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Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson has issued a press release, after numerous ballots were not counted across the state from the primary election on August 4th.
Reasons for the ballots not being counted ranged from being received late by the clerk, to the voter passing away before election day.
Benson called on the legislature to come together and fix how absentee ballots are counted before the general election on November 3rd.
Two pieces of legislation stand out.
One bill, HB 5987 would allow clerks to count ballots should they be postmarked by Election Day and received within two days of polls closing.
Currently, clerks are only allowed to count ballots received by 8pm on election day.
HB 5991, would require clerks to contact voters whose signatures on their ballot, do not match the signature on file with the state.
Right now, the ballot is discarded if the signatures do not match.
It is estimated that close to three million Michigan residents will vote by absentee ballot in the general election on November 3rd.
