GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — Early in-person voting wraps up around Michigan Sunday.
As of Sunday morning, more than 1 million people had voted early in person statewide, state data shows. So far, the data shows, the largest turnout days were the first day on Oct. 26, when more than 145,000 people cast their ballots; Friday, when more than 142,000 people went to the polls; and Saturday, when about 146,000 votes were cast.
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. It wasn’t particularly popular during the February presidential primary, but turnout improved for the August primary and is 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 24,200 through Friday.
The state data shows nearly 1.96 million absentee ballots had been cast statewide as of Sunday morning. Absentee ballots may still be returned to your clerk by 8 p.m. Tuesday.
Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson said in a social media post on Saturday morning that of those who have voted so far, about 13% are new or first-time voters and 55% are women.
Of course, you can still vote in person on Election Day, with polls open statewide from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. You can check your sample ballot and find your polling place on Michigan.gov/vote.
In November 2020, Michigan’s total voter turnout — absentee and in person on Election Day — was more than 5.5 million.