The presidential primary election in Michigan is today, and in Lansing, almost 10,000 early voting ballots had been turned in by last night.
City Clerk Chris Swope says about 6,500 more absentee ballots were issued this year compared to the primary election four years ago in Lansing.
Swope says processing those early ballots began at 7 a.m. today. “We are working through them," he explains, adding "we’re going to do our best to be done with those pretty close to 8. That’s probably about the maximum that we can do in a 13-hour day, and I think we’re going to have double that in November.”
Swope says the expectation of doubling that number of early ballots for the general election in November is what’s keeping him up at night.
The ballot today is a short one, and Swope says his staff isn’t finding many errors on those early ballots.
Because the tally of those early ballots got an early start today, Swope hopes Lansing will be able to report final results around 10 p.m. tonight.
Polling places will be open until 8 p.m., and if you’re in line by that time, you will be allowed to vote.