Ann Arborites with busy schedules worried about getting to the polls on time on Tuesday, Aug. 6, can jump the line by voting early or voting absentee.

It’s been six months since the first COVID-19 cases were reported in Michigan. The first two cases were reported back on March 10, the night of the Presidential Primary Election in Michigan. At the time of Michigan’s first reported cases, about 800 cases had been reported in the U.S., with 29 deaths. Since then, Michigan has reported more than 108,000 additional COVID-19 cases, including more than 6,500 deaths. Since cases and deaths peaked in mid-April in Michigan, hospitalizations and ventilator use has declined and testing has increased.

LANSING, Mich. With the threat of the coronavirus (COVID-19) present throughout the country, some states have encouraged absentee voting ahead of presidential primary and general elections. Bensons office mailed about 740,000 absentee ballot applications to Michigan voters ahead of the May elections. Now the office is ensuring that absentee ballot applications are mailed to all 7.7 million registered voters in Michigan. Officials say that more than one million absentee ballots have been issued to Michigan voters as of Thursday. Trump falsely accused Benson of illegally sending absentee ballots to all Michigan residents ahead of this years elections.