, Oct. 26, recorded more than 145,000 voters; Friday, Nov. 1, saw about 142,000; and Saturday, Nov. 2, saw about 146,000.

“Many of them were new or first-time voters,” Benson said. “One early voting center I visited in Romulus mentioned they celebrated every time a voter declared that it was their first time voting. And many had seen so many first-time voters that they ran out of their first-time voter stickers by the weekend.”

She said some early voting sites in Detroit had concerns or carnival rides outside “to celebrate the occasion.” She also praised parents who brought their children to the polls “inviting them to witness history, be a part of history, in the hopes of inspiring and preparing our youngest Michiganders, and these future voters, to inherit our democracy.”

As of Monday morning, nearly 2 million ballots had been cast absentee, the state data shows.

“All the trends we are seeing indicate that we are pace to see another high-turnout election, with voters all across this state enthusiastic and engaged,” Benson said.

She said with about 3.2 million ballots already cast between early in-person and absentee voting, about 44% of active registered voters have already turned out. Washtenaw County is outpacing that average with 54% turnout already, Oakland County is at 49% and Kent County 47.8%.

Of those who have voted so far, 55% were women.

“We’re also seeing young people engaged throughout this cycle,” Benson said. “Two days before Election Day in 2020, about 12% of people who had voted by mail were between 18 and 30 years old. In 2022, that number was 7%… As of polls closing last night, 12.5% of the total votes cast thus far came from 18- to 30-year-olds. And more than 17% of those who took advantage of in-person early voting were between the ages o 18 and 30 years old.”

She added that about 51% of all ballots already cast were by people over the age of 60.

“Fifteen percent of voters who have cast a ballot in Michigan in 2024 did not vote in 2020,” Benson added.

Polls are open on Election Day from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. If you haven’t registered, you can still do so in person at your clerk’s office by 8 p.m. Tuesday and cast a ballot.

Absentee ballots may still be returned to your clerk’s office before 8 p.m. Tuesday. Benson said that with early tabulation of absentee ballots now allowed in Michigan, unofficial results will likely be available more quickly than in 2020. In 2020, there were a total of 3.3 million absentee ballots and clerks couldn’t start tabulating them until Election Day.

Benson wore a T-shirt emblazoned with the werewolf-themed “I voted” sticker design praised by comedian John Oliver that was among nine winners a statewide contest. She said the popular werewolf stickers were now available at all Michigan Secretary of State’s Office branches around the state.