Some Michigan Clerks Can Process Ballots Early Under New Bill

MICHIGAN — A new bill signed into law Tuesday by Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer will allow some election clerks to begin processing absentee ballots early.

But the news of the new bill was tarnished, as Whitmer and Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson chastised legislators for not having a ready a second bill that would allow servicemembers overseas to submit votes electronically through a secured portal.

"Elections are no time to play partisan games," Whitmer said. "Our brave service members and their families put their lives on the line for us and they deserve leaders who are going to help them vote."

The bill Whitmer signed into law will allow election clerks in communities of at least 25,000 people begin processing absentee ballots a day before the Nov. 3 election.

Whitmer announced the bill Tuesday afternoon during a news conference. The move was made as the state reports that more than 2.6 million registered voters have already issued absentee ballots.

"This year, millions of Michiganders will take advantage of their constitutional right to vote absentee for the first time due to this pandemic," Whitmer said. "The bill ensures that clerks will notify voters of any reason that their vote won't be counted within 48 hours."

Benson said the bill will benefit the state not only in 2020, but in elections moving forward. She called absentee voting a "new normal" and a "modern normal."

"This is a step in the right direction and it will enable some communities to begin processing and preparing ballots to be counted the day before," she said.

Benson said on Monday that the Michigan Department of State has launched a statewide multimedia initiative to inform voters how to utilize the options they have to vote.

Advertisements are being placed on social media, the internet, television and the back of ATM receipts. Absentee ballot applications will be inserted in dozens of newspapers, and available at Kroger stores statewide in a push to ensure everyone has a chance to register to vote if they haven't already.

“Michigan citizens have proven with record-breaking turnout numbers in each of our state’s three successful elections this year that they want to vote,” Benson said. “It is my responsibility to ensure they know their options to do so safely and securely from home, early at their local clerk’s office, or at their polling place on Election Day.”

But while Whitmer and Benson celebrated the move to allow clerks additional time to count ballots, both sounded off about a bill that was not signed Tuesday. Whitmer said she was hopeful to sign a bill Tuesday to allow servicemembers overseas or unable to cast their ballot in person to return ballots electronically, but that didn't happen, she said, because legislative leaders haven't sent her the bill. She said she wasn't sure why there has been a delay.

Benson used a personal anecdote in voicing her frustration over the delay. Citing a time when her husband, a member of the military who was stationed in Afghanistan and was unable to vote in 2012 because provisions weren't in place, Benson said she was disappointed the bill wasn't ready to be signed.

"I was hoping to celebrate the recognition of the law, that the Senate and the House passed enabling military service members serving overseas and their spouses to complete their ballots and return them electronically through a secure portal," she said. "It was very disappointing to see this particular piece of legislation — and our military service members — used as political pawns for partisan gamesmanship."