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Michigan’s 2022 midterm election set record in voter turnout [1]
['Alyssa Burr', 'Aburr Mlive.Com', 'Alyssa Burr Aburr Mlive.Com']
Date: 2022-11-09 19:11:50.529000+00:00
Michigan’s 2022 midterm election saw the highest voter turnout in the state’s history, beating the record previously set in 2018.
At a press conference the day after polls closed, Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson made the announcement that more than 4.3 million Michiganders cast ballots in Tuesday’s election, with 1.8 million doing so by absentee.
“I’m confident that as we go through the process when the unofficial results are finalized, they will reflect that this election was the highest turnout midterm election in Michigan’s history,” Benson said.
(Can’t see the chart? Click here.)
Benson said that the thousands of elections clerks throughout the state were able to process election results faster than anticipated because of the absence of any widespread disruptions.
“This is a great mark of the success of this election and the tremendous work of election officials and election workers and communities all across the state,” Benson said.
The state department did report scattered mishaps throughout Election Day.
Hundreds of students voting on college campuses were faced with particularly long lines, specifically in East Lansing and Ann Arbor.
Benson said during today’s press conference that the wait voters experienced in these instances were due to stringent protocols that must take place when someone registers and votes on the same day.
“It takes time for those security checks to go through and there’s only a limited number of people who have access to the qualified voter file to actually register someone directly on the spot then give them the ballot,” Benson said. “That’s why it will always take more time if you chose to register and vote on Election Day itself.”
A technical issue with electronic poll books and laptops used to confirm registered voters caused some confusion at a number of Detroit polling locations Tuesday morning, drawing attention from former President Donald Trump. But election officials reassured the public everyone was able to vote, and no one voted twice.
Related: Michigan says no one voted twice during Detroit’s e-poll book issue
Record voter turnout isn’t the only reason to celebrate the success of the election, Benson said Wednesday afternoon.
With unofficial election results continuing to roll out, several candidates who lost their bid in the 2022 midterms have already conceded their race— some even being previous 2020 election deniers.
The work now turns to election clerks to confirm the results of the election. The law requires boards of county canvassers to certify election results by Nov. 22, with the board of state canvassers being required to do the same by Nov. 28.
“If elections require or if candidates request recounts, those occur after the canvases are complete and the election is certified,” Benson said.
In an effort to increase transparency, Benson said there will be multiple, thorough and bipartisan audits of post-election results.
“Following a record-breaking day like yesterday, I want every voter to know that their vote was counted fairly, and that the results of the election are indeed an accurate reflection of the will of the voters,” Benson said.
Read more from MLive:
Dana Nessel re-elected Michigan attorney general, AP projects Wednesday morning
Benson reelected SOS: ‘Democracy won here in Michigan’
Results split on 32 local Michigan marijuana ballot proposals
Gretchen Whitmer is reelected governor, defeating Tudor Dixon
Democrats could take control of Michigan Senate and House
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[1] Url:
https://www.mlive.com/politics/2022/11/michigans-2022-midterms-election-set-record-in-voter-turnout.html
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