Michigan’s chief election officer said she is cautiously optimistic about preparations for the 2020 elections amid the coronavirus outbreak, emphasizing the state can avoid failures seen elsewhere by giving people clear choices of how to vote absentee or in person.
Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson said her office has so far recruited at least 2,000 workers for the August and November elections to address shortages due to veteran volunteers’ safety concerns and because local clerks will need extra staff to process a surge in absentee ballots. The new workers -- “democracy MVPs” -- also will be necessary due to social-distancing protocols.
The March presidential primary was the state’s first major election in which voters could cast absentee ballots by mail or return them in person for any reason following passage of a 2018 constitutional amendment. The alternative, used by 39% of the electorate, is seen as especially crucial during the pandemic. Benson estimated that at least 1 million voters, “if not 2” million, will vote by mail for the first time in November.
The Democrat drew Republicans’ criticism last month after announcing all 7.7 million voters will be mailed absentee ballot applications for the elections, not just 1.3 million already on a permanent list to get the form every time. A judge on Thursday refused to stop the mailing, saying an application is merely an application and two GOP state House candidates who sued showed no “irreparable harm.”