Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson says she’s keeping an eye on problems in the early presidential primary and caucus states as her office makes plans for 2020.
Absentee ballots are already being cast for the March presidential primary. There’s congressional and legislative primaries in August, followed by the general election in the fall.
Michigan is considered pivotal in the presidential race, and Benson says that’s one more reason to ensure the votes are counted efficiently and accurately.
“Michigan will have a national spotlight on us, particularly in November, and we’re trying to prepare everyone now for the expectation that we’re going to be thorough and we’re going to ensure the integrity of the process first and foremost.”
Benson says she favors online voter registration. But she says paper ballots are more trustworthy and easier to recount if that becomes necessary.