Absolutely gorgeous weather throughout Michigan today.
More than 2 million people expected to vote in-person today, with more than 3 million absentee votes cast.
Clerks are currently tabulating absentee ballots and administering the in-person vote freep.com/story/news/pol…
Picture, shared with me, of a voting precinct in Brighton, Michigan. This is an elementary school; you can see the line to vote running down the sidewalk. #Election2020
You too can do this, Michigan voter. But if you want to cast your completed absentee ballot, take it in person to your clerk or the appropriate drop box by 8 pm!
Before the polls opened this morning, more than 3 million Michigan residents had already cast their ballots.
That's an extraordinary number of absentee ballots in the state, expected to account for more than 60% of the entire vote in Michigan freep.com/story/news/pol…
Here are top 20 absentee ballot totals (as of early this morning) by county + by jurisdiction.
As you can see, more than 1 million absentee ballots received just in Wayne, Oakland + Macomb counties (Detroit and Metro Detroit).
Roughly 5 million total votes statewide expected
Just a reminder: No word from the Michigan Supreme Court on the state's appeal means the open carry of firearms is not banned at polling places.
Latest from Michigan secretary of state office:
- 89% return rate for absentee ballots
- "It sounds like things are going pretty smoothly in the vast majority of polling places across the state, and clerks offices as well."
- "All in all, not too many real issues reported"
More from Michigan secretary of state:
- Sent about a dozen extra poll workers (divided between Pontiac and Grand Rapids) to help out for no-shows
- No reports of polling places opening late (had some of this in August)
MI SOS office says they haven't heard any concerns from Metro Detroit clerks re:impact of Sen. Harris' visit today
"Bottom line is, we expect things will go smoothly...we're not expecting that anyone would have any trouble getting to their polling place and casting a ballot."
MI secretary of state staff reiterate they have not heard of any issues re: guns at polling places or broader voter intimidation problems.
Some lines earlier this morning, but SOS staff said that could be partially due to social distancing at polling places.
MI secretary of state spokesman Jake Rollow said he isn't aware of issues reported by clerks on the pre-processing of absentee ballots yesterday.
Recap of first update from Michigan secretary of state staff:
Apart from two cities needing a total of about a dozen extra poll workers, no reports of any election issues across the state so far freep.com/story/news/pol…
Michigan AG reports possible robocalls in Flint area attempting to spread false information about the election. #Election2020
Sen. Harris speaks with the media after deplaning in Detroit, doesn’t give a prediction but notes importance of Michigan
Harris: "Have faith in the American people. I do strongly believe that whoever you vote for will defend the integrity of our democracy and a peaceful transfer of power. And there are certain lines that, whoever you vote for, that we just won’t cross." #Election2020
Harris, on the campaign's chances in Michigan: "Listen, the day ain’t over. Ask me after the polls close and maybe I’ll have a better idea. But right now I’m just here to remind people to vote, because the election is still happening right now. It’s not over." #Election2020