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It’s not too late: Voters who used an absentee ballot for Michigan’s March 10 presidential primary election can change their preference and vote again.
At least eight Democratic candidates have dropped out of the race since Michigan absentee ballots were printed, including U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota, Pete Buttigieg, a former South Bend, Indiana, mayor, and businessmen Tom Steyer and Andrew Yang.
Absentee voting in Michigan is up substantially now that voters can cast an absentee ballot for any reason.
As of Sunday, 453,193 absentee ballots were returned out of 812,278 issued, according to the secretary of state’s office. The number of ballot requests is up 78% from 2016.
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, both Democrats, used Twitter to inform people that a second try at an absentee ballot is possible.
“Many people have been reaching out to me, asking what their options are. They have many options,” said Barb Byrum, the clerk in Ingham County.
“A candidate dropping out is not the only reason for spoiling your ballot,” she said. “You can spoil your ballot for no reason. Maybe your candidate said something to change your mind.”
A voter can scratch their absentee ballot by submitting a written request to their local clerk. The voter must sign the request and state if they would like a new ballot mailed to them or if they will vote at the polls.
This request must be received by 2 p.m. Saturday if sent by mail. An absentee ballot may be thrown out in person at the clerk’s office until 4 p.m. next Monday.
Byrum said at least five local government clerks in her county have asked her for extra ballots. (AP)
