Absentee voting in mid-Michigan in full swing

MIDLAND CO., Mich. (WNEM) - With just 18 days until the presidential election, the Michigan Voting Dashboard says more than 857,000 absentee ballots have already been returned to local clerks, or 12% of the state's active registered voters.

Midland County Clerk Ann Manary said the local clerks are pretty busy, and that's a good thing.

"We're rocking it out. My clerks are seeing a definite increase in absentee voting, which is awesome," she said.

She said absentee voting is going well.

"I think that shows that people are feeling like absentee balloting is a good option. That they are feeling secure with absentee ballots and the process," Manary said.

According to the Michigan Voting Dashboard, as of Thursday, Oct. 17, in Midland County, almost 8,300 registered voters have returned their absentee ballot for the November election. That's 13% of the county's registered voters.

Manary said there's still time to vote absentee.

"You actually have until the Saturday before the election to go to your local clerk's office, that would be your township, or city clerk's office, and request an absentee ballot. You can do that in person. They will issue you an absentee ballot. You can fill it out there. Most jurisdictions have a booth that you can actually go into and vote that ballot and turn it right back into them. And you're all done. No standing in line on Election Day," she said.

Manary said with more ways to vote, there's no excuse for not doing it.

"We work hard on getting everything ready for everyone in the state to be able to vote. So, we want to see you at the polls one way or another, whether it's absentee, early voting, or in-person voting," she said.

Manary said early in-person voting in Midland County begins Oct. 26 at the Grace A. Dow Library in Midland starting at 9 a.m.

She's optimistic that unofficial election results should be available by midnight on election night.