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Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson has issued a statement regarding the Michigan Senate passing Bill 757.
Benson said the bill is a step in the right direction, but does not go nearly far enough to provide the relief that clerks have been seeking for more than a year.
The bill, which passed with bipartisan support, would allow clerks in cities with over 25,000 people to begin processing absentee ballots from 10am until 8pm one day before the election.
Clerks will be allowed to open the envelopes, but the ballot must remain in the secrecy sleeve until election day.
The bill now heads to Michigan’s House.
There is a sunset provision attached to the bill, which means should the bill be signed into law, it would not be valid, past the November 3rd election.
Absentee ballots have been requested by a record 2.1 million Michiganders for this election, which may delay the final count.
