Local clerks explain how the vote counting process works

LANSING, Mich. (WILX) - On Tuesday, millions of people will be anxiously awaiting to see who won the 2024 Election, but before results are announced, poll workers have a tough job ahead of them; making sure every ballot is properly counted.

"There's a lot of steps in Michigan election law that the average voter doesn't know," said Ingham County Clerk Barb Byrum. "We need to make sure that we are following all of the safety protocols to make sure our elections remain safe and secure before we're even able to post those unofficial results."

For example, absentee ballots can't be officially totaled until 8 p.m. on Election Day.

Once absentee ballots are collected, Byrum said local clerks have to check signatures and make sure they match the voter file and if they match the ballot is then taken to the Absentee Counting Board, eventually making its way to the tabulator.

Similar to absentee ballots, Lansing City Clerk Chris Swope said in-person and early voting results will also be totaled at the end of Election Day.

"In the precinct they have to go through a closing process and get everything done and then they bring the results here to our office, we review their paperwork and then the memory card with the results gets transported out to the county clerks office in Mason," said Chris Swope, Lansing City Clerk.

Byrum said she doesn't expect to know the unofficial results until the early morning hours following Election Day, but as soon as she receives them, she said they'll be posted.

"Security takes time, so please be patient," said Byrum