AP News reports that legislators in Michigan have reached a deal to permit the pre-processing of absentee ballots in municipalities with populations of at least 10,000, starting two days before the Nov. 8 election. The deal does not change existing law that precludes vote counting from starting before 7 a.m. on Election Day and many election officials argue it does not go far enough. Nevertheless, it is an important step toward reducing delays in counting the vote in a state that has allowed no-excuse mail in ballots since 2018.
“Ann Bollin, House Elections and Ethics Committee chair, announced the agreement on election bills after months of negotiations. The bills are expected to pass the Republican-controlled Legislature on Wednesday and go to Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, a Democrat.”
3.3 million Michigan voters cast absentee ballots in the 2020 presidential election, and “over half of all votes cast in the August primary were absentee.”