Absentee ballots mailed out, clerks urge confidence in Ingham County elections

Absentee ballots for November’s general election began to be mailed out Thursday, with clerks and election advocates urging Michiganders to feel confident in the safety and security of the state’s election system and those who administer it.

Grand Rapids City Clerk Joel Hondorp said at a press conference hosted by the ACLU of Michigan that elections are safe, secure, fair, and have accurate results. Ingham County Clerk Barb Byrum, whose jurisdiction includes Lansing and East Lansing, noted that DOJ monitors were treated as poll watchers and will return to any Ingham County polling places in November. She emphasized that Michigan elections are transparent and that more eyes on the process increase voter confidence.

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel and election protection director Mackenzie Walz also spoke about preparations for federal interference and the election protection hotline. Nessel said her staff is ready to station AG office agents at polling locations, while Walz highlighted call volume increasing for the Michigan call center and the need for legal professionals to staff. Byrum concluded that the decentralized election system brings thousands of Michiganders together to deliver fair and free elections.

Read the full story at michiganadvance.com.