With about two weeks before Election Day, the state of Michigan reported there were more than 1,804,238 absentee ballots returned. So far, 2,506 ballots cast during early voting.
Scrutiny looms over election workers who know Michigan could possibly determine which presidential candidate will win the White House.
Outside the Detroit Department of Elections, a steady stream of voters arrived to drop off their absentee ballots or vote in person.
“I have several jobs. I’m in college,” Rico Menefee said. “It was convenient.”
The scene appeared calmer compared to the election nearly four years ago.
A contentious crowd demanded election workers stop tallying absentee ballots that favored President Joe Biden over former President Donald Trump.
Since then, some have referred to the moment as the Michigan mirage.
“It made it look like one party was ahead because both voters hadn’t been counted yet that were primarily from the other party,” said Matt Friedman, a spokesperson for Detroit Votes, a nonpartisan voter information campaign.
Following the “Stop the Steal” demonstrations, there are new changes this election cycle.
A prerequisite number of poll watchers and challengers are allowed in a specific area while ballots are being processed.
“These people had to undergo intense training for weeks, and the political parties know the rules,” Friedman said.
Essentially, no one should randomly show up to challenge election workers on Election Day.
Per state law, absentee votes can now be tabulated eight days before the election but not tallied until polls close on election night.
The takeaway is that voters can know the official results much sooner than they did in 2020.
At the state level, there are coordinated efforts to prepare election workers for worst-case scenarios.
“We’ve built robust partnerships with law enforcement and first responders holding scenario planning exercises with election officials – law enforcement and first responders – from all around our state,” said Secretary Jocelyn Benson.
Benson also doubled down to say there would be a police presence to ensure there were consequences if anything happened.
Meanwhile, voters hope tensions don’t escalate again.
“I never thought it would be like this,” Joyce Minon said.
However, others feel somewhat doubtful.
“I see it happening,” Walter Lockett said. “I mean, the environment is ripe for all types of chaos now.”