Michigan clerks to begin preprocessing absentee ballots before Election Day

For the first time in a presidential election, local clerks in Michigan will be able to preprocess absentee ballots.

“It used to be in Michigan absentee ballots could not start being fed through the tabulator until polls open on Election Day, and in some of our large jurisdictions, that’s just not enough time,” Ingham County Clerk Barb Byrum said.

The new state laws give clerks an eight-day head start to process the ballots.

Beginning Monday (Oct. 28), Metro Detroit clerks can preprocess absentee ballots returned to them.

The process includes opening the envelope, verifying the signature, checking the ballot number, and scanning the ballot through the tabulator.

However, election officials can only issue vote totals after the polls close on Election Day.

“Hopefully, unofficial results will come a little bit quicker,” Byrum said.

While the new law aims to improve efficiency, only some municipalities will be partaking.

Warren City Clerk Sonja Buffa issued a statement saying her office will not preprocess absentee ballots.

“Up to eight days of preprocessing opens the door for results to get leaked or compromised. I will not risk compromising the integrity of the election,” Buffa said in a statement.