LISTEN as IPR’s Max Copeland casts his ballot on the first day of early voting, through the audio player with this story.
Michiganders are voting.
This is the first general election where nine days of early in-person voting has been available across the state.
On the first day of statewide early voting, Oct. 26, more than 145,134 ballots were cast, “far exceeding the expectations of state and local election officials,” said a statement from the Michigan Secretary of State’s office.
Traverse City Clerk Benjamin Marentette said the early voting so far in the November general election is “exponentially higher” than during the August primary.
“Even when you compare the relative difference between turnouts in August and November elections, it’s a substantial increase, way outpacing what we would have probably expected,” he told IPR.
At East Bay Town Hall, in Grand Traverse County, a line stretched out the door and curved around part of the parking lot on Saturday. More than 300 people had voted by 2 p.m. Saturday.
Participate
Early in-person voting continues through Sunday, Nov. 3. And in Michigan, you can register to vote up until the polls close on Election Day, Nov. 5. Get more information on how to register and cast a ballot.
“I mean there’s really no excuse. There’s really not,” said Lauren Wierema, of Traverse City. “I’ve talked to family members who I know haven’t voted in the past and I’m like ‘You better vote,’ and they’re like ‘I did,’ and I’m like, ‘OK, good.’”
When Vince Festa emerged from the polling place on Saturday afternoon, he held up his “I voted” sticker for those in line to see.
“I’m happy to see a lot of people showing up,” Festa said. “I didn’t expect it but it’s important to vote. And I see a lot of people are taking the time to do that.”
By Tuesday, more than 389,000 ballots had been cast at in-person early voting sites, with another 1.6 million absentee ballots submitted by mail or drop box.
Opposing votes, motivated by Trump
On the eve of early voting in Traverse City, former President Donald Trump came to the city’s airport to hold a rally.
He arrived three hours late, which enabled preceding speakers at the rally plenty of time to urge people to vote early. Susan Buchan and her husband, Pat, were among those listening.
“We went to the Trump rally last night,” Susan Buchan said as she stood in line Saturday, “and it just motivated us to come and vote to get it done and do it.”
Voter Christopher Schulte said Trump also factored in his decision to vote early, but for different reasons.
“I’m campaigning for Harris-Walz, the Democratic ticket, and I’m usually independent — I’ve actually campaigned for Libertarians before,” Schulte said. “But January 6th is just top of mind for me. We can’t reward that kind of behavior.”
On Jan. 6, 2021, a crowd of Trump supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol in an attempt to thwart certification of the 2020 Presidential Election results. The event happened after a rally Trump held near The White House, where he cast doubt upon the results and called on people to march to the Capitol.
Republican turnout for early and absentee voting was low in 2020 as, throughout the campaign, Trump cast unfounded doubts upon the safety of the process. This year, his campaign and the Republican Party are encouraging early voting, but the Washington Post reported that Trump himself continues to criticize the practice, including at a Saturday rally in Novi.
The process
Voters who cast ballots early in Traverse City fed a paper ballot into a tabulator machine, just like on Election Day. Those votes have been recorded but no one will see the tallies until after 8 p.m. on Nov. 5.
Election officials are permitted to start doing the same thing with absentee ballots, but they can also opt to wait until Election Day. The clerk in Warren, Michigan’s third-largest city, said she would wait.
At most early voting sites, those who had completed the task could choose from a variety of stickers — designed by Michiganders.
One shows a fish whose scales spell out “I voted.” Another uses a multipurpose Midwest word to say “Ope, I voted.” Another that got national attention features a werewolf ripping off his shirt in front of an American flag.
And in Traverse City, there’s a slightly more conventional but far more local design with the city’s name, evergreen trees and the sun setting behind some dunes.
“A lot of folks in Traverse City have really loved the Traverse City-branded ‘I voted’ sticker,” said Marentette, the city clerk. “There’s a lot of civic pride around T.C., which is cool.”
Election Day is Nov. 5. Early in-person voting continues through Sunday, Nov. 3. And in Michigan, you can register to vote up until the polls close on Election Day. Get more information on how to register and cast a ballot.
