A sign directs people to the early voting site in Houghton County on the first day of early voting. More than 4,500 people in the Copper Country — and more than 1.2 million — cast ballots in the state’s first general election early voting period, which ended Sunday. (Garrett Neese/Daily Mining Gazette)

HOUGHTON — More than 4,500 Copper Country residents cast early ballots as part of Michigan’s nine-day early in-person voting period, its first for a statewide election.

Sunday was the final and highest-turnout day for early voting, drawing 189,442 voters to polling places across Michigan. Get-out-the-vote efforts locally included Huskies Vote Early day at Michigan Technological University, held Sunday afternoon. Organized by Michigan United and Tech’s Student Leadership and Involvement, the event featured shuttles between campus and the Houghton City Center, which served as early voting site for Houghton County. 

Statewide, more than 1.2 million residents turned out for the early voting period, created through an amendment to the state constitution approved by voters in 2022. The system debuted statewide, albeit with vastly lower numbers, during this year’s primaries. Counties are required to offer at least nine days. Three municipalities — Detroit, Canton and East Lansing — went longer. 

Between early voting and the nearly 2 million absentee ballots returned so far, 43.9% of Michigan voters had cast their November ballots ahead of Tuesday’s election. Those totals are on par with the 3.2 million who voted absentee for the general election in 2020. 

The numbers locally:

Baraga County: 44.2% voter turnout; 1,355 absentee ballots returned (87.9% of the total requested); 1,150 ballots cast during early voting.

Houghton County: 33.9% voter turnout; 5,510 absentee ballots returned (86% of the total requested); 2,603 ballots cast during early voting.

Keweenaw County: 40.6% voter turnout; 529 absentee ballots returned (85.7% of the total requested); 242 ballots cast during early voting.

Ontonagon County: 39.3% voter turnout; 1,289 absentee ballots returned (86% of the total requested); 565 ballots cast during early voting.

Eligible Michigan citizens can still register to vote in person up to 8 p.m. Tuesday with proof of residency at their city or township clerk’s office. Once registered, they can cast a ballot on the same day. For more information, go to Michigan.gov/Vote.