Early, absentee votes building in Copper Country
26% of local voters have cast ballots ahead of Election Day
HOUGHTON — More than a quarter of registered voters in the Copper Country have already cast their November ballot.
Between absentee and early voting, 26% of voters in the four-county area had submitted their general election ballots after Tuesday’s voting, according to state data.
So far, 7,407 absentee ballots have been returned, while 1,990 residents had gone to the in-person early voting site in their county.
This is the first general election where residents could head to the polls during a nine-day early voting period, part of an amendment to the state constitution approved by Michigan voters in 2022. The early voting period was also in place for this year’s primary.
The figures by county and statewide through Tuesday’s voting:
• Baraga County: 31.1% voter turnout; 1,235 absentee ballots returned; 527 ballots cast during early voting
• Houghton County: 23.8% voter turnout; 4,622 absentee ballots returned; 1,063 ballots cast during early voting
• Keweenaw County: 31% voter turnout; 471 absentee ballots returned; 118 ballots cast during early voting
• Ontonagon County: 28.9% voter turnout; 1,079 absentee ballots returned; 282 ballots cast during early voting
• Michigan: 30.3% voter turnout; 1,692,076 absentee ballots returned; 505,683 ballots cast during early voting.
Eligible Michigan residents can still register to vote in person at their city or township clerk’s office with proof of residency until 8 p.m. on Election Day for this election, the Secretary of State’s office said in a release.
To find a polling place, track an absentee ballot, or verify registration status, visit Michigan.gov/Vote.
As of Tuesday morning, the number of absentee ballots returned statewide was 76% of the number recorded the same time before the election in 2020. The gap of about 504,000 could be partially attributed to the new early in-person vote, which had reached nearly 390,000.
Voters who have received but not yet returned their absentee ballot should return it to an official ballot drop box in their jurisdiction or hand deliver it to their local clerk’s office. They should not mail ballots this close to Election Day, the Secretary of State’s office said.
With the exception of military and overseas absentee voters, all absentee ballots must be received by clerk’s offices or drop boxes by 8 p.m. on Election Day or they will not be counted. For ballot drop box and clerk’s office locations go to Michigan.gov/Vote.