MASON, Mich. — Ingham County Clerk Barb Byrum (D-Onondaga) today urged voters who are still in possession of their Absent Voter Ballots to vote that ballot as quickly as possible, sign and seal the outer envelope, and return it to their Local Clerk immediately.
“Voters are choosing to vote by Absent Voter Ballot in record numbers, which is the safest way to vote during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic,” Byrum stated. “With such little time remaining before Election Day, and given the delays in the processing of mail, I am encouraging voters to return their ballots to their Local Clerk’s office directly or put them in their Local Clerk’s drop box. If they do not know where that is, it may be found by visiting www.michigan.gov/vote [michigan.gov].”
The number of Absent Voter Ballots returned has already well exceeded the total number of Absent Voter Ballots that were cast in 2016. In 2018, voters passed Proposal 3 that allowed for No Reason Absentee Voting. As a result of that proposal’s passage, and the pandemic, Clerk Byrum expects nearly 90,000 Absent Voter Ballots to be cast this year in Ingham County, a three-fold increase from 2016.
“As of 11:59 P.M. Monday evening, over 73,000 Absent Voter Ballots have been received by Local Clerks,” Byrum stated. “That means that 75% of all Absent Voter Ballots that have been sent to voters have already been returned. I am pleased that so many voters have already taken the initiative to turn their ballots in. For those that have not yet done so, please make sure you make a plan to vote as soon as possible.”
Voters who choose to vote at the polling location may still do so; polls will be open from 7:00 A.M. until 8:00 P.M., as usual. In light of the ongoing pandemic, Clerk Byrum encouraged those that are able to wear masks, when casting their ballot.
“Masks are encouraged at the polling place,” said Byrum. “Voters in Ingham County should consider their own health and safety and that of the voters around them and do the responsible thing and wear a mask. Anyone concerned with their health and safety at the polling location may still request an Absent Voter Ballot at their Local Clerk’s office and they may vote it and turn it back in immediately, if they so choose.”
Voters may contact Clerk Byrum’s Office with questions at inghamclerk@ingham.org or at 517-676-7201.
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